Fatima standing proudly, holding her 6-month-old daughter, Lima, in the warm golden light of afternoon. © Isabella Olsson, LM International
Fatima, 26, holds her 6-month-old daughter Lima close as she sits in the shade outside her makeshift shelter in Gaga camp, Eastern Chad. The camp, now a refuge for nearly 38,000 people, has provided a fragile sense of safety after her escape from violence in Al Junaynah, Sudan. ‘Before the war, I was happy,’ she recalls, eyes dimmed by memories. ‘I had everything. Now I have nothing.’
- Fatima
The April 2023 conflict forced Fatima to flee on foot alongside a mass of others. Though her journey to the border took only a couple of days, reaching Gaga camp took much longer. Upon crossing into Chad, she was directed to Adré, a busy entry point and temporary settlement camp, where she waited for weeks. In Adré, resources were stretched thin, and the process of registration was slow, delaying her transfer to Gaga. Finally, with the assistance of partners like LM International, she and others were relocated to Gaga, where the support infrastructure was better equipped to meet their needs.
Life in Gaga has evolved significantly since her arrival. LM International has addressed the water scarcity by drilling a large borehole connected to 10 pumps, ensuring steady access to water for Fatima and others in the camp. ‘We live on what is given; there is no other way,’ Fatima says, grateful for the basic aid distributions of rice, sugar, and water, along with small cash stipends that offer some choice, though limited.
Sanitation has seen some improvement, with LM International installing three dedicated trash points to help keep the camp clean, though many more are still needed to meet demand. Early arrivals shared one emergency latrine among four households, but LM International has since worked with families to build more durable, private latrines, including forming water and sanitation committees among the refugees. Today, the camp has one latrine for every 12 people—a significant improvement but still shy of ideal conditions in crowded spaces. Fatima knows that the new sanitation infrastructure, along with the committees to maintain it, helps reduce health risks for families, especially as over 60% of the arrivals are children, and most households are female-led.
For additional security, LM International installed 20 solar-powered street lamps around the camp, offering Fatima and others a small measure of reassurance during the night. Haunted by the trauma of her escape—beatings, robbery, and the constant fear of violence—Fatima rarely ventures outside the camp. ‘I am afraid of being killed, beaten, or raped. The images come back at night,’ she admits. Now, with the camp illuminated after dark, she feels a small but meaningful sense of security for herself and her daughter, Lima.
In the photograph, Isabella Olsson, our Head of Global Advocacy, and Alhadi Mahmat Yahaya, WASH Technician, conducting interview with Fatima | © LM International
Fatima's greatest loss is her dreams. In Al Junaynah, she was in her third year of studying economics, aspiring to a master’s degree. ‘I had everything before,’ she says quietly. Here, days blend into each other, marked by waiting.
Yet, hope glimmers when she speaks of Lima. ‘I want her to have an education and more opportunities.’ It is this wish, fragile yet powerful, that fuels her resolve. Despite the shadows of her past and the bleakness of her present, Fatima holds onto the belief that one day, she may return to Al Junaynah and reclaim a life that now feels like a distant dream. ‘I just want to go home,’ she whispers, the words carrying all the weight of her hope and heartbreak.
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As per the UNHCR Sudan Situation Weekly Update, there are now 11.4 million forcibly displaced due to the outbreak of conflict in Sudan since April 2023, including 8.2 million internally and 3 million in neighbouring countries. Sudan and neighbouring countries were already hosting large refugee populations before this new emergency and require additional support to provide protection and critical life-saving assistance, including for those who have been secondarily displaced within Sudan. Urgent needs include water, food, shelter, health, and core relief items.
LM International, the lead and focal point for WASH in 13 of the Sudanese refugee camps, has been pivotal in meeting these needs, including providing all water infrastructure and sanitation for Gaga camp. The current priority activities are the registration of new arrivals, relocation away from border areas, identification of especially vulnerable families and persons with specific needs, and putting mechanisms in place to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and ensure alternative care services for unaccompanied refugee children.