Yousra Elbagir Returns to Khartoum: A Heart-Wrenching Discovery of Loss and Hope

Yousra Elbagir recounts returning to her looted family home in Khartoum, reflecting on the destruction wrought by the RSF during the 2023 conflict. She details the emotional scene of devastation, the lost treasures of her childhood, and the enduring hope of recovery amid significant loss. The article portrays the resilience of the Sudanese community in facing their shattered landscape and future.

In an emotional recounting, Yousra Elbagir, Sky’s Africa correspondent, returned to her family home in Khartoum, which was devastated during the conflict sparked by a power struggle in April 2023. The city, seized by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has seen immense destruction and countless losses, with more than 61,000 fatalities reported amid widespread chaos. In the aftermath of RSF’s retreat, Elbagir confronts the wreckage left behind, highlighting the urgent need for recovery in this battered metropolis.

Elbagir paints a stark picture of Khartoum’s once vibrant landscape now reduced to charred buildings and abandoned homes. Many residents, including her family, fled the turmoil in haste, assuming they would soon return. Now, roads are overgrown, utilities stripped bare, and landmarks are all but gone. Her childhood home, once filled with life, now sits like a shell, overtaken by nature and neglect. “I have to strain my eyes to see the turn to my house. All the usual markers are gone,” she noted, reflecting on the eerie silence that now defines her neighborhood.

As she navigates the terrain of her past, Elbagir discovers remnants of her family’s life amidst the chaos. The garden is choked with weeds, and once-proud mango and jasmine trees have withered. Her family’s car, a familiar symbol of their former life, is now missing—it was taken in the midst of her parents’ evacuation. Despite the loss, items from her childhood remain: a twenty-year-old photo album and a cherished rocking chair serve as bittersweet reminders of happier times amidst the destruction.

The devastation of many households varies significantly; some remain standing but bear the marks of conflict, while others lie in total ruin. Elbagir describes her home’s exterior, seemingly intact at a distance but revealing cracks and damage upon closer inspection. “It is likely a bomb fell nearby and shook the house at its base,” she reflects, illustrating the trauma that many residents are now grappling with in their return.

Inside, the situation is gut-wrenching. Almost all furniture has been taken, and vital household items are missing. The state of disarray echoes the violent upheaval that has wreaked havoc on the community. Despite the trauma of the looting, some treasures remain, signifying what the family and their neighbors once held dear. A haunting testament to their resilience is a painting gifted on her birthday, symbolizing the love that still echoes within the walls of loss.

Yet, amidst the wreckage, Elbagir finds glimmers of hope in the memories of gatherings and shared moments of joy. She emphasizes that the essence of a Sudanese home extends beyond tangible possessions; it is rooted in community and hospitality. “The spirit of the people that gathered to laugh, cry and break bread in these rooms,” she notes, recognizing that while materials can be taken, the warmth of togetherness and enduring love cannot be stolen.

As the dust settles on this devastated city, the emotional landscape remains marked by loss but infused with the hope of recovery. Khartoum’s people grapple with the scars of their past but also hold the promise of rebuilding, driven by the enduring spirit of their community and shared resilience against adversity.

Yousra Elbagir’s poignant reflection on her family’s return to their looted home illustrates the complex aftermath of Sudan’s ongoing conflict. As families sift through remnants of their lives, the profound losses contrast sharply with flickers of hope encapsulated in cherished memories. Her journey through a devastated Khartoum serves as a reminder of the human spirit’s ability to endure, the importance of community, and the relentless aspiration for a better future amidst the devastation.

Original Source: news.sky.com