International
Refugees from the Sudan war rebuild their lives between fear and hope
Every afternoon, a group of women fleeing the conflict in Sudan gather in a tent in the transit center of Renk, a border town in the territory of South Sudan, to participate in a workshop on gender violence, where they share their testimony, receive the attention of professionals and begin to heal the wounds that the war left them in body and mind.
Some of the attendees are South Sudanese returnees; others, Sudanese refugees, and all try to overcome the fear, suffering and violence, in many sexual cases, that they lived during their escape from the war that broke out more than a year ago between the Army of Sudan and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (FAR).
They sit in a circle and listen in silence to one of the women who decides to explain her story. Some nod, a tear runs down the cheek of another who plays with the hem of her colorful dress, while a woman decides to add her experience.
The safety and well-being of their children was the first thing, despite being paralyzed by fear. Salma, a fictitious name, tells EFE that his three children were unable to sleep due to the fear of bombs and gunfire. Now they sleep a little better, but they are still restless.
“We fled our home in Khartoum (capital of Sudan) around midnight. No car. We walked in silence to another town and another and another,” Salma says about the nightmare of leaving his house behind and crossing the Joda border crossing to apply for refuge in South Sudan.
He doesn’t talk about her. She doesn’t feel prepared. She explains that she lost her husband along the way, without giving details, and is grateful because the little ones can go to a kind of nursery in the center, but regrets that the elderly cannot continue studying.
Dunia, also a pseudonym, feels lucky to have her husband, but shares her concern for minors. “I want my children to be able to go back to school. We want them to open a school here, we don’t want to go to the Mabán refugee camp,” he explains.
After spending half a month in the Renk transit center, the refugees are transferred to the Mabán camp, a nearby location, but neither Dunia nor other women want to: “The facilities are not good and they rape girls and women when they move away to the latrines or to look for firewood in the outskirts,” he says.
Sexual violence against women is a common weapon in all wars. It’s not easy to talk about this episode in their lives. None of them do it. Shame and social and community rejection weighs, and they do not want to reopen wounds that are still healing.
According to a report issued in February by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, “at least 118 people were exposed to sexual violence, including rape, gang rape and attempted rape,” while Sudanese human rights organizations raise the figure to more than 370 in just over a year of war in the African country.
However, these figures are only the tip of the iceberg. The director of the government Department for the Fight against Violence against Women and Children, Salima Ishaq, told EFE that only 2% of the victims of sexual violence have dared to report it to the authorities, while the rest avoid it because of “social restrictions” or “for fear of reprisals.”
“The estimates indicate that the complaints we receive do not exceed 2% of the actual incidents of sexual violence, which means that the total number could reach 7,000 cases of sexual violence,” he added.
Sexual violence has another retaliation: unwanted pregnancies. The Sudanese authorities announced in mid-May that they had taken in a dozen babies abandoned by women raped by FAR fighters, although they did not disclose possible cases resulting from alleged rapes committed by members of the Army.
Yamila was robbed of everything during her escape. Some armed men took her husband and demanded a ransom. He doesn’t have money or know where he is, not even if he’s still alive. “I want him to come back. I’ve thought about killing myself because my children ask me about him and I don’t know what to answer, but I have to move on for them,” he says in tears.
“They are the future. I want you to study and go to university. They are sad because they don’t go to class. One wants to be a teacher, the other wants to be a doctor,” he adds. Despite everything, he appreciates the company of the other women because they give him strength.
It agrees with her Nouran, who recognizes the positive effect that this therapy group has among the participants: “We talk about our problems and look for solutions. Together we are stronger and we help and advise each other, we talk about the children…”
The session ends, but they all feel a little lighter and more lively. They think that when they say something out loud, they take a weight off their back. Tomorrow they will return and little by little they will reinforce this network of women with which they are rebuilding their lives with a shared desire: that the war ends to return to their home, Sudan.
International
Wildfires Burn Nearly 7,800 Hectares in France as Extreme Heat Fuels Fire Risk
Wildfires have burned approximately 7,800 hectares across France during the first eight days of July, already surpassing the more than 4,400 hectares destroyed throughout the entire month of July 2025, according to data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) analyzed by AFP.
Authorities have maintained the highest wildfire alert across much of southern France as soaring temperatures and strengthening winds continue to increase the risk of new outbreaks.
Early-season fires in the departments of Pyrénées-Orientales, Drôme, and Hérault have prompted the deployment of significant firefighting personnel and equipment from across the country as emergency services work to contain the blazes.
Officials continue to monitor weather conditions closely, warning that persistent heat and strong winds could further complicate firefighting efforts in the coming days.
International
USAR El Salvador Helps Rescue Dogs Trapped for 12 Days Beneath Earthquake Rubble
Stories of survival continue to emerge from Venezuela following the powerful 7.5- and 7.2-magnitude earthquakes that struck the country on June 24. In recent days, social media has highlighted the rescue of several dogs that survived for nearly two weeks beneath collapsed buildings.
One of the rescues involved Milo, a small-breed dog that was spotted trapped under the rubble of a collapsed building. The operation was carried out jointly by members of USAR El Salvador, Topos Azteca, and Topos Azteca Nayarit, who safely brought the animal to the surface after 12 days.
Another dog, Draco, a black-and-tan Chihuahua, was rescued from the rubble of an apartment building in La Guaira. Relatives searching for missing pets were guided by the dog’s faint barking. After being rescued, Draco received first aid and hydration from a veterinary team before being transferred to a specialized clinic for further medical treatment.
Meanwhile, the Armed Force of El Salvador announced that another rescued dog, Fénix, has begun a new chapter in El Salvador. According to the institution, the mixed-breed dog was rescued by its Humanitarian Rescue Unit (UHR) and has since been adopted by the team.
The Armed Force said Fénix will be trained as a search-and-rescue dog and is expected to join the UHR in future emergency response missions, becoming part of the unit dedicated to saving lives.
International
UN Appeals for $296 Million in Emergency Aid Following Venezuela Earthquakes
Tom Fletcher, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, is currently in Venezuela, where he has been meeting with government officials to assess the country’s humanitarian response following the recent earthquakes.
During a virtual meeting on Wednesday with ministers organized by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Fletcher issued an urgent appeal for $296 million to fund emergency relief operations.
“We have a clear plan. We need $296 million to address the socioeconomic needs of 1.3 million people over the next six months. It is a time-bound plan,” Fletcher said. He also acknowledged the support already received, adding, “Donors are stepping up, and I pay tribute to them and thank them.”
The emergency appeal comes in addition to the $632 million humanitarian response plan launched earlier this year for Venezuela, where nearly eight million people were already in need of humanitarian assistance before the earthquakes.
According to UN officials, that plan had secured only $115 million in funding before the twin earthquakes struck. Following a new wave of international contributions, the total funding has now reached $300 million.
Wildfires Burn Nearly 7,800 Hectares in France as Extreme Heat Fuels Fire Risk
USAR El Salvador Helps Rescue Dogs Trapped for 12 Days Beneath Earthquake Rubble
UN Appeals for $296 Million in Emergency Aid Following Venezuela Earthquakes
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
International14 hours agoWildfires Burn Nearly 7,800 Hectares in France as Extreme Heat Fuels Fire Risk
-
International15 hours agoUN Appeals for $296 Million in Emergency Aid Following Venezuela Earthquakes
-
Sports4 days agoFrance edge Paraguay 1–0 as Mbappé penalty sends Les Bleus into World Cup quarterfinals
-
International14 hours agoUSAR El Salvador Helps Rescue Dogs Trapped for 12 Days Beneath Earthquake Rubble
-
International15 hours agoGerman Doctor Sentenced to Life for Murdering 15 Patients in Serial Killing Case
-
International2 days agoVenezuela Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 3,535 as Search for Victims Continues
-
Central America2 days agoViolent Killings of Women in Honduras Remain High During First Half of 2026