A safe place from conflict

It’s two years since conflict erupted in Sudan, forcing millions of people to flee. Read about how this impacted nine-year-old Tsion and her family.

Life before the conflict

Before the conflict broke out, Sudan was host to a significant number of refugees from neighbouring countries and beyond. But many of these have now been displaced for a second time, including the family of nine-year-old Tsion.

Active and playful, Tsion was born and raised in Sudan, and she recalls these years with fondness. Her parents, from Ethiopia, had built a stable and comfortable life in Sudan, but when conflict came, this ended abruptly.

It really was a scary time for me and my mum

Tsion, Sudan

Time to flee

Violence and heavy loss of life left many in Khartoum with little option but to flee. Tsion’s parents began the journey to their home country, but it was not as easy as they’d hoped. In the middle of their run for safety, Tsion and her mum became separated from Tsion’s dad.

They had to keep moving, though – all while the sound of explosions and gunshots rang in the air, filling Tsion with fear and anxiety. And that wasn’t the only danger.

“The loud noises from the explosions were very scary for me,” Tsion shares. “There were also robbers on the road trying to take our belongings away. It really was a scary time for me and my mum.”

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Starting again in Ethiopia

Not knowing where her father was made everything so much harder, but Tsion and her mum needed to push on and find a safe place. Days later, they arrived in Ethiopia. And although they felt safer, there was still a struggle to face. First – especially for Tsion – was the language barrier: Tsion spoke Arabic, but the local language was Amharic. Then there was the weight of all the trauma and emotional turmoil Tsion was carrying.

Tsion’s mum rented a small house while they decided their next move. It was at this point that they came into contact with World Vision Ethiopia, who approached them with an offer of psychological support for Tsion.

In addition to taking part in this, Tsion began to spend her days at a Child Friendly Space. This provided her with a safe environment to express herself, connect with other children, and begin healing from her trauma. Dedicated facilitators interpreted the activities into Arabic and Tsion began to thrive. Through individual and group counselling, and creative play, Tsion grew more confident and began to feel safe.

A smiling Tsion, 9, displaying her creation at the Child Friendly Space where she has grown in confidence and made friends — Tsion, 9, has grow in confidence and made friends at the Child Friendly Centre

A transformation

After just a few months of support, Tsion's transformation is remarkable. She’s now able to communicate in Amharic and has made many friends.

“I am very happy now,” she says. “I have made friends and being able to play with them without the language barrier makes me delighted. I feel safe and encouraged.”

World Vision will continue to provide this vital service to Tsion, and other children who’ve been displaced by conflict, for as long as it’s needed.

World Vision staff and volunteers play with Sudanese children at a Child Friendly Space — Child Friendly Spaces, like this one in Chad, are more than just fun – they help displaced children recover from trauma and grow in confidence

Helping children impacted by the Sudan crisis

Child Friendly Spaces and psychological support are both vital in situations like Tsion’s, along with essentials like food, water and sanitation – all of which World Vision has been providing since the start of the conflict.

When children have their physical and emotional needs met, and when they feel safe and heard, they stand a better of chance of not only recovering from trauma but thriving in spite of it.

Sudanese refugee girl wearing light blue headscarf, pictured with family members at a transit centre in South Sudan — Refugees and the displaced need food, water, sanitation, medical care, and more as they flee conflict

World Vision and Sudan

Because of World Vision’s existing presence, when the conflict broke out in Sudan we were immediately able to begin supporting those affected.

While Sudan may not be in the news headlines, thanks to our supporters we continue to provide assistance to those in need and will stay for the long-run.

So far, our response in Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Chad has reached more than 3.1 million people, 1.7 million of whom are children. This includes:

Cash and food vouchers to 296,000 individuals
The distribution of nearly 17,000 tonnes of food to 721,000 people
Access to safe water for 320,000 people
Health care to 700,000 people
Nutrition services (including screening for malnutrition) to 471,000 people.

We thank all of our supporters for your generous giving during emergencies like this one. Your gifts are making it possible for children like Tsion to recover and rebuild their lives.

World Vision’s Sudan Appeal

A staggering 12.9 million people – many of them mothers and children – have been displaced and urgently need humanitarian assistance. Without support from organisations like World Vision, lives will be at risk from hunger, malnutrition, illness and more.

Please give today to our Sudan Appeal.

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