riek machar was pushed out, then we don't expect peace to come. >> reporter: tens of thousands of people fled the most recent fighting in wau shilluk by walking for days to escape the front lines. they carried whatever they could grab when their villages came under attack. most have taken refuge in this forest. this woman collapsed. her mother said she hadn't eaten for three days. everyone here is visibly exhausted, having slept for weeks out in the open. alisa padaw is also coping with the loss of her youngest son, killed when the government shelled wau shilluk last month. he was only 12 years old. she also has two teenage sons who are missing. >> ( translated ): when the shelling hit, the hot soil fell on me and burned me here on my chest. then, immediately, our house started burning. >> reporter: since leaving wau shilluk, padaw and her family have survived mostly by eating leaves. they left all their harvest behind when they fled for their lives. >> ( translated ): we came with empty hands. we left all our things there. when we go to sleep, we just pray to god that he will assist. wh