Darfur’s Desperate Turn to Pen and Paper in the Digital Age

In Darfur, a region wracked by conflict, no internet or phone service exists, and people are turning back to handwritten letters for communication.

Ahmed Issa, 25, scribbles a letter to his family in a roadside cafe.

From a safe location 150 kilometers away, Issa says this is often the only way to get news. The violence in Sudan has made contact even within towns hard.

Conditions have worsened, with reports of brutal violence surfacing regularly.

Darfur residents still remember the long war and atrocities that began in 2003. Issa carefully folds his letter, unsure if it will even reach its destination.

“You can’t be sure if they’ll get it,” he tells reporters. And even if they do, a reply isn’t guaranteed.

Three months ago, western Darfur’s capital Al-Fashir was the primary battle zone. Now it’s Nyala, where Issa’s family resides.

In just one day last week, 39 civilians, mostly women and kids, were killed. Over ten days in August, more than 50,000 people fled Nyala, according to the UN.

Utilities like water and electricity quickly failed, making a bad situation even worse. Residents brace for more violence as military planes circle overhead.

Human rights activist Ahmed Gouja shares any news he can online, revealing last week that five families were “killed in one day.”

Suleiman Mofaddal sees anxious families every day. They’re waiting for news from Nyala in his small office.

His desk is piled with letters, ready to be delivered to Nyala. These letters are the fragile links holding families together.

This old form of communication has become a lifeline. As violence continues, a folded piece of paper can mean the world.

It’s a simple yet poignant symbol of the desire for human connection amid chaos.

Background

Darfur has a painful history that dates back decades. The conflict began in 2003 when rebel groups rose against the Sudanese government.

At that time, the government launched a brutal counterattack. Since then, various armed groups have been clashing, leading to a humanitarian crisis.

International efforts to bring peace have had limited success, making life difficult for locals.

With information from AFP