Khartoum Gravedigger Faces War’s Grim Reality Amid Ongoing Conflict

Sudanese troops are regaining control of Khartoum amid a devastating civil war, leading to increased civilian casualties and humanitarian crises. Gravedigger Abidin Durma illustrates the dire situation as he buries numerous victims daily. Despite military successes, the ongoing conflict continues to profoundly affect the local population and future generations.

Sudan’s ongoing civil war has seen recent developments as Sudanese troops retake the presidential palace in Khartoum from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This reclaiming of territory marks a significant moment in the conflict, two years post their initial overthrow. However, the war has devastated civilian life, resulting in severe human rights abuses and famine across the nation.

In a recent offensive, Sudanese forces expanded their control in Khartoum, buoyed by morale and operational readiness. The army’s progress includes the destruction of an RSF convoy attempting to retreat, supported by aerial drone strikes that resulted in considerable fire damage. Regaining complete control of the strategically important Republican Palace could serve as a symbolic victory for the Sudanese Armed Forces.

Abidin Durma, a gravedigger in Omdurman, provides a harrowing account of the civilian toll. His family has a historical connection to Sudan’s leadership, and he oversees an expanding cemetery, witnessing a grim increase in fatalities from the conflict. Daily, he buries numerous victims – sometimes up to 50 bodies – highlighting the overwhelming demand on burial services amid a deteriorating health system. He noted, “There is no time to sleep until the last body is buried”.

The graveyard’s expansion reflects the ongoing death toll, including a mass grave from an artillery strike on a school that claimed over 120 lives. While the RSF is implicated in these attacks, both military factions face condemnation for alleged war crimes. Meanwhile, families struggle with unbearable losses, exemplified by Abazar Abdel Habib’s story, who lost his brother and sister-in-law to artillery fire.

Local communities continue to bear the psychological injuries of war, with many children living in constant fear. Attempts to maintain normalcy are thwarted by regular shelling—despite efforts to adapt. Women in the surrounding neighborhoods speak of hiding from bombardments and suffering the loss of loved ones, with education severely disrupted.

While a regained army control could diminish violence in Khartoum, it leaves unanswered questions about ongoing conflict elsewhere in Sudan—the scars of war will likely linger for a generation.

The civil war in Sudan exemplifies the brutal consequences of conflict, particularly on civilian populations. As military advances are made, the civilian toll continues to rise, with families caught in the crossfire. Gravedigger Abidin Durma’s experience underscores the humanitarian crisis unfolding, marked by heightened death rates and psychological trauma among survivors. Even if military success is achieved in Khartoum, the broader implications of ongoing violence and societal scars will persist.

Original Source: www.bbc.co.uk