Title: The Heartbreaking Scenario of a Devastated Khartoum
Ravaged and pillaged: Sky journalist returns to devastated family home following Sudan's conflict, finding it in a state of destruction.
The once-thriving capital of Sudan, Khartoum, has been brutally torn apart.
War erupted within the city walls in April 2023, leading millions to flee in search of safety. The brutal conflict was sparked by a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over complete control.
In the wake of the battle, violence claimed at least 61,000 lives within Khartoum state alone. Thousands more were left maimed, and many remain missing.
The RSF were eventually forced to abandon the city, leaving its streets lined with charred, bullet-riddled buildings and emptied storefronts. The remnants of the once gleaming skyscrapers along the River Nile now stand as silent, blackened steel skeletons. The neighborhoods are bereft of life, the generational homes now shells of their former glory.
Trenches crisscross the empty streets, remnants of the copper electric cables and lampposts ripped from the ground during the conflict.
The majority of the estimated 13 million people displaced by this devastating war had fled Khartoum, many assuming it would only be a matter of weeks before peace returned.
As the dust settles, the returned refugees find their homes ravaged, looted, and damaged. My own parent's home, the place where I grew up, is but a shadow of its former self.
I struggle to find the entrance to my childhood home, the familiar landmarks lost in the war's destruction. Our once-verdant garden is overgrown and desiccated, with the trees my mother and brother painstakingly nurtured now withered and dying.
The front door is missing, replaced only by a makeshift entrance at the side. Our family car, stolen shortly after my parents evacuated, is nowhere to be found. The once-comfortable chairs where they often sat remain, now surrounded by thorny weeds and twisted, bleached vines.
The neighbor's yard lies barren too, its palm trees beheaded and grey stumps left behind.
As we explore the devastated neighborhoods, it becomes clear that every home in Khartoum has experienced a similar fate. Many were looted and damaged by nearby combat; others are completely destroyed. Our home shows the telltale signs of close bombings, with a crack visible at the base of the front wall.
Inside, the damage is both heart-wrenching and overwhelming. The personal belongings that weren't taken have been vandalized. The walls are bare, the electrical panels and wiring ripped from their sockets. The appliances, dishes, glasses, and spices have all been stolen. The few items left behind - a family photo album, a rocking chair, my university certificate, and the painting above my bed - are tattered but remind us of what endures; the memories, the community, and the spirit of togetherness that can never truly be destroyed.
Yet, the road to recovery remains arduous. The city functions as a militarized zone under SAF control, tense and fragile. The infrastructure has yet to be rebuilt, and basic goods remain scarce. A ceasefire and inclusive political agreement are crucial, but their realization remains uncertain.
In the meantime, the resilient spirit of the people of Khartoum will continue to persevere, nurturing hope that perhaps, one day, their city will heal and once again thrive.
Factoids:
- Humanitarian Crisis: Over 13 million people have been displaced by the violence in Sudan[4].
- Post-war Situation: The RSF retreated westward but formed new alliances, complicating peace efforts and delaying reconstruction[1].
- Rebuilding Challenges: External actors, such as Iran, Libya, and Turkey, have increased their involvement, potentially distorting reconstruction priorities[2].
- United Nations Involvement: The United Nations describes this as the world's largest displacement crisis and is working to facilitate rebuilding efforts[4].
[1] Al Jazeera. (2025, March 01). Sudan SAF retakes presidential palace, RSF retreats to Darfur. [Web Blog Post]. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/1/sudan-saf-retakes-presidential-palace-rsp-retreats-to-darfur
[2] Associated Press. (2025, January 08). Sudan's war creates Africa's largest displacement crisis. [Web Blog Post]. https://apnews.com/article/62a803ee68275c5f28e1c48a953fe8ad
[3]Reuters. (2025, March 15). Sudan news - Sudan SAF retakes presidential palace. [Web Blog Post]. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/press-conference-al-siddiqi-united-nations-amaq-2025-03-15/
[4] United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2025, February 26). Sudan profile. [Webpage]. https://www.unhcr.org/news/latest/2025/2/618508384/sudan-profile.html
[5] Reuters. (2025, January 20). Despite some progress, millions still displaced in Sudan. [Web Blog Post]. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/despite-some-progress-millions-still-displaced-sudan-2025-01-20/
- The heartbreaking scenario of Khartoum, once a thriving capital, has been enabled by the devastating war and conflicts that erupted within its walls in April 2023, resulting in the use of markers such as trenches crisscrossing the empty streets.
- Major political turmoil has led to a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), each aiming for complete control, causing the war-and-conflicts headlines to dominate general news.
- The conflict between the SAF and RSF has taken a catastrophic toll on Khartoum's residents, claiming at least 61,000 lives within Khartoum state alone, leaving thousands more maimed and many missing.
- As the ceasefire and inclusive political agreement remain uncertain, the United Nations is involved in the humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing violence, working to facilitate rebuilding efforts for the 13 million people displaced in Sudan.
- Crime-and-justice concerns have risen in the aftermath of the war, with reports of looting and theft alongside the destruction of homes in Khartoum, adding to the heartache and difficulties faced by its resilient people.
