Marwa Omar, along with hundreds of others, queued at dawn in Port Sudan to secure passports, but after 15 hours of waiting, she remained empty-handed.
Since April, an estimated one million people have fled Sudan due to the war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. However, many needed passports, and when violence erupted in April, passport offices closed.
In late August, a new passport office opened in Port Sudan, leading to long queues of desperate people trying to obtain the necessary documents to leave the war-torn country.
Asked about her destination, Marwa Omar replied, “Anywhere but here. This isn’t a country anymore.”
The five-month war has resulted in the deaths of 7,500 people, the displacement of over five million, and the deterioration of Sudan’s fragile infrastructure, leaving millions in dire need.
“There’s nothing left. We can’t live or put food on the table or educate our children,” said Marwa Omar.
Coastal city Port Sudan, which has largely been spared in the fighting, has become a haven for many, including government officials, the United Nations, and Sudan’s only functional airport.
But even for those who manage to enter the passport office, the process is grueling, with cramped conditions, heat, and a lack of seating.
Fares Mohammed, attempting to obtain a passport for his child, said, “At this rate, we’ll be here for months.”
Over 2.8 million people have fled the Sudanese capital Khartoum, and more than half of Sudan is in dire need of humanitarian aid, with six million on the brink of famine, according to the UN.
The cost of obtaining a passport, $200, is a considerable burden for those already grappling with soaring living and food costs.
Nour Hassan, a mother of two, said, “It’s a terrible choice to leave, but living here has become impossible.” She hopes to reach Cairo, Egypt, where she has family, and, like many others, considers it a temporary solution, waiting until it’s safe to return home.