The Sudan conflict explained
Find out what is happening in Sudan, who is affected, and how ShelterBox is helping.
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Hawa and her family are among thousands of people whose lives have been completely changed by the Sudan war. This is Hawa’s story of survival and refuge.
Having been driven out of Sudan, due to the ongoing conflict happening across Darfur, Hawa and her family endured the long journey to seek refuge in Chad.
We met Hawa during a visit to a refugee camp. These camps were built to shelter and support thousands of people arriving from Sudan. ShelterBox has been upgrading temporary shelters, making them durable and able to survive the rainy season.
We spoke to Hawa to understand her situation, what her life was like, and what she has been through to get here.
Hawa and her family.
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The realities of war
“Before the war, I was a traveling merchant who travelled between Chad and Sudan to get goods. My husband was a shoemaker. We lived in peace and ate our fill. When the war broke out, my goods were stolen and burned at the local market. I lost everything.
To cross the war zones, we hid between shrubs and less known tracks. We slept under our beds to avoid being hit by stray bullets from war battles.
“We lived in a painful and atrocious situation. We slept under our beds to avoid the bullets from the war battles. If my eldest son and my husband went out of the house, they would have been killed.”
A long journey
With the situation in Sudan worsening, Hawa and her family made the decision to go to Chad, in hope of finding refuge. She describes the journey which they undertook.
“We went out at night from our home to the border, by car. I was very afraid for my husband and my eldest son, because if they went out during the day, they would be dead. We hid in the trees during the escape. From our home to the border, we suffered a lot. My daughters were exposed to the threat of sexual assault.”
Once in Chad, Hawa and her family had to wait for registration and transport to where they would be set up with temporary shelter. “Four days later, we were taken to this shelter. We are not complaining. Before, I was in good shape, and with the situation of war and hunger, I have lost weight.”
Life in a community camp
Hawa and her family are now living in a large community set up by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). They have temporary shelter on a small plot of land. ShelterBox are working with Help Tchad to transition these temporary shelters into semi-permanent shelters. This will support families like Hawa’s, providing the foundations on which they can begin to build a new life.
Hawa remains positive for her family, asking them to have patience.
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Fear for the future
Having given up her family home and life in Sudan, Hawa expressed the troubles her family face, and her fears for the future.
“I have no future at my age. I think about the future of my children without school, without knowledge, here there is no school. In Sudan before the war, they learned English. Here in Chad, it is French.
“I do not have the means to educate. I do not sleep, I always advise my children to be patient and to hope for a better future.
“My eldest son wants to go where life takes him, I advise him to be patient. We have no income, and we could go hungry in this camp.”
Hawa's daughters.
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Shelter is refuge
I consider the shelter as a refuge, because even if it is the only refuge I have with my children, I am satisfied.
Hardships facing Sudanese women and girls
Many women and girls must provide for their families, to try to earn money for food and basic items, whilst living in these displacement camps.
“Women and girls face many challenges. Girls collect small bricks and stones from the area. These are piled up and sold, in order to make money to support themselves. Women cut firewood to sell to other women. They both also manage the household.”
Hawa has this advice for women and girls in her situation. “I advise women and girls who are facing difficulties to have courage and patience. We ask organisations to help us financially so that we can carry out income-generating activities, while using our skills.”
Hawa shared her gratitude that ShelterBox was there to continue providing ongoing support. “I say thank you, because we have only one shelter for eight people, and we needed more space. Thanks to Help Tchad and ShelterBox for their ongoing Shelter project.”
ShelterBox aid distributions in Chad, 2025.
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Sudan update
Millions of people like Hawa and her family are fleeing the war in Sudan.
Sudan now has the biggest and fastest-growing displacement crisis in the world. It is also the largest humanitarian crisis ever recorded.
14.6 million people displaced and 30.4 million people—more than half of Sudan’s population—now need humanitarian support.
We’re working with a local partner Help Tchad. Together, we’re providing shelter upgrades to existing temporary emergency shelters. Along with essential aid items to allow people to get back on their feet.
