In this poignant interview, Madina Abdul-Aziz Arbab shares her harrowing journey from El Geneina to Adré camp in eastern Chad amidst the violence in West Darfur. As part of Radio Tamazuj’s Stories of Survival and Hope series, Madina recounts the challenges she faced, the loss of her husband and relatives, and the struggles of raising her children in a refugee camp.
Question: Madina, where are you from?
Answer: I am originally from El Geneina.
Q: When did you come to Adré camp?
A: We arrived in June 2023.
Q: Where were you when the El Geneina incident occurred?
A: I was in the El Madaris neighbourhood.
Q: Could you describe the incident and how you escaped?
A: The first incident found us in El Jamarik (Customs), and it lasted for two months. We kept moving to different places and witnessed many people being killed. Our children saw these horrific events, with some even witnessing their fathers being killed in front of them. For two months, my husband and I stayed together, but during the last incident, we fled in different directions. I haven’t seen him since.
We later heard from someone who was with him that they tried to cross to Ardamata, where he was killed. Our escape from Jamarik was miraculous. With four children, the youngest on my back, and another helped by my elder daughter, we walked to Adire on foot. We saw many horrific things along the way, but we held onto each other until we reached safety. I don’t know exactly how my husband died, but I hope God is with him.
Q: No one has informed you about the details of his death?
A: I didn’t see it happen, but I heard about it from people who were with him. I had to accept this sad reality.
We arrived here with nothing, but some people helped us with sleeping mats. After a few days, we received rice, oil, sugar, and other items, even though we had nothing to cook them with. We had to borrow from others to survive. However, the missing souls cannot be compensated.
Q: Besides your husband, did you lose any other relatives during the incident?
A: Yes, I lost my father and a brother-in-law.
Q: What made you decide to take your four children and leave El Geneina?
A: After two months of intense violence, including the killing of West Darfur governor Khamis Abakker, local youth warned families to leave. They advised those who could go to Artemeda or cross the border to Chad to do so immediately. I couldn’t hesitate to take my children and leave. Blood was pouring down the streets like water, and there was heavy shelling everywhere. So, we followed the road until we reached Adire.
Q: What challenges did you face on the road to Adre?
A: We encountered many checkpoints where we were thoroughly searched, and all our belongings were confiscated. Some women were even stabbed with knives during these searches. We had to pass by dead bodies and continue our journey.
Q: How did you get to the camp, and how long was the journey from El Geneina to Adré?
A: There was no transportation, so we had to walk to Adré. We arrived on the same day.
Q: Did all your relatives come with you?
A: Some of my family members were in Khartoum when the incident happened. My mother joined us here from Khartoum.
Q: How are your children coping after the death of their father, and who is helping you?
A: No one is helping us. I am the only one taking care of them. My mother is old and unable to assist.
Q: What challenges are you facing now at the camp as a single mother?
A: I have applied for jobs several times but have not been selected. I make and sell cookies in the market, but the income is very little. I also sell tea and lay bricks, but it’s still not enough.
Q: What services do you receive from aid organizations here?
A: They provide us with monthly supplies of sorghum, oil, and other non-food items.
Q: Do you have any family members stranded in El Geneina or missing?
A: Yes, we have many family members who are missing, and we don’t know if they are dead or alive. One of them is my cousin’s brother, Nasur Is’haq.
Q: When did you lose contact with him?
A: We lost contact with him on the day the governor was killed. My aunt, Sadia Osman, has also been missing since then. We don’t know where they are.
Q: What is the situation of your children? Are they of school age or nursery age?
A: The youngest is 4 years old, and the rest are older. However, they are all idle in the camp because I can’t afford to register them in school.
Q: Are your children’s uncles checking on you and your children?
A: Yes, some are here with us, but they don’t have enough to support their own families. They do check on us, though.
Q: What motivates you to endure all this pain?
A: My children.
Q: What are you currently doing in the market?
A: I try to sell a few things in the market, but I don’t have enough capital.
Q: How would you describe the health situation in the camp?
A: We live next to the health center, and if any of the children are sick, we visit and get medication.
Q: Do you have any wishes you would like to share?
A: My wish is for everyone to be in good health and for the situation to return to normal so people can live in stability.
Q: What is your final message at the end of this interview?
A: We were separated from many people in El Geneina, including my neighbours. I don’t know if we will ever meet again, and I hope they are safe wherever they are. I also urge organizations to open schools for our children so they don’t lose their education.
Q: If the war ends today, would you be able to return to your home in El Geneina?
A: I cannot continue to live in Chad. If the situation stabilizes back home, I will definitely go back.