SUDAN: Escaping the War in Sudan
Sr. Jane Ngamita
The tension in Khartoum began in April 2019, when President Omar El Bashir was overthrown in a military coup. Since then, there were shootings here and there in the major towns and the city of Khartoum. Discontent by civilians who wanted civilian rule as opposed to military rule, this time around was seen by the burning of motorcar tires in the city of Khartoum making the beautiful city look ugly.
On April 15, 2023, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) sparked up an armed conflict that burned down most towns and Khartoum city, displacing almost 1.1 million people internally and into neighbouring countries of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Chad, and South Sudan.
Those who fled Khartoum include bishops, priests, and religious brothers and sisters to various destinations. Among them were four of the sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus who fled on April 26 2023 through the Renk border into South Sudan.
The four sisters were Sr. Karmela Diakon, Provincial Superior, South Sudan, Sr. Domenica Nyalam, Sr. Lily Iboro, and Sr. Agnes Ladur. From Renk Catholic Parish, the sisters plus other people who were escaping the conflict were given a Toyota Hardtop that could take them to Folouch where they would be airlifted on a Cargo plane to Juba.
The unfortunate thing was that on the way the hind tire of the Toyota burst leading to overturning four times. The occupants of the car got injuries but thank God all were saved alive. One sister was injured on the leg, another broke the collar bone, the third got cracks on three ribs and the last one got wounded on the arm. All of them are on physical and psychological treatment in Juba. The Franciscan priest among them was hospitalised in Juba Teaching Hospital for a week but now recuperating in his community.
Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus have four communities in the Sudan. The story above was about the sisters in one community. The community in the refugee camp in the Costi region is rather safe and has remained with the refugees in the camp. Those in the Diocese of El’Obeid also have remained since the Bishop and priests did not run.
They remained with the people. One more community in Omdurman, Khartoum had to be evacuated with other 300 people to Juba by bus on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. They arrived in Juba tired after five days of travel partly by bus and by plane on May 20, 2023. They are yet to recover from the fatigue due to long travel.
We thank God for the safe arrival of all who escaped Khartoum, Sudan.
