Fleeing conflict in Sudan, Najia crossed to South Sudan seeking refuge. Once in South Sudan, she and her husband found safety, food and basic services in Acted’s transit center. Over time, Najia has become a community leader in the reception center, and now helps other refugees access the services they need and live in safety.
Following the outbreak of conflict in Sudan in April 2023, hundreds of thousands of people left their homes to find refuge in neighbouring South Sudan. Fleeing the war, families travelled to the South Sudanese border under extreme circumstances – often without access to food, water, or other basic services. With USAID support, and in collaboration with UNHCR, Acted has been able to support these vulnerable populations. As one of the first humanitarian agencies to set up the humanitarian response to the Sudan crisis, Acted has provided safety, and access to basic services such as shelter and WASH for over 600,000 conflict-affected individuals arriving at the Joda border point in Renk County.
Responding to crisis
Since the beginning of the Sudan crisis, Acted delivered essential services at the Joda reception center and the Renk transit center. Acted’s interventions range from the management of these reception and transit centers, to renovation and rehabilitation of critical infrastructure, such as water points and sanitation facilities, to provision of protection and referral services. Through these interventions, Acted has made significant contributions to the improvement of living conditions for displaced population. Ensuring continuous support for affected populations from arrival through to onwards transit to other areas in South Sudan, Acted provides key information services from arrival through transit, remaining accountable to the affected population.
A community-based approach
Facing spiralling violence in Sudan, Najia is one of the hundreds of thousands of people fleeing her home country to find safety and shelter in South Sudan. Originally from Khartoum, Najia arrived in Renk as a refugee in October 2023 after a harrowing five-month journey. Initially fleeing without a specific destination, she and her husband arrived in Renk to access basic services. In Renk Transit Center, run by Acted and funded by USAID Najia and her husband found safety and support. Following her arrival, Najia became a volunteer community leader within the center. Empowered by her new role, Najia plays a crucial part in Acted’s community-based support system, helping others to find the assistance they need and making sure that they feel safe. Among other contributions, she identifies and refers cases of gender-based violence to specialized humanitarian agencies, informs new arrivals on the services available, and acts as a link between the NGOs and the affected population. Najia is grateful for the assistance received from Acted and USAID and is now part of the humanitarian response herself.
Through her role at the transit center, Najia has used her experience to contribute to others in need of support.
Najia’s story represents Acted and USAID’s success in fostering community-led responses in emergency settings. By involving affected communities in the humanitarian response, Acted can achieve more efficient and culturally-tailored results, and to improve the psychological well-being of the community.
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