Becoming a war correspondent isn't a sudden transformation;
it requires training, protective gear, and supportive editors. These luxuries
are absent in my reality amidst the bitter conflict in Sudan. For the past ten
months, I've grappled not only with my role as a journalist but also as a victim
of relentless violence.
Since the eruption of conflict in April 2023 between the
army and paramilitary forces in Khartoum, Sudanese civilians have been ensnared
in brutal chaos. As a journalist, I've been paralyzed, unable to document the
horrors unfolding before me. The risks are too grave; expressing dissent or
making a misstep could cost me my life.
The atrocities are staggering - homes are reduced to rubble,
innocent lives are lost, and the streets are littered with unclaimed corpses.
In ordinary times, my instinct would impel me to capture these scenes, but
these are not ordinary times. Instead, my focus has shifted to safeguarding my
family, a task that drains me emotionally.
The war has not only claimed lives but also crushed
independent journalism. Media outlets have been silenced, leaving only
state-controlled propaganda machines. Journalists are targeted, labeled as
traitors, and subjected to violence and imprisonment. The truth is suppressed,
and accountability evades us.
Many of us have been forced into exile, fleeing the horrors
of our homeland. Yet, even in safety, the weight of powerlessness and financial
struggle persists. Former journalists now peddle goods on the streets to
survive, unable to earn a living through their once-honored profession.
The impact of the conflict extends far beyond journalism; it
has ravaged every aspect of life. Families struggle to feed themselves,
healthcare systems collapse, and the specter of violence looms over every daily
task. Existential questions haunt my thoughts, with no end to the suffering in
sight.
In the face of such devastation, hope dwindles. Survival
becomes a daily gamble, and the prospect of emerging unscathed feels
increasingly distant. Yet, amidst the chaos and despair, the resilience of the
Sudanese people endures, a testament to the enduring human spirit in the
darkest of times.
.jpg "Yam prices surge in Dambai market amid harvest season")