A story of a Nuba Sudanese Refugee mother.

“I came to Egypt with the hope that my seven children would be able to have a better future. That they will actually live and not die. That they will receive an education, study and start a career”. That is the dream and deep desire of Neeba (named changed), a Nuba Sudanese woman who left the Nuba Mountain and arrived in Egypt a month ago.

She left her life in Sudan because of the civil war where thousands of Nuba people are being killed, and also because her second husband was not taking care of her. In order to come to Egypt, Neeba worked for three years as a domestic worker to raise enough money to buy passports for herself and children to travel via bus. The bus ride took three days before Neeba and her children arrived in Egypt where she was able to meet her brother and niece.

Currently she is in the process of applying with the UNHCR for refugee papers, but until then Neeba is unable to receive any support from the international organisation based in Egypt. As a result, she depends heavily on the little money her niece works for as a domestic worker to pay her rent, food and other basis necessity.

Neeba’s niece also has three children to care for which further adds to the burden of life in Egypt. No job and no education for herself and children who are between the ages of one and half years to sixteen years old, Neeba holds on to the hope that God will provide for her and answer her prayers.

Hope for MENA recently provided a food parcel and winter clothes for Neeba and her children, and was able to see the joy that came across her face as received her answered prayer. She explained that life is scary and hard her and she fears for her children the most. She is unable to send her children to school because there is no money to pay for school tuition. Once she completes the registration with UNHCR, they will pay for half the tuition fee for her children who register for school.

However, because most families like Neeba have no other form of income, the money for tuition is used to buy food and pay rent. Neeba’s prayer is to be able to afford basis education for her children and provide food, clothing and shelter for them.