Ask Onix
Twin sisters caught in school attack
Eighteen-year-old Makarem and Ikram were in separate classrooms at Abu Sitta girls' school in el-Obeid, Sudan, when shellfire erupted in August 2024. Makarem was struck in the shoulder and head; Ikram escaped unharmed but spent frantic hours searching for her sister.
Local residents transported the wounded to hospital by car and animal-drawn carts after the attack, which killed their English teacher and 13 classmates. Makarem was later found to have shrapnel lodged in her skull.
Regional authorities blame paramilitary forces
North Kordofan officials accuse the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group fighting the Sudanese army, of firing the shells. The RSF has not commented on the incident or responded to requests for clarification. It remains unclear whether the school was deliberately targeted.
War's toll on education
Since the conflict began in April 2023, over 150,000 people have died and millions have been displaced. The United Nations describes Sudan as the site of the world's worst humanitarian crisis. An estimated 13 million of the country's 17 million school-age children are out of school.
North Darfur, controlled by the RSF, has the lowest school attendance, with only 3% of schools operating, according to Save the Children. In el-Obeid, dozens of schools have been repurposed as shelters for nearly one million displaced people, creating sanitation and safety challenges for students.
Returning to school amid ongoing violence
Abu Sitta school reopened after three months of renovations. Makarem and Ikram initially struggled to return but were encouraged by friends who had already resumed classes. Psychological support and medical accommodations were provided for traumatized students.
"I used to close my eyes on the way to class to avoid looking at the area where the shelling happened," Ikram recalls.
Despite repeated drone attacks on el-Obeid, students were seen playing in the courtyard during a December visit by the BBC. Headteacher Iman Ahmed described their perseverance as "a form of defiance and loyalty to those who were lost."
Displaced families disrupt learning
Ibtisam Ali, a student at a converted secondary school, said displaced families occupying the grounds made it difficult to leave classrooms, even for basic needs. North Kordofan's education minister, Walid Mohamed Al-Hassan, acknowledged the sanitation issues but framed them as "the conditions of war."
Hope amid hardship
Now 19, Ikram is studying English at university in el-Obeid, inspired by her late teacher. "I kept reminding myself that we should carry the same ambition to achieve what they were unable to achieve," she said.
Makarem, who hopes to become a doctor, is retaking her exams after shrapnel in her head hindered her studies. While her pain fluctuates, she remains optimistic: "I believe that I will be able to achieve the score I am aiming for."
BBC launches educational programme for displaced children
To support children in Sudan and other Arabic-speaking countries affected by conflict, the BBC World Service is launching a new season of Dars (Lesson), an award-winning educational programme. The first episode airs on Saturday, 24 January, at 09:30 GMT on BBC News Arabic TV, with digital availability on YouTube and other platforms.
