A daunting task: the story of Adam

Adam, a sixteen-year-old modest and ambitious man, recalls his life before 2006, when an armed militia attacked his village Khor Shamam in Ktella District, South Darfur. When the war erupted our village was safe, despite the fear and occasional rumours about plans to attack it,” Adam says. The rumours of an imminent attack worried his father, who owned a lot of cattle, leaving him no choice but to spend day and night with the animals.

One rainy autumn night, Adam heard gunshots. First he ignored the threat, as guards often fire shots at night to ward off criminals. But only ten minutes later, he heard more and heavier gunshots, seemingly coming from all directions of the village, spreading fear among everyone around him.

The attackers left after looting every home and burning what they could not carry.”My mother gathered us all in one place and then headed to the barn to check on my father,” Adam remembers. She found him shot, lying dead on his bed.” He heard his mother screaming, asking for help, and ran with his siblings to the barn, where they found the mother helplessly crying holding her dead husband in her arms.

The family had to escape amidst the ongoing attack, Adam explains, leaving their dead father behind. Just outside their village they witnessed how the attackers set fire to all the houses. Adam’s mother collapsed in tears, crying with her children gathered around her until sunrise.

Early in the morning, Adam’s family returned to the village only to find it in ashes. The attackers left after looting every home and burning what they could not carry,” he says. Neighbours helped to bury his father and all others who died during the attack.

Adam’s family had no place to shelter and they endured hunger for more than two weeks without any support, as they preferred to stay in their village. Living under the mercy of organisations and waiting for their aid in a displacement camp was not an option — for now.

The second attack came 20 days after the first one and was more violent,” Adam says. They attacked the village during daylight”, displacing all residents once again, he adds.

Hiding in a pick-up truck, Adam and his family managed to make their way to Salam Camp, south of Nyala, paying exorbitant 45 Sudanese pounds (US$ 8) per person. My family of 13 members arrived in the camp late at night, six nights after the attack on our village. We had no option but to endure the days to come,” he says.

Relatives who arrived already earlier provided the first food and shelter, until humanitarian organisations working in the camp stepped in, supporting the family with wheat, sugar and soap, later as well with shelter.

Adam, who was ten when he arrived in the camp, has become a grown man by now. He had no choice but to work once they settled in the camp, loading and unloading trucks, farming and other day-labour, all to provide for the entire family. He estimates that he makes about 20 to 30 Sudanese pounds per day (US$ 3 to 5) and sometimes he receives financial support from his uncle in Damazin, allowing him to take a week off.

I never expected to bear such burden at such young age.”Driven by ambition, Adam wishes to continue his studies. He says he is planning to reconcile his work and studies by devoting three days a week for work while spending the remaining days studying. All the money he earns goes to his family — apart of his Tuesday’s wage saved for his tuition expenses.

Adam stopped narrating his story and wiped his tears. I never expected to bear such burden at such young age,” he says in a sad voice, suddenly interrupted by his ringing phone: One of his friends called to tell him that a company specialised in construction and blacksmithing is looking for workers.

All he wants, Adam concludes after the interruption, is peace, so life goes back to normal in Darfur. I could go back home and study and one day become an engineer.”