Credit: Fr. Jacob Thelekkadan
Today, the war in Sudan that Fr. Jacob describes as “tragic and unfortunate” has caused displacement of people, heavy casualties, as well as pitiable and unimaginable destruction.
Fr. Jacob says that the war has caused psychological and physical trauma for those who chose to remain on in the Sudan. “The war has contributed abundance of fear, hunger, thirst, loneliness, sicknesses, etc. in the hearts and lives of people!”
At Dar Mariam, Fr. Jacob is only allowed two hours of internet connectivity every day. He tries as much as possible to update the world on the situation of the community whenever he accesses the internet.
Credit: Fr. Jacob Thelekkadan
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Dar Mariam has experience at least four attacks, some leading to injuries and massive destruction of the community.
Fr. Jacob narrates that though the war started in April in Khartoum, it gradually spread to the other cities and areas of Sudan. He says that by June, 2023, heavy artillery fire, bombings and explosions began to be heard in Shajara too, sending fera among the inmates of Dar Mariam.
“By the end of July, 2023, many residents of Shajara began to move out of Shajara,” Fr. Jacob says, adding that by October, 2023, people around Dar Mariam preferred to leave their poor homes and live within Dar Mariam complex for greater safety and security.
He describes 3 November 2023 as an unforgettable day for the inmates of Dar Mariam, and explains, “A deadly bomb exploded in the residence of the sisters, destroying three rooms and other properties of the inmates. But the Providence of God reigned even at this tragic moment. One sister, a volunteer teacher, three children and their mother sustained injuries from this bombing though not life threatening.”
Credit: Fr. Jacob Thelekkadan
Two days after the first attack, another deadly bomb destroyed the classrooms on the first floor adjacent to the sisters' residence.
On November 10 2023, an evacuation process that had been arranged for the inmates of Dar Mariam had to be abandoned due to a shooting incident.
The community fell under another attack on 10 December 2023 when a sniper-fire caused a heavy fire and burnt to ashes all the rooms and what was inside, on the second floor of the sisters’ residence. “Once again, Divine Providence did not allow any harm to any of the inmates in Dar Mariam,” Fr. Jacob recounts.
Credit: Fr. Jacob Thelekkadan
He says that by the end of December 2023, Shajara had been surrounded by the RSF forces, causing the closure of markets, shops, pharmacies and other amenities.
Hunger befell Dar Mariam owing to this closure and the sister struggled to feed the people who had sought refuge in the community.
According to the Indian Catholic priest, the cutting off of electrical power since May 2023, has aggravated the suffering of the residents of Dar Mariam.
Credit: Fr. Jacob Thelekkadan
He says that with the non-availability of charcoal and cooking gas, some generous residents go out of Dar Mariam, at the risk of their own lives searching for dry branches of trees to bring as firewood to cook food.
Everyday food in the community is porridge made from flour or lentils or 'keezra' (a kind of pancake) made of 'shorgum' flour or rice. Without of any vegetables including onions and potatoes, without any type of fruits, without meat or eggs, many residents, especially children have become malnourished very weak, the priest shares.
Additionally, the inability to foresee an end to the war is increasing the psychological trauma of many people who are stuck in Sudan, he says.
Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.