Uprooted twice
A Syrian refugee mother’s tale on the conflict in Sudan and how UNICEF is supporting
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- العربية
For many years, Sudan has hosted refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants. Over one million refugees live in Sudan, mainly from South Sudan, Eritrea, Syria, Ethiopia, the Central African Republic, Chad, Yemen, and other countries.
Following the recent fighting that erupted on 15 April 2023, thousands of foreign girls and boys and their families have also been directly affected and displaced by the recent fighting. Yet again, they have been driven from their new homes, fleeing the bombs and shelling, street violence, robberies, and looting of their dwellings pushing them into the unknown again.
Manal Hassan is a Syrian who was born and previously lived in Damascus. She is a mother of three children- two boys and one girl aged 12, 11, and the youngest only 5 years. Manal arrived in Sudan in 2016 with her husband and two children, fleeing war in Syria. She was blessed with her third child – a boy born in Khartoum.
Her husband found a job with a company and was able to look after his growing family. Then the clashes erupted in Khartoum forcing them and many other Syrian families to flee to Port Sudan – one of the states that has not been directly affected by conflict. The journey to Port Sudan is still fresh in her mind as she recalls how their belongings including valuables were taken at the check points.
As one of the safe havens, Port Sudan accommodates around three thousand individuals, all displaced from Khartoum and many other states. The displaced families currently live in 18 gathering sites. While most Sudanese families find refuge with their extended families, the overcrowded gathering sites with hardly any facilities are the only places where refugees can find shelter.
But UNICEF and partners are providing relief. Following several assessments at the shelters provision of integrated services to benefit the displaced is being done. Among the services is providing safe drinking water, which is priceless given the very high temperatures that rise as high as 40 degrees. For Manal Hassan, having enough water in the gathering site where she has lived for over a month is essential as she continues her daily chores, washing clothes and preparing meals with the few available commodities.
"I want to go back to Damascus and live in my home again," Manal says,
as her husband looks for avenues for the young family to leave Sudan and look for safety for his children yet again.
But what is clean water without adequate sanitation? UNICEF is also constructing temporary latrines and distributing soap and other sanitation supplies to support adequate sanitation and hygiene practices.
In the same state, health facilities supporting displaced families have also been equipped with essential medicines and supplies and are available free of charge for Manal, her family, and others to access.
Efforts are underway to decongest overcrowded shelters and equipping them with safe spaces where children can find shade and play.
