In search of Kin, 20 years on
Amar Adam was around 16 years old when he fled his home in Darfur, Sudan, in 2004 due to armed conflict that broke out in his country. On the fateful night when he got separated from his family, he remembers an attack on their village of about 200 families, where houses were set ablaze by their attackers with the intent to eliminate those, they could get their hands on. He says that at that moment, he was confused about what was happening as all he could hear was gunfire and screams all around him.
It has been 20 years since I lost contact with my family
Tears streamed down his face as he recalled how they fled their home, with everyone scattering in different directions. The last time he saw his mother, father, and two brothers was in that chaotic moment. He remembers how difficult it was to find food and water, living in constant fear and uncertainty about whom to trust and how long he would survive. He trekked for kilometres, hitchhiking whenever he could, and managed to survive by taking menial jobs for food and shelter in the villages on his way.
“The people I came across are the ones who helped me. They would give me a few clothes and shoes since I did not have anything,” he said, pausing as if to reflect on the challenges he faced during that time.
His journey to Kakuma began in 2007 when he learned about a camp that served as a haven for those fleeing conflict. He feels fortunate to have arrived in Kakuma Refugee Camp in 2008, where he was received and officially documented as an asylum seeker. As a foreigner in a new place, he knew no one nor spoke the local language but just hoped to see a familiar face from back home.
At 37 years old, he has lived in Kakuma camp for the past 17 years, continuing his quest to find his loved ones. Organizations like the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Kenya Red Cross have provided him with a lifeline and renewed hope, despite the challenges he has faced. Through the Restoring Family Links network—a unique global initiative with a local presence in every community aimed at reuniting families and addressing the needs of those separated or missing due to humanitarian crises—he was able to raise a tracing request to try and find his missing family members.
Amar says that he often feels stressed since he does not know the fate of his family members. He is unsure if they are alive or dead but holds onto hope that one day the ongoing search will yield results, allowing him to reunite with at least one of his family members, even if he cannot find them all.
“It has been 20 years since I lost contact with my family, but I remain hopeful that one day I will reunite with at least one of them, even if not all of them,” said Amar.
