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Hope amidst conflict for Ethiopian Refugees in Um Rakuba Camp, Sudan

Um Rakuba is one of the five camps in Gedaref which were opened in 2020 due to an influx of Ethiopian refugees following the Tigray crisis. It hosts over 18,000 individuals in more than 10,000 households, and more than 30% of residents are children.

Two years ago, Gidey was living in Humera, in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. He was a professional driver, earning a good living and enjoying life with his family, including three daughters and two sons. He had a house, car, donkey and sufficient farmland which was a source of income for his family.

In November 2020, Gidey was forced to flee due to the war that erupted in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The skirmishes led to the death of many of his family and community members.

When the situation worsened, he left on foot to Sudan where he was resettled in Um Rakuba refugee camp, Sudan. After two weeks, his family fled to join him in Sudan. They are grateful to be alive and together, but their life as refugees is difficult, with limited access to food, clothing and other basic needs.

Supporting Ethiopian Refugees in Um Rakuba Camp, Sudan

While in the camp, Gidey was able to find some part-time work as a driver while doing other casual labour jobs. However, due to the limited income, his family is heavily reliant on food distributions in the camp.

As Gidey describes it, life in the camp has now significantly improved since he and his family arrived in Um Rakuba two years ago.

Danish Refugee Council (DRC), through funding from the European Union under the Instrument Contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP), has supported Gidey among other refugees in the camp to live a more dignified life.

The camp now has drainage systems which are well maintained, reducing flooding in our tents and compound this year. With solar lights, we can now easily access the latrines, water points and move freely at night without fear. The speed bumps installed on the roads have reduced the number of traffic accidents, which were very common before. The cleaning campaigns have made our environment clean, reduced incidents of snake bites and reduced the prevalence of malaria because bush cleaning chased away mosquitos. Above all, we now know how to manage our household waste effectively.

Gidey - A refugee in Um Rakuba Camp, Sudan

Cash for work

Gidey was involved in community activities through the DRC cash-for-work scheme.

Once activities were agreed upon through local consultations, the DRC team and community representatives identified both skilled and unskilled labourers and provided them with training and technical oversight to enable them to complete the work.

Gidey hopes to go back to his homeland, Ethiopia, to ensure a better life and education for his children.

This project has been made possible with funding from the European Union under the Instrument Contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP).

The cash I got from working on the drainage systems and the cleaning campaigns enabled me to buy clothes for my children, acquire some chicken for raring and buy food for my family - improving our overall diet.

Gidey - A refugee in Um Rakuba Camp, Sudan

About the Um Rakuba camp in Sudan

Since 2020, DRC has responded to emergency humanitarian needs in the camp and host communities, including protection, shelter, non-food items, water, sanitation and hygiene, livelihoods, infrastructure, camp management support, and other activities.

In Um Rakuba, DRC has undertaken a number of activities, mainly identified through community consultations, and delivered by community members paid through cash-for-work projects. Using these activities, DRC supported the construction of a community centre, road speed breakers/bumps, opened drainage systems, desilted roadside drains, carried out cleaning campaigns and installed solar lighting.

DRC's work in Um Rakuba has been supported by the EU's Instrument Contributing to Stability and Peace.