A Mother’s Strength: Surviving Conflict and Rebuilding Hope

Sarro Suliman, a 30-year-old mother of five, never imagined that conflict would force her to leave behind the life she once knew in El Fasher, North Darfur. Before the war, Sarro lived with her husband and children in a stable home where her children attended school and their daily needs were met. But in August 2025, escalating violence in her area changed everything. 

“My life changed completely because of the conflict,” Sarro recalls. 

During the violence in El Fasher, Sarro’s husband went missing. Their home was damaged, and the family lost nearly all their belongings. Left alone to care for her children while pregnant, Sarro made the difficult decision to flee North Darfur and seek safety in UMD East area in Central Darfur, where some of her husband’s relatives were living. 

The journey was long and dangerous. Sarro and her children spent 15 days travelling under extremely difficult conditions, facing insecurity, hunger, and lack of medical support along the way. 

Today, Sarro lives in a small shelter made from local materials. The shelter initially had no fence or latrine, exposing her and her children to significant protection risks, especially at night. To access sanitation facilities, the family often had to use neighbours’ latrines or travel long distances after dark, compromising their safety and privacy. 

As the sole caregiver for her five children, Sarro works as a daily labourer making construction bricks to provide food and basic necessities for her family. The work is physically exhausting, particularly as she was eight months pregnant during the time of the interview. 

“Now I work very hard, but making bricks is too difficult,” she explains. “It is the first time for me to do this kind of work. Opportunities are limited, and starting a small business requires money that I do not have.” 

In UMD East area, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), through ECHO-funded programming, implements protection activities through a community centre and static protection desk, where vulnerable individuals can access information, psychosocial support, referrals, and assistance. Every Sunday and Wednesday, affected community members gather at the centre to receive support and participate in group sessions. 

For Sarro, these sessions became more than just activities, they became a source of emotional support and hope. 

Through the programm, Sarro received psychosocial support sessions, hygiene kits, and cash assistance that enabled her to improve her shelter conditions by constructing a fence and building a latrine for her home. 

“My house became safer and more comfortable,” she explains. “The fence makes me feel safer, and having a latrine inside the house reduced my stress because my children no longer have to use neighbours’ latrines or go far away at night.” 

Beyond the material assistance, Sarro says the psychosocial support sessions helped her regain strength and confidence during an extremely difficult period in her life. 

Despite the ongoing uncertainty and hardship caused by the conflict, Sarro remains determined to build a better future for her children. She dreams of opening a small shop from her home, using skills she had before displacement to create a more stable source of income. 

“Before the conflict, I had experience in trade and business,” she says. “I want to support my children so they can return to school and one day graduate from university.” 

Although the war continues and the situation remains difficult, Sarro continues to hold on to hope.