Three years of conflict have left deep scars on Sudan, with thousands dead and millions displaced. The ongoing fighting between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has devastated communities, particularly around Khartoum and in other regions such as South Kordofan. Survivors speak of profound loss, resilience, and the enduring challenges facing the country’s civilians.

Omer al-Toum, a 33-year-old former aspiring national soccer player, was severely injured in October when an unexploded weapon detonated in his home. The blast resulted in the amputation of part of his right leg and left arm and shattered his remaining leg. Confined to a wheelchair, al-Toum struggles with daily activities and faces limitations within his home, which lacks accessibility for his condition. Though he seeks prosthetics, he must travel abroad for adequate care. Despite his injuries, he has found purpose coaching young soccer players, encouraging them to stay in school and remain hopeful. “As long as you are still breathing, you are still capable of doing many things,” he said.

In another case, 16-year-old Noon Madani lost the use of her legs in a missile attack while traveling with her older sister outside Khartoum in August 2021. Her sister, 18, was killed on the spot. Madani spent six months hospitalized enduring multiple surgeries and battling infections, with medical staff occasionally absent due to the conflict. Supported daily by her brothers, she attends school and hopes to become a doctor. Their father described the trauma of losing both daughters to violence in an area controlled by paramilitary forces. “You can’t imagine when someone suddenly tells you that your daughters were hit by an artillery shell,” he said. “We are trying to forget the war, the nightmare we finally woke up from.”

Fatma Ageb, a 38-year-old mother, lost her husband and two older daughters after shelling struck their home in February 2025. Fatma herself was wounded, and her youngest daughter, 8-year-old Zeinab, suffered severe facial injuries, including the loss of an eye. Relatives have raised funds to cover some medical expenses, but extensive surgeries are still required. Zeinab remains hospitalized, showing resilience despite her pain and trauma.

Tariq Abuzeid, 52, a longtime volunteer who provided food and medicine amid the war, was wounded in intense shelling in December 2023, resulting in the amputation of his right leg. Despite ongoing pain and the challenges of accessing appropriate prosthetic care in Khartoum, he continues his humanitarian work, preparing meals to assist others in need. “I used to serve people. Now I feel like I am a burden,” he said, acknowledging his new vulnerability.

The conflict has also been marked by widespread sexual violence. A 50-year-old woman who fled the besieged town of Dilling in South Kordofan recounted being abducted by RSF forces along with her two daughters. Held captive in a desert camp, she said she was repeatedly gang-raped and beaten for months. After escaping during an opportune moment, the family sought refuge at a women’s center in Khartoum. Medical personnel told her the assaults caused such severe injuries that removal of her uterus was recommended. The RSF has not responded to requests for comment on these allegations. The United Nations has identified sexual violence as a defining feature of the Sudan war.

These personal testimonies underscore the profound human toll of the conflict in Sudan, emphasizing both the physical and psychological wounds endured by civilians and the ongoing struggle for recovery amid continued instability.