Cade Lucas
It was in January when Mohamed Semra and his family were in Sudan for a holiday, that he sensed something was wrong.
“I kept seeing a buildup of RSF forces” Semra said of the actions of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces.
A paramilitary group that used to be part of the Sudanese military, but which is now in conflict with it, Semra saw the RSF’s behavior as concerning but not a prelude to war.
“We saw it more like a show of strength than anything else.
“No one could’ve suspected it would lead to violence.”
Sadly Semra, a 24 year old from Maidstone who works for an education provider in Tarneit, was wrong.
The situation has lead to violence and Semra’s family are among millions caught in the crossfire.
“I came back at the end of January but the other two stayed” he said of his two older brothers, Mahmoud and Senousi, who’ve been stranded since the conflict began on April 1.
With them is Senousi’s wife who is 9 months pregnant.
“They were in Khartoum but they left to a neighbouring city for safety,” Semra said of them having to flee the capital where the conflict is at its worst.
“You had stray bullets going through people’s windows.
“There’s a lack of water, supermarkets are empty, hospitals were getting targeted.“
All three are now in the coastal city of Port Sudan, awaiting evacuation to Saudi Arabia.
“The hope is to go to Saudi and then to find a way back here,” said Semra who is far from alone in having relatives trapped in his homeland.
Wyndham and Brimbank are have Melbourne’s largest Sudanese communities and Semra, who is also the Vice Chair of Melbourne Sudanese Youth, said many were affected.
“Many of the Sudanese people I know, know at least one person who has passed away”.
Semra is lucky to not have more family members involved, with his mother currently in Egypt, having been prevented from returning to Sudan by the out-break of violence.
As difficult as the situation is, Semra said he and his compatriots were helping each other get through.
“I feel like the Sudanese community has galvanised like never before.
“We’ve created systems in our community to support each other and those on the ground.”
