‘We’re being shelled to shreds’: British-Sudanese woman trapped by deadly clashes in Khartoum tells of harrowing ordeal
A British-Sudanese woman has described her “harrowing” ordeal over the last seven days in the capital Khartoum during clashes that have resulted in hundreds of deaths.
Rozan Ahmed travelled to the country to attend her cousin’s funeral nine days ago.
Sudan has been rocked by clashes between its army and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary support force. More than 400 people have been killed and at least 3,500 injured in the violence so far, according to the United Nations.
Khartoum has been hardest hit, with people trapped in their homes.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak chaired an emergency COBRA meeting on Saturday over the “extremely concerning” situation, with plans to evacuate UK diplomats.
Speaking from Khartoum on Saturday afternoon, Ms Ahmed told Sky News: “I have been hiding under my bed for the last six hours, the area where I stay has been shelled to shreds.
“I have heard nothing but explosions and gunfire, and shelling screams for the past six hours. Only now has it died down.
“On top of that we have to deal with the fact that there are rogue soldiers walking around our streets, randomly raiding our homes, and then we don’t have water.”
Ms Ahmed, a British-Sudanese writer and activist who is usually based in London and Dubai, said the situation had been the same for the last seven days straight.
“This war started on Saturday 15 April, seven days later we are still here,” she said.
“I am alive only by the grace of God and by the strength of my surrounding family members who thankfully are also still alive although saying that, we are all mentally devastated.
“I and my family members are terrified to a point where we have gone numb.”
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Sudan clashes
Ms Ahmed said that while she still has food, her household doesn’t have any more water and electricity.
“I personally haven’t had running water for seven days: I ran out of drinking water two days ago.”
She also claimed that there had been no communications from the British Embassy about being evacuated from the city.
“I don’t know why we have received no information as to our evacuation,” Ms Ahmed said.
“As a British national, I haven’t heard anything from the British Embassy. My only question is, if there is no plan to get me out, please tell me why.
“If there are logistical issues, if there are airspace problems, I should be aware, I should be updated as to why, seven days later, I am [still] here.”
She questioned whether the conflict taking place in an African nation in some way impacted on the perceived slowness of the British government to act to protect its nationals.
“It is a shame, a real shame, that I am not Ukrainian.
“It is a shame this isn’t some Eurocentric country, because I imagine if this wasn’t an African country, if I wasn’t of African origin, my life would be treated with a little more worth and value and importance and priority,” Ms Ahmed said.
“If there is no plan to get us to safety, again, let us know why.”
“This has been the most harrowing experience of my life and my only focus right now is to get to my mother, who is probably more pained than I am, and I need to understand why we are still here.”
Ms Ahmed made a plea for foreign intervention in the conflict.
“The world must exert pressure on an immediate ceasefire: these two factions must stop fighting in the midst of innocent civilians. This is our only plea.
“These two factions must find the grace in dialogue and stop killing us.”
Israel’s full cabinet has approved the Gaza ceasefire deal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has said.
It comes after Israel’s security cabinet recommended the deal be approved earlier on Friday. The truce is likely to begin on Sunday.
According to reports 24 ministers voted in favour of the accord and voted against it.
An Israel government statement said: “The government has approved the outline for the return of the abductees.
“The outline for the release of the abductees will enter into force on Sunday, 19 January, 2025.”
In its first stage, the deal would see 33 of the 98 hostages freed over the course of six weeks. About half of the 98 are believed to be alive.
The remainder are to be released in a second phase that will be negotiated during the first.
Hamas has said it won’t release everyone without a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal.
Between 990 and 1,650 Palestinian prisoners and detainees will be released in exchange, depending on the number of hostages freed.
Hostages’ families in Tel Aviv on 17 January. Pic: Reuters
Hardliners in Israel’s coalition government have criticised the deal as giving in to Hamas and security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened to resign if it was approved.
However, he said he wouldn’t bring down the government.
The ceasefire has been long in the works and there have been false dawns, but on Wednesday a deal was done after mediation by Qatar, Egypt and the US.
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Large blasts continue over Gaza
Read more:
What does Gaza ceasefire say?
What do Israelis think of the deal?
Israel has continued strikes on Gaza in the meantime, and Palestinian officials said 86 people were killed the day after the agreement was unveiled.
More than 46,000 people have been killed in Israel’s offensive in Gaza – mostly women and children – according to officials there.
Around 1,200 were murdered in Israel – alongside more than 250 who were kidnapped – in the October 2023 Hamas terror attack that started the war.
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How the war has destroyed Gaza
Israel has said it wants to wipe out the group and that it has killed some 17,000 of its fighters.
However, it has been accused of not doing enough to protect civilians – claims it denies – in a war that has devastated Gaza, displaced hundreds of thousands and left many starving.
The World Health Organisation has said it should be possible to dramatically increase Gaza aid to about 600 trucks a day under the deal.
An average of 51 entered in early January, according to UN data.
The ceasefire deal is “the last chance for Gaza”, Qatar’s prime minister has said, adding: “Failure is not an option.”
In an exclusive interview with Sky News’ Yalda Hakim, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani warned that “peace won’t happen” if there is not a Palestinian state.
He also criticised parties for the time it took to reach a deal.
Qatar has been one of the key mediators between Israel and Hamas in the more than 15 months since the renewed conflict erupted.
Mr al Thani told Sky News: “What we have reached with this deal is the last chance for Gaza. To save Gaza from this war this is our last chance.
“When we talk about peace in general, peace won’t happen without a Palestinian state at the end of the day. To address the root cause of the issue and not to just address the symptoms of the issue.”
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Asked what the consequences of the ceasefire deal collapsing would be, he said: “Failure is not an option. That’s what all of us should aspire to.
“If it fails we will not give up we will make sure it is rehashed again and the parties are adhering to that.”
Mr al Thani said Qatar’s role was as “guarantor and mediators” and that they would make sure the deal is delivered.
He talked about creating a “safety net” for any issues to be resolved before the deal “explodes”.
Qatar’s prime minister also criticised the negotiating parties for the time it took to agree a deal, saying that it was the same framework agreed upon in December 2023.
“Which is basically 13-months of a waste of negotiating the details that has no meaning and is not worth a single life that we lost in Gaza or a single life of the hostages lost because of the bombing.”
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He also touched on US president-elect Donald Trump, who he said could “create a greater impact for the region”.
Commenting on how the incoming administration has operated during negotiations, he said: “I believe if this continues to be the attitude and approach for the next four years, we can create a lot of good things for the region.”
Elaborating on the need for a Palestinian state next to an Israeli state, he said: “That’s what we are aiming for.
“And I believe this moment we count on the wisdom of the leadership of the world. To really push for a solution at the end to the day.”
Israel’s security cabinet has approved a deal with Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages and prisoners.
It will now go to the full cabinet for final sign-off, with a meeting said to be scheduled for this afternoon.
A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said approval came “after examining all political, security and humanitarian aspects” and with the understanding it “supports the achievement of the war’s goals”.
Live – Gaza ceasefire agreement latest
If passed, the truce could begin on Sunday.
In its first stage, the deal would see 33 of the 98 hostages freed over the course of six weeks. About half of the 98 are believed to be alive.
The remainder are to be released in a second phase that will be negotiated during the first.
Hamas has said it won’t release everyone without a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal.
Between 990 and 1,650 Palestinian prisoners and detainees will be released in exchange, depending on the number of hostages freed.
Hostages’ families in Tel Aviv on 17 January. Pic: Reuters
Hardliners in Israel’s coalition government have criticised the deal as giving in to Hamas and security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened to resign if it was approved.
However, he said he wouldn’t bring down the government and ministers are expected to approve it.
The ceasefire has been long in the works and there have been false dawns, but on Wednesday a deal was done after mediation by Qatar, Egypt and the US.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Large blasts continue over Gaza
Read more:
What does Gaza ceasefire say?
What do Israelis think of the deal?
Israel has continued strikes on Gaza in the meantime, and Palestinian officials said 86 people were killed the day after the agreement was unveiled.
More than 46,000 people have been killed in Israel’s offensive in Gaza – mostly women and children – according to officials there.
Around 1,200 were murdered in Israel – alongside more than 250 who were kidnapped – in the October 2023 Hamas terror attack that started the war.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
How the war has destroyed Gaza
Israel has said it wants to wipe out the group and that it’s killed some 17,000 of its fighters.
However, it’s been accused of not doing enough to protect civilians – claims it denies – in a war that’s devastated Gaza, displaced hundreds of thousands and left many starving.
The World Health Organisation has said it should be possible to dramatically increase Gaza aid to about 600 trucks a day under the deal.
An average of 51 entered in early January, according to UN data.
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