Mohanad Hashim

And everywhere is destroyed.

Recovery will be a monumental challenge, not just because of the scale of the destruction, but also because of what people have endured.

Dua is an artist and pro-democracy activist.

While millions fled, she stayed in Khartoum under RSF occupation.

She spoke to us in the presence of a military liaison officer who was required to accompany us throughout our time in Khartoum.

Dua was alone at home, a few months pregnant when the war began.

Yet, she decided to stay to help others in her community.

At the beginning, she says, the RSF behaved well, but as the war went on, it started to change.

Over time, there were critical shortages of food, water, medical care, schools too shut down.

On top of the threats of shelling and drones came the danger of living in a city controlled by armed men.

At what point did women start worrying for their safety here?

It was that bad?

Amit Stoldes, a few months into the occupation, gave birth to her baby boy at home with just a friend for help.

Even so, she decided not to leave because she was involved in organizing local mutual aid groups called emergency response rooms.

where in the absence of government, Sudanese women and men took it upon themselves to help each other.

They set up communal kitchens, basic health care, even home education, and provided counseling and comfort amid the brutality of the war.

After two years, an end to the RSF occupation was in sight.

By early 2025, the army had retaken other parts of the capital and was preparing to fight its way across the rivers to Khartoum proper.

But Doua says in these final months, the RSF became even more of a threat to civilians.

Informants for the army.