On a normal day in August 2024, the Abu Sitta girls' school in el-Obeid, Sudan, was hit by deadly shelling. Eighteen-year-old twin sisters Makarem and Ikram were in different classrooms when the attack began. Makarem was wounded in the shoulder and head, while Ikram escaped unhurt. "We took cover beside the wall and the girl who was standing in front of me put her hand on my shoulder and said: 'Your shoulder is bleeding,'" Makarem recalled. Tragically, their English teacher and 13 classmates were killed, with dozens injured. About half of Makarem’s friends died and the other half were hurt. Emergency help was scarce, so locals used cars and carts to take the wounded to hospital. Makarem later discovered a piece of shrapnel lodged in her head, causing severe pain. Sudan's civil war, which began in April 2023, has led to the deaths of over 150,000 people and displaced millions. North Kordofan, where el-Obeid is, is a frontline due to its oil richness and strategic location. After three months, the school reopened. Despite fear and painful memories, many students, including Makarem and Ikram, returned. Headteacher Iman Ahmed called their return "a form of defiance and loyalty to those who were lost." However, many city schools remain shelters for displaced people, complicating study conditions. Ikram now studies English at university inspired by her late teacher, while Makarem aims to become a doctor, despite ongoing health challenges from her injury. She plans to repeat her school year to improve her exam scores. Their courage shines amid Sudan’s dire humanitarian crisis. To support education, BBC World Service is launching an Arabic learning program to help children affected by conflict.