Witnessing Resilience: GOAL Sudan’s Visit to South Kordofan

Travelling 1,520 kilometers over the course of three days, crossing through the states of Red Sea, Kassala, Gadarif, Al Gazira, and White Nile, mostly along very bumpy roads (at times, no roads at all), my small team and I reached the GOAL office in Abu Jabiha, South Kordofan, on May 2, 2025. This was the first visit from any coordination staff member, including any international staff since the war broke out in Sudan in mid-April 2023.

Though we arrived caked in dust, with aching backs, tired limbs, and sleep-filled eyes, all of that was forgotten when we saw our entire Abu Jabiha team, who had come to welcome us on their weekend. The next three days were an endless loop of laughter, chatter, meetings, and much-awaited field visits. During this time, we were reminded why we, as humanitarian workers, do what we do, despite the many obstacles that seem to multiply as time goes on.

When you witness the realities faced by so many people in the affected communities we serve and see their courage and perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds, it becomes hard not to be motivated to try harder. It’s a reminder that we are delivering humanitarian assistance in corners of the world that are often forgotten—or not reported on at all. Some of the individuals my team and I met kindly allowed me to take their photos and share their stories.

4-year-old Halima in the Delalkar health facility.

One of these individuals was the adorable 4-year-old Halima, who came to the Delalkar health facility with her 10-year-old brother, Adam, and her 35-year-old mother, Aysha. They had traveled more than two kilometers on foot. This was their third visit in a short time. Halima had been showing symptoms of fever, headache, and leucocytosis. Aysha confirmed that her daughter was receiving the necessary medical care at the facility and expressed satisfaction with the respectful and supportive treatment provided by the healthcare staff, who are supported by BHA, ECHO, and UNICEF through GOAL. We wish Halima a speedy recovery.

Zahra Othman, a 40-year-old mother who is currently residing in Rashad.

We also met Zahra Othman, a 40-year-old mother who is currently residing at Zunourain School in Rashad with her five children. This school is one of the sites hosting 600 households displaced from Khouraldelaib nearly a month ago. Zahra and her children had to endure a difficult five-day journey on foot to reach safety. Zahra shared that they arrived with no clothing or footwear and are now facing urgent needs, especially for food and clean water. In the picture, Zahra is holding a photo of her grandchildren, whom she hasn’t seen since the war started. They are in Khartoum.

Also, at Zunourain School, we met Kaltoum Malek Ali, a 27-year-old widow with newborn twins. Her husband, a soldier, died during the conflict in Khouraldelaib. Kaltoum recently gave birth to twin girls on April 6, 2025. She shared her story of a six-day journey on foot from Khouraldelaib to Rashad while pregnant. Kaltoum delivered her twins at Zunourain School, with the assistance of a midwife who offered voluntary support. Kaltoum and her newborn daughters are in critical need of food, hygiene supplies, and clothing.

At this displacement site, where seven to eight families share each classroom and many families live under trees with whatever little belongings they have, GOAL Global has been providing nutrition and health support through mobile health clinics, clean drinking water, multi-purpose cash assistance, and non-food items (including hygiene kits, dignity kits, and emergency shelter items). One of the mobile clinics is supported by UNICEF, with additional funding from BHA.

At the Rashad Stabilization Center, supported by ECHO, my team and I witnessed one of the worst cases of malnutrition in a child under five years that we have ever seen. A beautiful little boy had lost his eye due to extreme edema, and half of the skin on his scalp and face had eroded because of malnutrition. We will continue to monitor his health and wish him a swift recovery.

We also visited the Abu Jabiha hospital, which serves patients from six localities (Alliri, Talodi, Ghadeer, Altadamon, Rashad, and Abukarshola). GOAL is currently supporting EMOC referrals (covering costs such as medical check-ups and C-sections) and nutrition referrals, funded by BHA and UNICEF, respectively. We have also supported the hospital in the past with water networks, solar power systems, and latrine construction (funded by SHF), and supported an isolation centre during a recent AWD outbreak (funded by UNICEF). Following our visit and witnessing the immense needs, GOAL is collaborating with donors to scale up support for this crucial hospital.

Fatima, 36-year-old mother of six residing in Rashad, South Kordofan, Sudan.

We met Fatima, a 36-year-old mother and head of a family of six. Fatima and her family were displaced from Khouraldelaib several years ago and have been in Rashad town ever since. Thanks to the multi-purpose cash assistance she received from GOAL (funded by SHF), Fatima was able to open a small tea-selling business, earning a decent livelihood and supporting her family. Fatima holds a college degree in Economics from the University of East Kordofan, and we hope she will one day achieve all the professional goals she has set for herself.

In 2025, GOAL Global plans to support over 331,126 individuals in South Kordofan, through our work across seven localities in the state. Our efforts are supported by donors such as BHA, ECHO, the EU, SHF, and UNICEF.

The people of Sudan, who once hosted one of the highest numbers of refugees in the world prior to the recent conflict, are now the most displaced people in the world, facing an unparalleled humanitarian and hunger crisis. GOAL has been working in Sudan since 1985, and we are more committed than ever to delivering aid to those in need.