Stories of hope
Hope Amid Horror
Salma’s Story of Survival in Sudan
April 23, 2025
Sudan today is the epicenter of the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophe of the 21st century. Brutal conflict has displaced more than 11 million people, unleashing a terrifying tide of violence, hunger, and human suffering. For women and children, the horrors are especially acute. Sexual violence has been weaponized, displacement is relentless, and families are torn apart daily by the chaos of war.
Salma’s story is a stark reflection of this grim reality—a mother of nine, thrust into a nightmare no family should ever face.
A Family Torn Apart by Conflict
In El Geneina, once a bustling heart of Darfur, Salma lived with her husband and children. But their ordinary life was shattered when armed militias, driven by ethnic hatred and emboldened by political chaos, stormed their town. In a single violent moment, Salma’s husband was brutally killed—another life lost to the unchecked brutality sweeping Sudan.
Left a widow, Salma faced the impossible: raising nine children alone in a country descending further into lawlessness. With no income, no security, and no safe place to turn, she and her children were driven from their home.
The Desperation of Displacement
Fleeing the militia’s advance, Salma and her children joined thousands of others escaping to the overcrowded hills of Jebel Marra. Yet even this sanctuary offered little refuge. Food was nearly impossible to find. Like so many displaced women, Salma was trapped between fear of violence outside the camp and the gnawing hunger within it.
Her story echoes that of countless Sudanese mothers forced to make unthinkable choices: risk the journey outside the camp for scraps of food, and face the threat of rape or assault, or remain in safety and starve. For Salma, even leaves from the trees became a desperate meal to keep her children alive.
A Lifeline Amid Collapse
In the face of unimaginable hardship, aid reached Salma’s family. Through Shai Fund’s emergency food distribution, Salma and her children received life-saving supplies—no longer forced to choose between hunger and harm.
Her words are a powerful reminder of the stakes:
“We didn’t know what to do during the war that burned everything—green and dry. I lost my husband and was left alone to care for nine children. Even though we were eating tree leaves to survive, today I am filled with happiness and gratitude because you have provided us with food. Now, my children and I won’t go to bed hungry.”
For Salma, this support is more than food—it is survival, dignity, and a glimmer of hope in a conflict that has robbed so many women of their safety and stability.
Sudan’s Crisis Is Not Over
Salma’s story is not unique. She stands alongside millions of women across Sudan, living at the intersection of armed conflict, displacement, and gender-based violence. In camps and forgotten villages, they struggle daily to protect their children from hunger and harm.
Your continued support is not just aid—it is a stand for the most vulnerable. It is a declaration that even in the darkest corners of conflict, compassion endures. With your help, we can continue to deliver life-saving assistance to women like Salma, preserving life and dignity amidst the wreckage of war.
