Gedaref, January 2026 – For Zainab Abdulaziz Abdulkarim Musa, a 40-year-old mother of nine, displacement meant starting over from nothing. Fleeing her home in Kadugli, South Kordofan, after escalating conflict and the burning of houses, she endured a month-long journey before arriving at the Abu Alnaja D Reception Center in Rural Wasat Al-Gedaref with her children, exhausted and without income.
Like many newly displaced families, Zainab relied entirely on humanitarian assistance while living in overcrowded conditions. Food shortages, rising prices, and limited livelihood opportunities made survival a daily struggle. “We fled because of the war and the burning of houses. When we arrived in Gedaref, I struggled to provide food, clothing, and other basic needs for my children,” she recalls.
In response to the growing needs of displaced families, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) provided emergency cash assistance through an ECHO-funded project. Zainab received financial support during Ramadan and before Eid, a critical time for her family. Instead of spending the entire amount on immediate needs, she chose to invest part of it in starting a small grocery business inside the settlement.
Her shop began with essentials like vegetables, sugar, soap, charcoal, and other basic items. This small enterprise not only helped her provide food and necessities for her children but also reduced her dependence on humanitarian aid. The business improved the quality of food available for her family and restored a sense of dignity and independence. “Today, I feel stronger because I can support my children with my own work,” Zainab says. “I hope to expand my business and give my children a better future where they can learn and live in peace.”
Zainab’s story reflects the resilience of displaced families and the transformative impact of cash assistance when combined with determination and resourcefulness. What began as survival support has become a pathway to independence, dignity, and hope for a better future.
