Mention Nyala in South Darfur and red flags go up, alerts of a lawless place, a place of insecurity – a volatile place. But the less told story of the camps in Nyala - the story behind the headlines - is one of resilience and hope.
Friends who remain when others leave: Sudan Family Planning Association and Japanese Trust Fund
Entrenched conflict in Darfur has impacted on the lives of millions, forcing many to flee their homes to camps for internally displaced people. The Sudan Family Planning Association (SFPA) is working in Nyala, South Darfur with internally displaced people, including women and young people, to enhance lives. With support from the Japanese Trust Fund, SFPA was able to offer integrated sexual and reproductive health services to women living with HIV and their families.
-
Faced by stigma and discrimination, this family lost their father a year ago; in a camp where all else are poor, this family is the poorest. Hassan would like to have a donkey, to enable him to be self-reliant and also support his mother and sister. Amina, who has been thrust into adulthood, wants to take care of her mother, she lives ‘in silence, nobody talks to me, I don’t go outside’. -
The internally displaced people in the camp see themselves as ‘living a life worse than death’. They are grateful for the mobile clinic that visits twice weekly, but also recognise that emergencies, such as pregnancy complications do not wait. Furthermore, flooded Waadis in the rainy season – when mobile clinics are cut-off - can sometimes make the difference between life and death. From this lived reality, the leaders have come to see what would help deal with the challenges/vulnerabilities they face. -
The images of adolescent girls either carrying children or pregnant, underscores the urgent need for sexual and reproductive health information – to enable them to make informed choices. -
SFPA has developed important partnerships with one of the key aims being, to tackle stigma and discrimination and provide a support network to young people such as Hassan and Amina. -
Water and sanitation are key issues in the camps. Privacy, often taken for granted by many people is elusive for those in the camps.
