The word anguish as used in the passage means

On that fateful day, they had pursued everyone in the neighbouring villages. Later, they came to ours and pursued us to the mountains. Everyone ran for dear life. We knew what we were up against. They blocked the mountains for two months. We were stuck there, praying and fasting, asking our God to show us a way out. God heard our prayers. One day, we left around 12 midnight from the mountains. Without shoes and clothes, we just left. As we left the mountains that day and descended, we almost came in contact with the insurgents. We hid in the bush till they left around 2 o’clock. We started to walk to Cameroon. We travelled for two days across several labyrinths. We were in anguish. Our children’s feet were swollen. Some of them bitten by snakes died because we were not able to carry them to hospital for treatment.