Sudan: Hopes and wishes after a conflict

  • For 27-year-old, Sara Omer, life in a camp has not been easy. Her house was burnt, and she now must live in the crowded camp with her husband and two children. Back at home, she used to grow food, but they now depend on food offered by the organizations each month and it is not enough for her family. Regardless of the situation, she hopes that her children will have a better future. Her wish is to get back to her village and live happily.
    ICRC/ ETovar
  • Zakia Hassan, came from Kiriding camp. Before her current situation, she had a comfortable life but they now live in a crowded camp together with her husband and four children. She is hopeful that with the money received from ICRC, she can buy some food and other essentials that her family needs.
    ICRC/ ETovar
  • 57- year- old, Hassan Saleh has lived in a camp since 2004. Before the war in 2003, he was a merchant, but he currently does not have a source of income. He lost three of his children in the last clashes. His deepest fear is guns and violence. His wish is to get back to his village once security is guaranteed.
    ICRC/ ETovar
  • Due to violence, 32- year-old, Asaad Arbab Mohammed had to stop pursuing his studies. Their house was burnt, and everything was looted. He now works as a volunteer, helping other affected people. He had to move into the camp when with his family when his father was killed 2003.
    ICRC/ ETovar
  • Bakhit Jumma`s father died three years ago in clashes and he and his family had to flee their home. They lost their horse, three sheep and a cow in the war. Sadly, he had to stop his education. His biggest fear is rifles and the enemy. He still has hope to buy a “Karoo”, donkey cart.
    ICRC/ ETovar
  • While 32-year-old Abdul Latif can access his farm, he is afraid to go there due to safety concerns. Their home was burnt and his brother was killed. He misses his animals. He hopes that his children can complete their education and have a better future.
    ICRC/ ETovar
  • Saleh Yaqoob, has lived in camps since 2003. He has lived in camps for long because it’s safer and help comes by. Their house was burnt, and they lost everything. He is concerned that if the security situation doesn’t improve, his six children`s education will be affected. For the 43-year-old, father of six, his biggest dream is that his kids can get back to school to complete their education and become doctors or teachers or anything they chose for their future.
    ICRC/ ETovar
  • 30-yearl-old Madinat Bashir is afraid of war as her village was destroyed and no one lives there anymore. She hopes to find medical care and live a healthy life as her and her brother are living with paralysis.
    ICRC/ ETovar
25 November 2021

This year has brought many humanitarian challenges to Sudan. Violence has affected several parts of the country, especially Darfur where thousands of people have been displaced, more than once. In the Eastern part of the country, thousands of refugees keep arriving from Tigray and other parts of Ethiopia to find themselves in a vulnerable dire situation.

Many more people have been severely affected by rains and floods. Lives, crops and houses have been lost to water, while the economy has seen some of the highest inflation rates, affecting access to food, medicines, services and fuel.

During a distribution in Al-Geneina, West Darfur, people living in camps shared with us a small scoop of their lives and hopes, even though they live with the fear of violence reaching them again.

We talked to a few people there.