The Tamas Organization for Social Development, a local NGO in Darfur region, has initiated a campaign aimed at providing psychosocial support to those displaced from war-affected regions in East Darfur State, particularly in the capital city of El Daein.
Issa Fadl Al-Mawla, the director of the organization, told Radio Tamazuj on Friday that this campaign will be in operation throughout the month, with a focus on assisting 70 families currently residing in eight shelter centers.
Trainer Ibrahim Basher highlighted the profound impact of the conflict in Sudan on the mental well-being of children and families, as well as their overall way of life. During the workshop, he emphasized that “children were engaged in a variety of age-appropriate activities, including theatre, drama, short comforting stories, songs, and counselling.”
Marwa Adam Haroun, a participant who had been displaced from Khartoum, expressed how she has personally benefited from the campaign, learning valuable techniques to help alleviate the psychological burden her children had carried throughout their previous experiences.
Another participant, Egbal Youssif, shared her heartbreak over hearing about her brother’s death following the outbreak of fighting in Nyala. She stated, “The campaign provided me with the essential support I needed,” and expressed her hope for an end to the conflict, allowing her to return to her home in Khartoum.
Siba Ahmed Abdeen, a mother, detailed the positive impact the guidance and support had on her children, describing the newfound joy in their lives and how it made her feel the joy of living once again.
Intisar Abkar, one of the children who benefited from the training, conveyed her happiness and newfound hope. She had previously abandoned her dreams and friends when she moved to Al-Daein, but now, she is content and feels as if she is among family and friends in her beautiful home.
Fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted on April 15 over tensions linked to a planned transition to civilian rule. It has devastated Khartoum’s capital and sparked ethnically driven attacks in the Darfur region.
After six months of fighting, an estimated 9,000 people have been killed and another 5.6 million forced to flee their homes, according to the United Nations.