The voice of the
female doctor in war-hit Sudan is shaky. She is leaving a message with BBC
Arabic's mobile phone number via WhatsApp.
It is for a
special radio programme called Li Sudan Salam, which means both "greetings
to Sudan" and "peace to Sudan".
It was launched
following the outbreak of conflict there between the army and the paramilitary
Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on 15 April.
Hundreds of
people have died and more than a million have been forced from their homes
across the country.
The radio
programme has received numerous messages about women and girls being raped amid
the insecurity.
It is difficult
to establish the exact number of victims, but doctors fear many cases are going
unreported.
"We have
been able to talk to three women who have been raped and we are trying to
provide treatment for them, but there are two women we haven't been able to
reach yet," says the doctor at one of the few hospitals still operating in
Bahri, one of three cities that make up Greater Khartoum - Sudan's capital.
"We
couldn't sit there and do nothing. We are trying to refer these cases to the
obstetrics department for examination, but our problem in Bahri is that it is
hard to get medicine."
Salima Is'haq,
the director of a government unit to combat violence against women in Sudan,
says most cases of rape are reported in Bahri, which has seen some of the worst
fighting.
"The age of
the girls who come to us range from 12 to 18 years," she says, her voice
full of despair.
"But the
cases we have reached are much lower than the actual number. They may
constitute only 2% of what is happening."
With much of the
government in a state of collapse, Ms Is'haq does what she can.
She co-ordinates
the supply of health and psychological support to victims through a network of
charities and volunteers, but many survivors want no contact.
"The
conditions are currently difficult in Khartoum; everything is chaotic. Now we
are trying to focus the awareness campaign on how to report cases of assault
and get help," she says.
It is an attempt
at accountability and justice in a time of war.
Meanwhile, the
internet is frequently down and there are constant power cuts.
 |
| Many people have struggled to receive treatment since conflict broke out on 15 April |
In Khartoum, only six out of 88 hospitals are operational.
Many messages
received by the radio programme highlight the tragedy of patients suffering
from kidney disease who need regular dialysis but are unable to access
treatment.
"The
medication is almost non-existent now. I couldn't get it for my sick
brother," says Najlaa.
"Fortunately,
I met someone with the same condition at the pharmacy, and he gave me some of
his medication. We need help from any source to provide essential
treatment."
And for daily
labourers who live hand to mouth, it is just as bad.
"We used to
manage with some money, but not anymore. There are no job opportunities. I have
children, and my mother and siblings also live with me. I have spent all my
savings," says Mubarak.
He says his
neighbours have shared what little food they have but it is getting more
difficult every day.
Despite the
trauma, this sense of solidarity at the worst of times is inspiring the team
who work on the radio programme.
"Their
trust in BBC Arabic radio is something which has touched me," says Mays
Baqi, one of the programme's producers. "Despite the difficulty in
communicating, many Sudanese share details about their lives because they trust
that we will listen and tell their stories honestly."
BBC Arabic radio
was closed because of budget cuts earlier this year but a limited service was
restarted when the war broke out. Li Sudan Salam is a twice-daily half-hour programme
on shortwave radio which is also available on the BBC Arabic website.
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