Asha and son. Picture: Phil James/Tearfund
She came with her older sister from the Nuba mountains of Sudan, fleeing Africa’s longest running civil war.
Asha is now a mother and is one of four million people forced to flee their homes during the 21 years of conflict.
Although the fighting ended in 2005, Asha and thousands like her remain estranged from her home.
Instead `home’ continues to be Omdurman camp, which was set up by the government 35 miles outside Khartoum.
Her neighbours number about 100,000 people living in 12 official blocks but there are also several squatter areas, with approximately 20,000 people living there illegally.
These people are very vulnerable as they could be moved by the government without warning.
Life maybe safer for Asha than the war zone she left, but with so many people in such close proximity, conditions are far from easy.
Tearfund partner FAR Sudan is improving people’s quality of life by attempting to provide help with basic needs in the short term but also training to give people useful skills for the future.
Toilets taking shape at Omdurman es-Salaam camp. Picture: Phil James/Tearfund
This includes more than 1,000 toilets for households and schools, plus education about hygiene and disease prevention.
Asha, who now has her own family, is among the beneficiaries.
She said, `I look after my four children, one other dependent and my husband. I think that having a latrine is very good. I’m happy to have it.’
But she also yearns to leave the camp and go home and this June she plans to return to the Nuba mountains to size up the situation.
Showers and toilets have been provided at Kosti camp by FAR. Picture: Phil James/Tearfund
Many others share this desire to return. At Kosti, another FAR Sudan project site, thousands wait to catch a barge for the four to seven day trip down the Nile to Malakal in southern Sudan.
It can be a long wait at the wharf as the barge sails once a month and facilities can become overcrowded if there are many returnees waiting. At the busiest times there can be almost 3,000 people.
FAR Sudan has built shelter, washing facilities and a health centre which provides checkups, referrals and treatment for adults and children.
The staff also run health education sessions to raise awareness about HIV and provide information on other diseases such as TB and malaria.
These taps offer clean drinking water for displaced people at Kosti. Picture: Phil James/Tearfund
Malnourished children are given special treatment and feeding and families receive soap, mosquito nets and blankets.
Thanks to funding from the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Department (DG ECHO), it is possible for these facilities and services to be available to the returnees.
More recently showers, toilets and drinking water stations have been added.
The demand for help at Kosti is set to rise. FAR Sudan estimated to assist 12,000 people in a year but has already reached 14,000 in just six months.
More new arrivals at Kosti camp. Picture: Phil James/Tearfund
This rising demand, due to increased numbers of returnees, will put a strain on project resources and underlines the continuing need for the global church to support the work of Tearfund and its partners in Sudan.