Echoes of Home: A Journey Through Khartoum’s Ruins After Conflict

Yousra Elbagir, a Sky News correspondent, returns to her ransacked family home in Khartoum, reflecting on devastation following the RSF’s occupation. Amid ruins, she discovers personal artifacts that symbolize resilience and the enduring spirit of Sudanese hospitality. Despite the destruction, a sense of hope persists as memories of family and community remain.

In the heart of what was once bustling Khartoum, the remnants of a family home tell a harrowing story of destruction. Yousra Elbagir, the Africa correspondent for Sky News, recounts her experience of returning to her family home after the tumultuous events of 2023, when the city descended into chaos amid a power struggle between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The war resulted in over 61,000 fatalities and left millions searching for refuge.

As the RSF departed from Khartoum, they took along the treasures of the city, leaving behind streets lined with charred buildings and shattered storefronts. Elbagir notes how the vibrant skyline, once adorned with gleaming skyscrapers, now looks like a graveyard of steel. The city’s essence is hollow; what was once vibrant is now skeletal, with homes stripped of their life.

The overwhelming impact of the war forced about 13 million individuals, including Elbagir’s own parents, to flee their homes in haste, hoping for a swift return. With heavy hearts, those who have returned are confronting the stark reality of their neighborhoods. All familiar markers have vanished, leaving only dilapidated billboards and overgrown gardens in place of the lively scenes that once defined their lives.

Upon finding her family’s once cherished home, Yousra describes the overwhelming desolation; her childhood refuge reduced to a shadow of its former self. The front lawn chairs, once a gathering point, are now surrounded by tangled weeds. Nearby homes bear similar scars from the conflict, with some standing while others lie in ruins.

While examining the exterior, she notes a crack in the wall, a silent testimony to the violence that swept through. Inside, the devastation deepens: furniture taken, walls stripped bare, and memories shattered—pieces of a life dismantled by looting. The lingering marks left by the invading troops paint a stark picture of trespass and loss.

Yet, amid the chaos and the remnants of destruction, glimmers of hope emerge. Yousra discovers treasured items amongst the debris: a family photo album, a beloved rocking chair, and her own university certificate. Each relic, although damaged, serves as poignant memories of family, laughter, and warmth, reminding her of the indomitable spirit of Sudanese hospitality and community.

Even with the material loss, Yousra reflects on the strength that persists within her heart and her city. The essence of togetherness, which fostered close-knit bonds and laughter, cannot be so easily taken away. The home may be in ruins, but the spirit of those who gathered, shared meals, and created memories within its walls endures, offering hope for a future beyond this devastation.

Elbagir’s reflections on her family’s home reveal the deep scars left by conflict yet also highlight the resilience of the human spirit. While she navigates the ruins filled with sorrow, the remnants of cherished memories symbolize enduring hope. Ultimately, the strength found in community kinship remains untouchable by the forces that seek to dismantle it.

Original Source: news.sky.com