Untold Chronicles

Untold Chronicles is a visual and narrative journey that sheds light on the lives of ordinary people living through extraordinary hardship. Through personal stories, powerful portraits, and raw moments, this series gives voice to those often unheard, displaced families, women in crisis, and resilient communities navigating the realities of war, loss, and survival across Sudan. Each chronicle reveals the human face behind the headlines.

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I met these two men today in the busy market of Karima. One of them is from Aljazeera, the other is a local. They didn’t know each other before, but somehow, through conversation and tea, a friendship started.

This is the Sudan we rarely see in headlines, how people in Sudan keep finding each other .. even in difficult times. With so many people on the move because of the war, many end up far from home, in towns like Karima. But even here, far from what’s familiar, people continue to connect.

This kind of everyday moment ... simple, quiet, human is what I try to capture. Not everything has to be loud to matter. Sometimes it’s two people sitting side by side, talking like they’ve known each other forever.

I’ll keep sharing these moments from Sudan as I find them.

Keywords: Sudan photojournalism, Karima Sudan market, stories of Sudanese people, friendship in Sudan, Sudan war stories, displacement in Sudan, Northern Sudan portraits, humanitarian photography Sudan

A Chance Meeting in Karima

AlTUOMA

March 26, 2024 – Gedaref, Sudan.

War had chased Altuma (45 y/o) from her home in Khartoum, forcing her and her children to move from one place to another, each time with fewer belongings and less hope. By the time they reached Gedaref, they had nothing but temporary housing that barely protected them from the harsh sun or sudden rains.

Speaking quietly but firmly, she said,

"I don’t want much. I just wish to return home one day with my children, safely. That’s all."

Like countless other women across Sudan, Altuma bore the weight of survival not only for herself, but for her children. Her story is one of strength, sacrifice, and the silent resilience of Sudanese mothers living through conflict.

In the midst of Sudan's ongoing crisis, I had the privilege of meeting Ali in Wadi Halfa Park. His journey had been nothing short of harrowing. After enduring two critical surgeries during the war, he was asked to evacuate his neighbourhood in Omdurman. Tragically, his uncle, whom he had been staying with fell victim to random shootings, and Ali was forced to leave everything behind.

Living in Wadi Halfa Park in Northern Sudan, Ali shed light on the harsh reality faced by internally displaced persons (IDPs). When asked about the most urgent needs, he stressed the daily struggle for food, sharing, "I required 1,000 Sudanese Pounds daily for food. Sometimes, I went without."

1,000 SDG was almost 1.5 USD.

ALI

Tunaydbah Camp, Sudan 2024

Dr. Mogahed, 29, is a physician serving in one of Sudan’s largest displacement camps. He was forced to flee with his family when the conflict reached Al Jazirah. Now, he lives among the people he treats. Each day, he cares for over 50 patients. Many suffer from malnutrition, trauma, infections, and chronic conditions. Despite the overwhelming needs, he continues to serve with calm dedication.

“When the conflict spread, my family was not an exception,” he said.
“Now, I do what I can to help others survive it.”

He recalled a baby who arrived severely underweight. After three weeks of treatment, the child gained one kilogram. It was a quiet victory that meant everything to the family.

I documented his story while covering the work of the International Rescue Committee in the camp. Dr. Mogahed represents the quiet strength behind Sudan’s humanitarian response. His story is one of many that deserve to be seen and heard.

📸 Photo: Noory Taha for the IRC

Keywords: Sudan humanitarian crisis, displaced communities Sudan, documentary photography Sudan, IRC Sudan, Sudanese doctors, refugee healthcare, Sudan photo essay

Dr. Mogahed’s Story in Sudan

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