Storyline: Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, is struggling to rebuild its educational system as the country faces one of the world's most serious educational crises due to a prolonged civil war in the country. In April 2023, conflicts between Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) broke out in Khartoum. The proglonged civil war has devastated the country's essential services including education. In a joint press release issued in late October this year, four United Nations agencies, namely the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Program (WFP), said over 900 days of armed conflicts in Sudan have destroyed essential services like healthcare and education, pushing millions to the brink of survival and forcing 14 out of 17 million school-aged children in the country out of school. UNICEF has repeatedly warned that Sudan is becoming the region with the worst education crisis in the world. In May this year, the SAF gained full control of the capital city. As the situation gradually stabilizes in Khartoum, local authorities in the capital have been pressing for reconstruction, with the educational system being one of the key focuses. The University of Khartoum is among many educational institutes that have started cleaning up campus and repairing classrooms in preparation to resume teaching activities and student readmission. "Like many other institutes in Sudan, the conflicts caused serious and various damages to the University of Khartoum. One of the most severely destroyed classrooms was left with giant holes in the ceiling and walls due to airstrikes, and all the amenities in it were burned to ashes," said Mohamed Al-Fateh Hayati, deputy dean of the faculty of arts at the University of Khartoum. The graduates coming to join the reconstruction efforts said rebuilding the educational system stands for their hope to start a brand-new life. "Khartoum was severely damaged, and some of the teaching buildings here in the university were completely destroyed. A large amount of the teaching facilities of the history department, the geography department, and other places were damaged. But we hold onto hope, and as long as we join efforts, we can definitely rebuild our home," said Haider Al-Ajab Mekki Al-Nayer, a graduate of the University of Khartoum. Sudan's RSF said on Friday it is monitoring international efforts to push for a ceasefire in the country. "The Rapid Support Forces are following with great interest and appreciation the intensive international movements regarding the situation in Sudan. We declare our full and serious response to these initiatives," the RSF said in a statement on its Telegram page. The statement followed U.S. President Donald Trump's disclosure that he had launched efforts to end the Sudanese conflict, noting the initiative came at the request of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during their White House meeting. On Wednesday, Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council welcomed the efforts of Saudi Arabia and the United States to establish a just and fair peace in Sudan. "We are ready to engage with the United States and Saudi Arabia to achieve the peace that our people are waiting for," the council said. Shotlist: Khartoum, Sudan - Nov 2025: 1. Various of destroyed buildings in University of Khartoum 2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mohamed Al-Fateh Hayati, deputy dean, faculty of arts, University of Khartoum (ending with shot 3): "Like many other institutes in Sudan, the conflicts caused serious and various damages to the University of Khartoum. One of the most severely destroyed classrooms was left with giant holes in the ceiling and walls due to airstrikes, and all the amenities in it were burned to ashes." 3. Various of destroyed classroom 4. Campus 5. Various of personnel cleaning campus 6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Haider Al-Ajab Mekki Al-Nayer, graduate of University of Khartoum: "Khartoum was severely damaged, and some of the teaching buildings here in the university were completely destroyed. A large amount of the teaching facilities of the history department, the geography department, and other places were damaged. But we hold onto hope, and as long as we join efforts, we can definitely rebuild our home." 7. Various of personnel talking, cleaning campus [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland/Al-Arabiya TV/Middle East Broadcasting Center]