A Pregnant Woman's Diary of Escape Through RSF Territory
In the month of May, Amira embarked on a perilous journey through one of Sudan's most active war zones. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had just seized the city where she was living - En Nahud in the state of West Kordofan.
The road out was dangerous, but she felt she had no choice. She was seven months pregnant and expressed her fears stating that there were no hospitals or pharmacies available. Traveling had become almost impossible and incredibly expensive.
As the civil war between the Sudanese military and the RSF continues to brutalize civilians for over two years, Amira recorded an audio diary that was shared with the BBC by Avaaz, a global campaigns group. Currently, she is in Kampala, Uganda, waiting to deliver her child.
Right from the beginning of her trip, trouble began as the RSF controlled all transport. While traveling, a conflict between fellow passengers and the RSF driver escalated, leading to a display of extreme violence as threats were made, and emotions ran high.
Despite the turmoil, Amira and her husband managed to leave En Nahud. The truck they boarded had over 70 people crowded onto it, all scared and clinging to their belongings while navigating past checkpoints controlled by armed RSF members, who regularly demanded payments.
After a challenging journey, multiple breakdowns, and navigating through mud and floods, Amira and her husband finally reached Abyei, the border region, where they faced continued trials before safely making their way to Juba, South Sudan's capital.
While relief takes over as Amira reaches safety, she is plagued with worry about family left behind and the upcoming birth of her child during ongoing tumult. She reflects on the current circumstances of her homeland and expresses hope for a peaceful future as she awaits her new life as a mother.
