In a small Catholic church in Port Sudan, the de facto capital hosting hundreds of thousands of displaced people, a priest dressed in white stands above the altar, surrounded by twinkling lights, leading a New Year's prayer. The congregation claps along to the rhythm of the holiday hymn. "I want to be close to my loved ones. Last year, I lost many people who were dear to me," says Zohal Saleh, a student. "I hope it's a happy year, without distance and sadness and every feeling we felt in 2024," she adds. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES