The group, made up of families displaced by the ongoing war in Sudan’s Darfur region, had traveled from Sudan through Chad toward Libya when their vehicle broke down approximately 40 kilometers from the Libyan-Chadian border.
Rescued in the Nick of Time
A rescue team from the Central Ambulance Service in Kufra, southeastern Libya, evacuated the group early Monday morning following a dramatic intervention by two Libyan brothers, Mohammed and Mahmoud, who discovered the vehicle and began the search for survivors who had gone on foot to find help.
“Some were on the verge of death from thirst,” said Ibrahim Abu Hassan, director of Kufra’s Central Ambulance Service. “They were found at the last moment, suffering from severe dehydration and shock, including children and elderly. Fortunately, no deaths were reported.”
Ambulance crews covered more than 350 kilometers round-trip from Kufra to reach the survivors in the harsh desert terrain, located about 100 kilometers south of the city.
A Desperate Journey
According to survivors, their journey began in Al-Hamra and Al-Malha in North Darfur, Sudan. They crossed into Chad and eventually attempted to reach Libya. When their vehicle broke down, the group was left without supplies under the extreme desert sun, with no means to call for help.
“Some resorted to drinking urine mixed with tea and soil to stay alive,” Abu Hassan revealed. “They were too exhausted to speak for days.”
A Grim Warning
Abu Hassan issued a stark warning about the dangers of desert migration:
“Transporting families under such conditions, in vehicles unfit for desert travel and without emergency communication tools, endangers lives and could amount to a crime.”
The Sahara region has become a dangerous corridor for migrants and refugees, particularly Sudanese fleeing the war, many of whom risk their lives due to the absence of safe routes and worsening humanitarian conditions.
Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan
Since April 2023, the war between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has led to the deaths of at least 24,000 people, with 13 million displaced, including 4 million who have fled to neighboring countries.
Parts of Sudan are now experiencing famine, and human rights organizations, including the United Nations, have documented widespread atrocities, including mass rape and ethnic killings—particularly in Darfur—which they say amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Abu Hassan expressed hope that peace will soon return to Sudan, allowing displaced families to go back to their homes safely.
