News
DRC Defies the Dark and Lights Up the Renk Transit Center
Four months have passed since the conflict began in Sudan. As of August 9, 2023, approximately 215,197 individuals have been displaced and forced to leave their homes, as documented in the UNHCR/IOM database. Many of these displaced people have sought refuge in South Sudan, crossing through Joda border in Upper Nile State.
During this crisis, a remarkable response emerged. In April 2023, humanitarian organizations and the local government worked together to establish a transit center for those who had been displaced. Located 70 kilometers away from the Joda Border, around April, this center provided a safe haven for an accumulative figure of approximately 8,000 refugees, returnees, and asylum seekers every day.
However, the center faced numerous challenges. The lack of basic necessities such as sanitation, lighting, shelter, and food created difficulties for the vulnerable occupants.
The emotional and psychological impact of displacement was also profound, as families were separated, and communities were torn apart.
Despite these challenges, a glimmer of hope emerged. The realization that a sustainable power solution was needed led to the installation of solar-powered lights throughout the transit center.
This project, funded by the European Union, Humanitarian Aid and implemented by DRC, not only provided illumination but also a sense of security for the people living in the center.
Undoubtedly, the path to this illumination was not without its trials. Technical problems and delayed deliveries of solar components tested DRC's resolve.
DRC's Mobile Response Team persevered, ensuring the successful installation of the lights, casting a warm embrace of assurance over the displaced persons.
In this fragile haven, the specter of sexual and physical assault cast shadows over an already daunting journey towards safety.
An unwavering resolve emerges from these depths, advocating for a passage to refuge marked not by darkness but by safety, respect, and dignity, a sanctuary free from violence.
