Arafa wraps her daughter Rimah, both are beneficiaries of clean water and sanitation in Arkoum refugee camp. © Isabella Olsson/LM International
Arkoum, Ouaddaï, Chad, 6 November 2024
Arafa, 41, sits inside her small shelter in Arkoum refugee camp, her one-year-old daughter Rimah nestled in her arms. The soft murmurs of the camp fade into the background as Arafa reflects on the journey that brought her here. Just months ago, she had been in Konga Haraza, a small village in West Darfur, Sudan, where life, though modest, was familiar. The conflict shattered that life, pushing her and her nine children into a desperate three-day trek across harsh terrain, carrying nothing but hope for survival.
'We fled because of the conflict. The whole village fled. The soldiers came to our village and destroyed everything. They killed and they raped the women,' Arafa recalls, the trauma etched into every word. Pregnant and terrified, she gathered her children and fled. 'I took them all and left with nothing. I came with empty hands. I had nothing when I came. No mosquito nets, no covers, nothing to cook the food with, no clothing for the children.'
The camp’s harsh conditions are an ever-present reminder of the challenges they face. Arafa’s husband, unable to work due to severe vision problems, adds another layer of difficulty to their daily life. Their only source of income comes from her eldest daughter, who makes and sells beignets, local donuts. Yet, in the midst of this struggle, Arafa is grateful for one thing: the lifesaving access to clean water and basic sanitation provided by LM International.
When Arafa first arrived at the camp, the absence of clean water and sanitation heightened her fear of disease. Malaria, cholera, and other illnesses were not just possibilities but constant threats. The first visit from LM International changed everything. Volunteers brought hygiene kits and soap, showing Arafa and her neighbors how to maintain basic hygiene under the camp’s challenging conditions. 'The soap has helped me a lot,' Arafa says, her voice filled with earnestness. 'I can wash my children, their clothes, and try to keep them healthy.'
The tall water tower built by LM International supplies clean, reliable water to families in the camp.
The tall water tower that LM International built in the camp stands as a beacon of hope, supplying clean water to countless families. LM International’s capacity to drill water rigs deep enough to access the water trapped beneath the tough, dry soil of eastern Chad transformed the camp’s water supply. Arafa no longer had to rely on filtering river water under the harsh sun, a practice she knew was unsafe but sometimes necessary. Now, she could provide clean water to her children, a small but significant step toward ensuring their health.
Beyond the immediate benefits, Arafa speaks of the knowledge she has gained. 'I have learnt how to better take care of me and my daughters during menstruation. How I can take care of the discharge, how to clean, take care of the products, how I get rid of the smell. And I know now if it smells a lot or if you bleed and it does not stop you have to go to the hospital.' This knowledge has empowered her, providing some measure of control and dignity in an otherwise difficult environment. Despite hardships, Arafa finds strength in her children. 'Every time I think of my children, I look them in the eyes, and it gives me strength', she says.
The resilience she carries is matched by her hope for a better future. Arafa dreams of better supplies, and education for her children. But most of all, she hopes for peace to return to Sudan so that one day, she can go back to a life where waiting in line for water isn’t part of her daily routine, and her children can grow up free from the fear that drove them from their home.
Arafa’s message to the world is simple yet powerful: 'I am a wife and a refugee with many small kids. I want a better quality of life for me and my family here in the camp. Don’t forget about us.'