Stranded in war-torn Sudan, Thwiba Eltom and her family feared they might never return home.

“I had that moment where I don’t know if we’re gonna make it back," said Eltom. “I don’t want this to be a stressful event in the future where my kids are traumatized.”

What You Need To Know

  • The fighting is between the military and a rival paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces. Both sides want to prevent Sudan from becoming a democracy

  • According to the United Nations, the conflict has killed 550 people and wounded nearly 5,000

  • President Biden called for an end to the violence and signed an executive order that lays the groundwork for possible sanctions against Sudan

Eltom, Mufadal Mufadal and their two children flew from New York to Sudan on April 7 to pay a visit to their extended family during Ramadan. One week later, military clashes broke out and the airport was destroyed.

“When I woke up, I heard a lot of bombing and shooting and air force flying," said Mufadal.

“In my house, the voices of the missiles and the heavy army started getting really loud so we took shelter under beds and we tried not to be near the windows," said Eltom.

The fighting is between the military and a rival paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces. Both sides want to prevent Sudan from becoming a democracy. According to the United Nations, the conflict has killed 550 people and wounded nearly 5,000. As the fighting intensified, the family tried to flee as missiles flew overhead, bombs went off around them and people began looting.

“No protection from the army, no protection from the RSF and the police have disappeared," said Mufadal. 

“I would rather die at home than take the kids through those streets," said Eltom.

The family made a second attempt to leave days later, traveling more than 500 miles by bus to Port Sudan. They were able to get on a Hungarian military plane.

“I felt privileged that I had this option, but there was that feeling of everyone is failing Sudan," said Eltom. "Everyone is leaving them and no one is helping them on the ground.”

U.S. Embassy staff met the family in Hungary and transported them to Budapest. From there, they traveled by train to Vienna where they managed to secure a flight back to New York.

“The main thing on my mind was like, ‘We’re out of here. We’re safe,'" said their son 12-year-old son Ahmed. 

“For me, the most difficult part is the survival guilt. I feel like I survived, but I left my people on the ground," said Eltom.

Eltom says their friends back in Brooklyn kept them updated with the latest news and worked to ensure their safe return. Upon arriving home, the family received an outpouring of love and support.

“When I saw that sign, I was holding so much inside and when I saw the sign I was just completely in tears," said Eltom. "It was so amazing to see that. And the love.”

Eltom says she’s still concerned for her family in Sudan and is calling on the United States and its allies to getting involved.

“People are still under the brutality of this regime," said Eltom. "So we need the State Department not only to evacuate the U.S. citizens but also look at the situation happening on the ground and help the people of Sudan.”

On Thursday, President Joe Biden called for an end to the violence and signed an executive order that lays the groundwork for possible sanctions against Sudan.