AP coverage of refugees in Sudan opens a window into Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict

By Fay Abuelgasim, Nariman el-Mofty, Cara Anna and Sam Magdy

The thousands of refugees spilling over the border into Sudan from Ethiopia’s Tigray region are some of the only firsthand witnesses to a worsening conflict that remains out of reach for most of the world’s media. Crossing a remote desert area, they recount ethnic-targeted killings, many fleeing at a moment’s notice and leaving loved ones behind amid an offensive by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmad’s government against Tigray separatists.

Dubai-based video journalist Fay Abuelgasim and Cairo photographer Nariman el-Mofty have put individual faces on the complex story since arriving at the Sudan-Ethiopia border area nearly two weeks ago. Along with reporters Sam Magdy in Cairo and Cara Anna in Nairobi,freelance photographer Marwan Ali and video journalist Mohaned Awad, their work has shown the human toll of a conflict to which access remains tightly restricted, even as the United Nations warns of possible war crimes.

Ap 20332285436825 Ss — Refugees who fled the conflict in the Ethiopia’s Tigray region carry their belongings from a boat after arriving on the banks of the Tekeze River on the Sudan-Ethiopia border, in Hamdayet, eastern Sudan, Nov. 21, 2020. The United Nations refugee agency said Ethiopia’s growing conflict had resulted in thousands fleeing from the Tigray region into Sudan. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20326579427720 Ss — Tigray refugees who fled Ethiopia arrive on the banks of the Tekeze River on the Sudan-Ethiopia border, in Hamdayet, eastern Sudan, Nov. 21, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20326603415843 Aptopix Ss — Refugees who fled the conflict in the Ethiopia’s Tigray region arrive with a donkey on the banks of the Tekeze River on the Sudan-Ethiopia border, in Hamdayet, eastern Sudan, Nov. 21, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20325667398212 Aptopix Ss — The Kassala Mountains near the border with Eritrea, eastern Sudan, Nov. 20, 2020. Ethiopia’s deadly conflict with its insurgent Tigray region spilled over the border as thousands of people fled into Sudan along with soldiers seeking protection, while Tigray’s regional leader accused Eritrea of attacking at the request of Ethiopia’s federal government. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20332732881737 Aptopix Ss — A woman who fled the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region carries water on her back at Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 27, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20329406768833 Ss — Eight-months pregnant ethnic Amhara Ethiopian refugee Blaines Alfao Eileen, right, sits with Tigray refugee Lemlem Haylo Rada, 25, holding her 1-month old baby who was born on a street as she fled, at Um Rakuba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 23, 2020. The conflict in Ethiopia could have turned them against each other, but motherhood took priority. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20328792808783 Aptopix Ss — Terhas Tsfa, 25, who gave birth on a street as she fled the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, holds her baby at Um Rakuba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 23, 2020. The camp does not have enough food, and women worry about being able to breastfeed their infants. – Nariman el-Mofty

Ap 20330721167284 Aptopix Ss — A woman who fled the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region waits for treatment at a makeshift clinic in Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 25, 2020. Refugees in Sudan face little food or medicine, little shelter, little funding and little or no contact with loved ones left behind in Tigray. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20332740593436 Ss — Tigray people who fled the conflict in Ethiopia wait to receive treatment inside the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) clinic at Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 27, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20327748621208 Ss — Medical supplies are piled inside a makeshift clinic donated by the Sudanese government to refugees who fled conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, at Village 8, the transit centre near the Lugdi border crossing, eastern Sudan, Nov. 22, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20333467108659 Ss — Filippo Grandi, United Nations high commissioner for refugees, visits Umm Rakouba refugee camp sheltering people who fled the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 28, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20328805304534 Ss — Tigray refugees who fled the conflict in Ethiopia wait to get cooked rice served by Sudanese local volunteers at Um Rakuba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 23, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20328808707078 Ss — Tigray refugees who fled the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region wait to get cooked rice served by Sudanese local volunteers at Um Rakuba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 23, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20330740523903 Ss — A Tigray girl who fled the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region watches women cook in front of her shelter at Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 25, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20328806302841 Ss — Tigray refugees play volleyball at Um Rakuba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 23, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20332745122134 Ss — Tigray refugees cook in front of their shelter at Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 27, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20332748836969 Aptopix Ss — Tigray refugees run to receive cooked rice from charity organization Muslim Aid at Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 27, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20330745087194 Aptopix Ss — Tigray people who fled the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region walk through Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 25, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20331745644471 Ss — Tigray refugees from Ethiopia arrive on a bus at Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 26, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20331710640107 Aptopix Ss — Tigray refugees from Ethiopia arrive on a bus at Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 26, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20331724790018 Ss — Tigray refugees arrive on a bus at Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 26, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20331732332022 Aptopix Ss — Tigray refugees stand on a hill overlooking Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 26, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20332739411889 Ss — A Tigray man who fled the conflict in Ethiopia pours water into a jug at Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 27, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20332739678299 Ss — A Tigray refugee carries water on her back at Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 27, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20332743404165 Ss — A Tigray woman who fled the conflict in Ethiopia works on building a family shelter using local materials provided by the Sudanese Red Crescent and United Nations Refugee Agency at Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 27, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20330732456618 Aptopix Ss — A young Tigray refugee walks near her shelter at Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 25, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20334429244126 Ss — A Tigray woman who fled the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region carries her baby to attend Sunday Mass at a church, near Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 29, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20334415461927 Aptopix Ss — A Tigrayan priest who fled the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region delivers a sermon during Sunday Mass at a church near Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 29, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20334419350825 Aptopix Ss — Tigrayan refugees pray during Sunday Mass at a church near Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 29, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20334422191175 Ss — A Tigrayan boy who fled the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region looks at an Ethiopian priest’s Bible during Sunday Mass at a church near Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 29, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20334420363934 Ss — A refugee of Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict weeps after Sunday Mass ends at a church near Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 29, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20334448232426 Aptopix Ss — A Tigray refugee stretches her arms after Sunday Mass ended at a nearby church, at Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 29, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Ap 20334429781008 Aptopix Ss — Tigray refugees arrive for Sunday Mass at a church near Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Nov. 29, 2020. – AP Photo / Nariman El-Mofty

Abuelgasim and el-Mofty were among the few journalists who negotiated access to an expansive border river where refugees crossed in crowded boats. They captured scenes of broken families amid an arduous journey,many with young children. Anna,who has reported extensively on the conflict, has provided indispensable insight into the situation on the other side of the border even as the communications blackout persists in the region and the warring parties release scant and conflicting information.

After receiving a tip from Magdy,who had been in touch with aid workers on the ground,Abuelgasim and el-Mofty profiled two mothers who went into labor while they were fleeing the violence in Tigray. One gave birth alone while walking on the desert road. Other refugees passing by found her and helped her wash the baby boy in a puddle. She and another mother who went into labor while fleeing,giving birth to a girl, say they’re struggling to breastfeed their infants in the camps where food and clean water can be scarce.

Nearly 40,000 people have fled the Ethiopian government’s offensive in the defiant Tigray region. They have hurried into Sudan, often under gunfire. One refugee baby had her first bath in a puddle. Now she cries all night in a country that is not her own. https://t.co/IuxZT660Lj

— The Associated Press (@AP) November 24, 2020

Their images of the new arrivals at scattered refugee camps,often a three-hour drive on rough roads from the nearest town,have earned significant client usage,with Abuelgasim’s video edits from the border area seeing top usage for nearly two weeks,while el-Mofty’s photos of the refugees crossing into Sudan have been used by The New York Times and The Washington Post,among other international clients.

For their determined,resourceful and revealing work to document the individual struggles of an escalating refugee crisis,Abuelgasim,el-Mofty, Anna and Magdy earn AP’s Best of the Week award.