'Momma, are they going to kill us?’: Guelph, Ont. mother recounts family's escape from Sudan conflict
"My kids were terrified, Mukhtar said. "Sometimes I can't sleep at night because the sound, and we heard everything."
Mukhtar, along with her two 16-year-old daughters and nine-year-old son, were visiting family in Khartoum when conflict erupted on April 15.
"I’m telling them don't panic, but to be honest I'm shaking from inside and outside and they can see," she said.
For days, Mukhtar and her children found themselves trapped in her mother’s home as gunshots echoed outside and planes dropped bombs on nearby homes.
"You don't know what to do, suddenly electricity is off and we don't have any water, all the supermarkets, everything is totally closed," Mukhtar said. "My son, he's nine years old, he said ‘momma are they gonna kill us?' I had that fear, what he said."
Mukhtar captured videos and photos of their ordeal.
Rania Mukhtar of Guelph is detailing how she and her children made it out of the Sudan conflict. (Photo submitted by Rania Mukhtar)
Rania Mukhtar of Guelph is detailing how she and her children made it out of the Sudan conflict. (Photo submitted by Rania Mukhtar)
Hundreds have been killed and tens of thousands have fled for their lives since the start of the brutal fighting.
"This is my first concern: my kids,” Mukhtar said. “Not about myself, it's about my kids, what would happen, everything coming to my mind is: they are going to kill my kids.”
The family escaped from Khartoum by train. The journey lasted eight days and cost them about $10,000 USD.
Mukhtar and one of her daughters concealed their money and other valuables in their undergarments to ensure they wouldn’t be found by soldiers.
“Well, they can’t search under our pants, they can’t do that, so this is the only safe place to stash our belongings,” she said.
After what Mukhtar describes as an eternity, the family found themselves in Cairo, Egypt.
They are staying with family for now before they make their way back home to Guelph, hoping peace can prevail in Sudan soon.
"I hope that the Sudanese community can be strong and to send our concern to the people who can speak on behalf of us," Mukhtar said.
The federal government has ended evacuation flights from Sudan. Canadians, permanent residents and their families who need help are encouraged to contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre for emergency consular services.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
NEW 'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Canadian couple among tourists on sinking sailing boat tour abroad
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.