Article published by Global Sisters Report

Hundreds of Catholic sisters in Sudan have shut down their ministries and are desperately seeking ways to escape the violence that has engulfed the northeastern African country as rival security forces continue to fight for control.

Sr. Angelina Ebrahim Trilly Koko of the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd said her congregation had already shut down several schools and hospitals that serve thousands of residents and stopped their pastoral work because of the ongoing fighting in the country of more than 45 million people.

Koko, a teacher in El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state in central Sudan, described shock and disbelief at what was happening in her country. She said bodies are scattered on the streets, the noise of the gunshots and explosions is all over, and people are panicking and hiding in their homes.

"Our country is now dead. Many people have lost their lives, and some have fled their homes," Koko told Global Sisters Report by phone from El Obeid, where there has been intense fighting for the last few days. "The problem with these fighting groups is that they are now advancing their tactics by throwing grenades at people's houses. This makes the number of people who have died unknown."