Sarah Williams ran from bullets with her children when war hit her Khartoum home. She held her baby close as they crawled on the floor during attacks. This South Sudanese mother of five had already escaped her country's civil war in 2013. She found peace working as a housekeeper until fresh fighting erupted between Sudanese military leaders in 2023.
The conflict killed many South Sudanese despite them having no part in the power struggle. Sarah packed her belongings after attackers shot through her house. She traveled to Renk, a border town that became packed with refugees from both countries. Her journey stopped there because her hometown, Nasir, turned into a dangerous war zone with heavy fighting.
She worries about her family back home, and she has no news of whether they survived. The Renk Transit Centre holds three times more people than it should. Refugees receive small cash amounts for food that lasts just two weeks. After that, money runs out, Sarah cuts trees for firewood to buy flour, until the forest becomes empty.
Disease spreads through overcrowded shelters where fifteen people share single rooms. Some families build homes from sticks, cloth, and rags. Aid groups try to move refugees to safer areas with better community connections. Despite both countries facing violence, Sarah plans to rebuild her life in South Sudan rather than return to Khartoum.
The conflict killed many South Sudanese despite them having no part in the power struggle. Sarah packed her belongings after attackers shot through her house. She traveled to Renk, a border town that became packed with refugees from both countries. Her journey stopped there because her hometown, Nasir, turned into a dangerous war zone with heavy fighting.
She worries about her family back home, and she has no news of whether they survived. The Renk Transit Centre holds three times more people than it should. Refugees receive small cash amounts for food that lasts just two weeks. After that, money runs out, Sarah cuts trees for firewood to buy flour, until the forest becomes empty.
Disease spreads through overcrowded shelters where fifteen people share single rooms. Some families build homes from sticks, cloth, and rags. Aid groups try to move refugees to safer areas with better community connections. Despite both countries facing violence, Sarah plans to rebuild her life in South Sudan rather than return to Khartoum.
