Darfur’s Displaced Look to New Vocations

Residents of the Abu Shouk camp for displaced persons, like other displaced Darfuris no longer able to practice their former vocations or return to their homes, are seizing the opportunities available to them to make a nominal living as best they can.

By Abdullahi Shuaibu and Sharon Lukunka

The approximately 1.7 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in the Darfur’s camps depend, at least in part, on humanitarian assistance for food, healthcare, water and education. But many of Darfur’s IDPs are looking for opportunities that will allow them to be less dependent on food rations and other basic services for their survival.

Two of the camps in North Darfur, Abu Shouk and Al Salaam, have expanded on the edge of El Fasher. Together, the camps are home to some 160,000 people who have been trying to move forward with their lives, despite not being able to return to their home villages.

In Abu Shouk, the residents have established a large market area that is home to much buying and selling of goods and services. Abu Shouk traders purchase items from El Fasher market, which is not far from the camp, and sell them at the Abu Shouk market. Food, clothing and household items are common items purchased or traded. Buyers in the market can find much more than just consumables and household wares. Mobile phone stalls, selling SIM cards and airtime, are plentiful.

In 2005, Mr. Mohammed Ishad arrived in Abu Shouk from Jebel Marra, where he was studying the Koran. Today, he owns and operates a market stall that offers shoes bought from El Fasher and Khartoum. “We thank Allah for his mercies, although business is very slow due to the poor purchasing power of the people here,” says Mr. Ishad. “But we are still surviving and making a little income to keep us going.”

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Read the full story in the September issue of Voices of Darfur. Download the magazine (PDF) here.