SURVIVOR STORIES: HAWA MAHAMAD

Unimaginable Hardship and Extraordinary Resilience

Darfur genocide survivor

"I lived in a beautiful village in Darfur surrounded by tall acacia trees. To the west was the green valley of Arawalla,, which blessed us with mangoes, guavas, oranges, and vibrant gardens during the rainy season. To the east, lush sugarcane farms flourished. Life in our village was simple but abundant. Hard work provided everything we needed—grains, vegetables, fruits, and livestock. Market trips were rare, as most families were self-sufficient. Our community was close-knit and supportive; neighbors came together to build homes in a single day. Life was beautiful, and I was content.

But that beauty ended abruptly in 2003 when an army descended on our village early one morning while I was in the valley feeding cows. I was just 23 years old, already married, and a mother of four. The attackers arrived on camels, horses, and land cruisers, armed with heavy artillery. I heard their chants, gunfire, and the crackling of flames as houses were set ablaze. I quickly realized it was the Sudanese Government Army soldiers and the Janjaweed militia.

My three brothers, uncle, and his two sons rushed to save me, but they were shot dead before my eyes. I was then brutally attacked, shot in the back, and raped until I lost consciousness. When I awoke, I pretended to be dead until nightfall, then began searching for my children.

What I found was horror. The village was littered with bodies—over a thousand lives taken. A wounded neighbor told me my children had been hidden in the forest. After two days, we were reunited. Despite my injuries and carrying my youngest child on my back, we walked for three days to another village, where locals shared food and treated my wounds with traditional medicine. From there, we made the harrowing month-long journey to a refugee camp in Chad, enduring unimaginable suffering.

In Chad, international NGOs provided medical care, and after six months, I was reunited with my husband, who had been gravely wounded and left disabled. Although the camp felt safer, my outspokenness about the atrocities made me a target. Fearing for our lives, we relocated multiple times, eventually finding safety in Houston, Texas.

In the United States, I received medical treatment and was told I would never work again due to my injuries. Despite this, I refused to let it define me. I enrolled in ESL courses, passed the ACT, and am now working toward my GED. My children are thriving, attending college, working, and excelling in their studies.

I am determined to fight for justice for myself and my people. I plan to study law, write a book, and continue to advocate against genocide. As a member of Give Hope to Darfur, I use my voice to help others find safety and peace.

I urge you, the reader, to join this fight. Speak up for the victims of genocide, especially women and children. Share our campaign on social media and support organizations like Give Hope to Darfur. Together, we can demand action and end the suffering in Darfur and beyond."

TAKE ACTION

Support survivors and raise awareness about the ongoing genocide in Darfur.

• Visit www.givedarfur.org

• Donate to Give Hope to Darfur to support women and children affected by conflict.

• Share campaign content on social media to spread the message and inspire action.

Let’s ensure that the voices of survivors like Hawa Mahamad are heard and that their resilience becomes a beacon of hope for all.