“There were many bodies on the roads, dead people everywhere, and many children in the streets who had lost their families,” said Amina. “Rape happened before our eyes, and killings too.”

Fatima said she was beaten in front of her daughter, who she’d been carrying on her back during the journey out of el-Fasher.

“They ordered me to put her down and started whipping me. They hit me on the chest with my mobile phone, and my children began screaming and crying,” Fatima said.

“They even beat and killed women in the streets. There are bodies lying on the roads. We left so many corpses behind us. If you cannot hide well, they will kill you.”