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Mohamed Refaat, IOM Chief of Mission in Sudan, was speaking to reporters after returning from previously inaccessible Khartoum state, which is now back under the control of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).<\/p>\n
War erupted between the SAF and former ally the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023, and civilians continue to bear the brunt of the violence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Recent weeks have seen intense fighting around the capital city, Khartoum, which had mostly been under RSF control.<\/p>\n
Mr. Refaat said that even he was shocked by the level of destruction in the city.<\/p>\n
\u201cElectricity stations have been looted; the water pipes have been destroyed. And I’m not talking about some areas. I’m talking about everywhere I went,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The veteran aid worker has served in other conflict situations, including Libya and Yemen, \u201cand the level of destruction I have seen in Bahri, Khartoum, is unimaginable<\/strong>,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n \u201cThere has been targeting of not only people\u2019s houses, but administrative areas, not military areas, but all the basic infrastructure that can maintain lives for people.\u201d<\/p>\n Massive re-investment is needed to help all those returning to the Sudanese capital after nearly two years of war, he said.<\/p>\n Mr. Refaat described meeting Sarah, an elderly maths teacher, unable to flee the violence. Her days had been \u201cfilled with horror\u201d<\/strong>, witnessing the loss of loved ones, seeing homes destroyed and being surrounded by the permanent threat of violence and sexual abuse.<\/p>\nHorrors all around<\/strong><\/h2>\n