For almost a year, Sudan has been ravaged by a war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that has plunged millions of civilians into fear and chaos. For Kaltouma and Hassaneih, this conflict shattered their lives, forcing them to flee their village in Darfur after the death of their father. The Darfur region in particular is experiencing extreme violence. Every day, its population endures forced displacements, atrocities and a pervasive climate of insecurity. People with disabilities often face even greater challenges, with the trauma of fleeing their homes compounded by specific needs that are often ignored as they attempt to escape. Kaltouma and Hassaneih, two sisters from the Darfur region of Sudan, bear witness to this reality.
A journey to escape the violence and instability
Their flight began in pain and uncertainty. Kaltouma and Hassaneih, who both have a motor disability and partial vision loss, were forced to flee their village of Al Kuraynik, a town in Darfur, after their father was killed in the fighting. Their escape to Chad was fraught with difficulties:
“The people dumped us on the roof of a truck like we were baggage,” recalls Kaltouma.
Their long journey took them through several of Sudan’s camps for internally displaced people: Sissi, Ardamata and Geneina. Along the way, their truck was stopped at a checkpoint controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), where they were stripped of all their belongings. Both sisters recall seeing men and women being beaten by the RSF. Their testimony is evidence of the physical violence to which displaced people are often exposed, adding to the pain of exile.
After days of gruelling travel, the sisters reached Adré, a town on the border between Sudan and Chad, where they waited to be taken in charge. They were relieved to be redirected to the Aboutengué refugee camp, several dozen kilometres away. But their arrival at the camp was not the end of their ordeal.
Life in Aboutengué camp
After arriving in Aboutengué camp, Kaltouma and Hassaneih encountered other difficulties. “Living conditions are very difficult here,” explains Kaltouma. Life in the camp is indeed precarious and food rations are not always enough to cover their needs. For several weeks, their movements were severely affected by their motor disabilities: “We had to crawl to get around,” she recalls.
After several difficult weeks of waiting, Kaltouma and Hassaneih met HI, which is working in the camp providing rehabilitation services for Sudanese refugees. HI supplied them with wheelchairs that have transformed their daily lives. The sisters have now regained crucial autonomy. They can move around freely and take part in activities in the camp:
“Now we're free and so happy. We can visit our friends, go to the market and even to the playing field,” explains Hassaneih.
Together, they now attend the football matches between the different blocks in the camp. “Of course, we support our block – block 2!,” she adds proudly.
This transformation in the daily lives of Kaltouma and Hassaneih illustrates the impact of adapted humanitarian interventions. In response to the massive influx of Sudanese refugees on Chad’s eastern border, organisations like HI are redoubling their efforts to meet the specific needs of the most vulnerable. From physical rehabilitation services to mental health support, these initiatives play a vital role in rebuilding the autonomy and dignity of thousands of displaced people.
A project for their future
Despite the difficulties, Kaltouma and Hassaneih are still building plans for the future. “Our dream is to be in good health. We hope that our condition will continue to improve and that we'll be able to move around like everyone else,” confides Kaltouma. For them, access to healthcare is not just a necessity; it's a gateway to independence.
The sisters are also very keen to get an education: “We need to learn and study,” they explain. But their ambitions don't stop there. They share a passion for fashion, which they see as a way of rebuilding their future:
“We also dream of having enough food and good clothes. And we are interested in fashion; we’d like to have nice clothes.”
For Hassaneih, this passion is not only a source of pleasure, but also an economic opportunity: “We'd like to buy and sell clothes and fabric on the market,” she explains. For them, this project is much more than a business opportunity; it's a way of building an independent life by overcoming the economic barriers they face.
As women with disabilities, Hassaneih and her sister experience exclusion at several levels, with fewer job opportunities, limited access to resources and an often poorly adapted environment.
“As we have disabilities, there are a lot of “normal” jobs we can't do, but we think we could set up a business together in fashion.”
Despite the obstacles, Kaltouma and Hassaneih imagine a future where they are not only independent, but also actors in their own reconstruction, contributing to the life of their community while finding their own path to autonomy.
