Palestinian on the Horrors of Sudan: Children Carry Swords and Houses Are Burning

Palestinian student Khamees Joudeh, who grew up in the Gaza Strip and survived several wars, says he has never witnessed anything like the violence he saw in Khartoum this month. Joudeh, 25, who is studying medicine and was evacuated from the Sudanese capital yesterday, Tuesday, with dozens of other Palestinians, said, "For fear, each one of us was holding our soul in our hands." Other Palestinians reported seeing corpses in the streets, looting, and clashes among armed locals while they waited to cross into Egypt from Sudan. Joudeh remarked, "We did not expect air raids in an internal conflict." With the collapse of security, one person evacuated stated, "I saw children carrying swords to protect themselves." The witness requested anonymity to avoid potential security issues if he returns to Sudan. He added, "We saw factories, vehicles, and houses still burning as we passed by." The evacuation of Palestinians is part of a broader mass exodus of foreigners fleeing the fighting. Although Gaza has witnessed numerous wars between Israel and Palestinian factions and endured an internal conflict in 2007, Joudeh felt shocked by the weapons used in the hostilities between the two sides since April 15.