Yet, the cries of Sudanese citizens remain unheard, and the suffering of those displaced has largely gone unnoticed.

Forced to flee from the chaos of random shelling and gunfire, millions now endure miserable conditions in displacement camps, moving repeatedly to escape RSF attacks.  

The war has left approximately 10.7 million people displaced, equivalent to about 2.1 million families, as reported by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Many of these individuals have sought refuge in northern and eastern Sudan.  

I visited eastern Sudan, starting in Port Sudan in the Red Sea State, which now hosts Sudan’s alternative government. The journey then continued by road to Kassala, about 570 km away, and Al-Qadarif, approximately 770 km from Port Sudan.  

A gruelling journey to the camps
 

I spent 18 days among Sudan's displaced communities in overcrowded camps filled with children, women, and men whose lives have been shattered by war. Many await humanitarian aid or long for the war’s end to reclaim their former lives, clinging to the dream of peace to forget their harrowing ordeal.  

The journey from Port Sudan to Kassala and Al-Qadarif began with professional curiosity — to witness the humanitarian situation firsthand, beyond reports from international or government agencies.

The road connecting these regions was long and treacherous, navigable only by a four-wheel drive vehicle. Heavy rains during Sudan’s autumn season worsened road conditions, causing landslides and destroying nearby homes.  

Sudan’s autumn rains, from May to October, annually bring devastating floods, damaging homes, infrastructure, and crops. This year, the floods compounded the suffering of war-affected citizens.  

Due to ongoing security concerns, dozens of checkpoints line the roads, requiring vehicles to stop every 20 minutes for inspections and permits, especially for foreigners. This significantly delayed our journey.  

As we neared Kassala, the lush green landscapes and vast farmlands gave way to overcast skies and heavy rainfall.

After passing several key landmarks — including Aqaba, Suakin, Jebeit, Sinkat, and Haya — we finally reached Kassala, nicknamed "the verdant" for its greenery. Kassala lies close to Sudan's border with Eritrea.  

Upon arrival, communication networks, including internet and phone services, were disrupted due to flooding, further complicating our mission. For two days, it felt as if we were cut off from the world.  

The Referral Hospital Camp
 

Just 7 kilometres from the Gash River Bridge lies the Referral Hospital Camp, originally a medical facility that has since been repurposed as a shelter for the displaced.

Its vast grounds, surrounded by vegetation, have become waterlogged due to heavy rains, forming stagnant pools that breed mosquitoes and exacerbate the spread of diseases like cholera, malaria, diarrhoea, and eye infections.

During our visit, a cholera outbreak prompted the closure of the central market as authorities sought to curb its spread. The UNHCR also issued warnings of a potential new wave of cholera threatening displaced communities nationwide.  

In the camp, many mistook me for a humanitarian aid worker and approached me with hopeful faces. Upon learning I was a journalist, they eagerly shared their stories. Their modest dreams revolved around basic needs: clean water and bread to keep their children alive.  

The struggles of displacement
 

“I fled from Sennar with my husband and children, leaving behind everything we owned, even our clothes,” 40-year-old Afaf Hussein told Ahram Online in tears.  

“I just want to go home,” she said, recounting how RSF fighters stormed her house, pointing guns at her family and demanding everything of value.

She gave them her gold jewellery and 1 million Sudanese pounds (around $2,000). After the ordeal, her family fled at dawn with nothing.  

Her uncle’s house suffered a worse fate: the RSF killed her cousin and stole his car. Her uncle, overwhelmed by grief, lost his sight and hearing. “The RSF has destroyed everything,” Afaf lamented.  

A father’s fight for his children
 

In the same camp, Mohamed Ibrahim, a father of five, shared the plight of his three children suffering from cerebral atrophy.

Forced to leave Khartoum due to the collapse of medical services, his family has faced relentless RSF harassment, theft, and life-threatening conditions.  

His children now live without essential medicines or oxygen machines. “They even suggested killing my children to ‘relieve me of the burden,’” he said sadly.  

A bleak reality in Kassala’s camps
  

Conditions in other camps, such as Omar Al-Haj Moussa School and the Industrial School, were no better. Families live in cramped spaces, separated only by makeshift cloth dividers.

The lack of proper lighting has led to tragic incidents, including the rape of a 12-year-old girl.  

Despite limited aid from international organizations, the displaced in Kassala continue to struggle with inadequate food, shelter, and healthcare.  

Disputed figures and insufficient aid
 

Kassala’s Minister of Education Maher Ali Hussein estimated over 800,000 displaced individuals in the state, occupying schools and disrupting education for local students.

Meanwhile, Kassala’s Minister for Social Affairs Dr. Omar Osman Adam cited over two million displaced persons, further straining the state’s limited resources.  

As Kassala’s camps are filled beyond capacity, many displaced families have chosen to sleep in the open streets rather than relocate to poorly equipped shelters on the city’s outskirts.