26 Days of Doubt

2023-2024 In December 2023, while I was displaced in Wad Madani, about 200 kilometers away from my family, I received a phone call from my father. He told me he had decided to go to Renk, South Sudan, in search of asylum, stability, and a better future, and that I should come with them. I rejected the idea, believing my work had finally started to improve. The call ended with my father saying, “If you don’t want to come... then don’t.” From December 18, 2023, until I left Renk for Juba on January 13, 2024, I documented the daily lives of my family and other refugees, witnessing their struggles with the harsh environment, constant fear, and shortages of basic resources. Despite the extreme heat, lack of shelter, food, and clean water, people continued trying to build a sense of normal life through small businesses, card games, religious songs, and the laughter of children. My family returned to Sudan four days after arriving in Renk, but I remain certain we will meet again soon in a place that is safe, healthy, and at peace.