Fleeing Sudan crisis: a mother's desperate journey to find safety in South Sudan.

Bosima is a mother who had to leave her home in Darfur, Sudan, because of the crisis in August 2023. At that time, she was in her second year of university and running her own cosmetic business. Bosima has seven children—two boys and five girls.

Life was good for her family in Sudan. Two of Bosima’s daughters, Manar, who is 13 years old, and Manisa, who is 15 years old, have had difficulty breathing since they were young. But everything changed in August 2023 when fighting erupted in Central Darfur. 

“Life was wonderful for us in Darfur. I was running my business, which enabled me to take my two daughters to a better hospital in Khartoum every two weeks," she explains. 

One day, Bosima’s family was attacked, and she was shot in her back. They had to leave everything behind to find medical help in the nearby Abyei Administrative Area. Bosima spent more than three weeks in the hospital here. 

“Everything was gone when our house was attacked. Many people around us were injured, and some were killed. I was shot in my back,” Bosima remembers. This was the start of a long and scary journey for her family.

While Bosima was in the hospital in Abyei, another bout of violence broke out, forcing her and her family to flee once more, this time to Aweil in Northern Bahr El Ghazal in South Sudan. She describes this journey as extremely difficult for them. "We spent days and nights walking from Abyei to Wedweil with nothing to eat." 

When they finally reached Wedweil in November 2024, Bosima, Manar, and Manisa were very sick and needed help. They had nothing. World Vision gave them sleeping mats, a kitchen set, and a plastic sheet to set up a shelter. 

In Wedweil, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) runs an emergency health facility that helps refugees like Bosima’s family. This facility provides primary healthcare, including basic medical treatment, maternal and child health, nutrition services, preventive care, and health education to Sudanese refugees and returnees.

Bosima was struggling to get the medical help her daughters, Manar and Manisa, needed. The emergency facility didn’t have ultrasound or X-ray machines to carry out the special tests needed. So, IRC referred Bosima to find healthcare at Aweil Civil Hospital and send her to World Vision to facilitate transport. 

At the camp, World Vision, with funding from UNHCR, facilitates transport, gives money for medicine and admission for refugees and returnees who need medical treatment outside the camp. 

World Vision gave money and facilitated the transport for Bosima and her daughters to go to Aweil State Hospital, which is about 45 kilometres away. “World Vision gave us 180,000 South Sudanese pounds when we were in Aweil Hospital. It changed my situation.” Bosima said. 

With that money, she was able to buy medicine for her daughters, something she could barely afford as a refugee mother. "If this help hadn't come, Bosima said her daughters might have suffered a lot or even died," she said.

After a week in the hospital, Manar’s condition improved, and Bosima was feeling better too, but Manisa still needed advanced treatment outside South Sudan. World Vision facilitated their return to the camp after their discharge.

Then, in February of last year, Bosima got sick again. This time, she needed surgery for kidney stones. World Vision intervened once again to transport her to Aweil Civil Hospital and pay for her operation. “World Vision paid 650,000 SSP (200 USD equivalent) for my operation, bought medicines that were not in the hospital, and gave me money for food. I will not forget this support,” Bosima said, tears of relief in her eyes. 

Now, Bosima is feeling okay, but she worries about her daughters. She hopes her daughter can get the treatment she needs. “I pray that more help comes and Allah sends someone who can help my daughter to get the treatment she needs,” she pleads.

There are many mothers who need support but can’t afford it. Without the emergency medical response, families like Bosima's would struggle to survive. Bosima’s story is just one among many, but it shows how collaborative support can light the way for those in desperate need.

Story and photos by Moses Sakondo | Communication Officer, World Vision South Sudan