Coping Strategies of Displaced Women from Southern
Southern Sudan in Khartoum State
By:
Ramson Duku Kweji
cknowledgement
I would like to express my sincere thanks to those who contributed
morally and actively to this study exercise. I will never hesitate
mentioning; the most vital individuals have been my supervisor
Dr. Abdel Raouf Suleiman Bello, Head Department of Agricultural
Extension & rural Development, who tirelessly worked with me to
make this research a success. The staff in the Department were
vis-à-vis instrumental.
Discussions with the IDPs were very helpful to better my
understanding of the situation of the displaced. Above all my
heartfelt thanks go to the displaced southern mothers/women in the
camps and squatters in and around Khartoum. This research would
have not materialized without the precious time they offered
answering my questions. The commitment of my colleagues
Emmanuel Mono Duku, Wilson Lodiong Sebit Didik and Alex
Liki Ruben (my brother in-law) in collecting the reliable data was
of great appreciation.
Many thanks are also to my comrades in the struggle Khadija
Adam Sebil, Anthony Tabia Tukube and Suleiman Osman Legge
who have done more than enough during our study course.
My beloved wife Jackline Poni Ruben can not pass unmentioned
here, for her wonderful job at home while I struggled with the
books. May God bless her.
I continue to be indebted to the presidency of the Republic for
having sponsored my Msc. Study at the University of Khartoum.
Special tribute is paid to Engineer Sheikh Besh Akur, of the
Development Fund for Southern Sudan and War Affected Areas
for his fatherly advice and contribution to my studies.
iv
Finally, ADRA-Sudan, Um-Jawaseer Project administration,
particularly Alex Murye Thomson and Haidar Ahmed Ashri, are
acknowledged for having kindly allowed me use the project
computer facilities in my final touches. Otherwise, Marvet, of
UNDP-Khartoum, security department will always be remembered
for her patience with the keyboard in front of her computer
monitor.
v
Abstract
This study was conducted to explore the socio-economic status quo
of the displaced women from southern Sudan in Khartoum State,
the impact of the displacement on these women, and the strategies
they adopted to cope with the situation.
The study was conducted in Soba Aradi squatter area and Wed El
Bashir (WEB) camp in Khartoum State. Ninety respondents were
selected using the purposive sample method. Forty five from each
of the above mentioned areas, the reason was to see how the
displaced women from officially designated camps and in squatter
areas cope with the crisis of displacement.
The study revealed that, regardless of national and international
efforts, the situation of the displaced women is absurd; they carried
out marginal economic activities, some of which brought them in
to conflict with the law. They also earned very low incomes which
affected their decision making abilities. The study also indicated
that the lack of capital and proper marketing avenues barred these
women from progressing in business.
Despite some relief assistance, the displaced have suffered
from starvation, diseases, lack of proper accommodation
apart from moral and psychological suffering due to social
and family structures disintegration.
Although the informal sector has offered to many displaced
women settled in/and around urban Khartoum new
opportunities expanding their decision making ability at
home, gained new skills in business and helped them gain
self-confidence in the economic activities, the majority still
lack business knowledge and legal procedures to avoid
municipal and police harassments.
vi
The results clearly indicated that most of the displaced
women from the south mainly depend on brewing beer
which has ever brought them into conflict with the law. The
value of education or awareness is also high among southern
women. Lack of capital and proper marketing avenues
hinder the women from progressing in business.
The study ends with some recommendations including; training
programmes for the displaced women, by NGOs and the
government, for capacity building should be developed and
introduced, to enable them to acquire marketable skills to secure
better paying jobs, the provision of health & education facilities,
and women empowerment through awareness raising and group
mobilization to be able to obtain loans and venture in to relatively
bigger businesses than depending on petty trade
vii
الخلاصة
اجريت هذه الدراسة دف الوقوف على الاوضاع الاقتصادية الاجتماعية الراهنة للنازحات
من جنوب السودان لولاية الخرطوم،كما اا دف للتعرف على اثر التروح على هؤلاء النسوة و
استراتيجيات التكيف التى يتبعنها للعيش فى ظل هذه الظروف.
تم اجراء الدراسة بولاية الخرطوم بمنطقة السكن العشوائى بسوبا الاراضى و معسكر النازحين بود
البشيرحيث اختيرت عينة قوامها ٩٠ مبحوثة باستخدام العينة الفرضية، اى بمعدل ٤٥ لكل من
المنطقتين المذكورتين اعلاه.
بالرغم من الجهود الوطنية و الدولية اظهرت الدراسة ان حالة المراة النازحة قد ساءت بفعل التروح
حيث انخفض دخلها و قدرا على اتخاذ القرارات المناسبة بحكم ممارستها لبعض النشاطات الهامشية
والتى تقود احيانا للصدام مع السلطات المختصة،هذا اضافة الى ان ضعف الدخل المتحصل عليه
والذى يؤدى الى التاثير على عملية اتخاذ القرارات.
لذلك و بالرغم من بعض العون الاغاثى،لا زالت المراة النازحة تعانى من حالة الجوع و الامراض
اضافة الى افتقارها للايواء المناسب هذا فضلا عن معاناا النفسية والاخلاقية بسبب التفكك
الاجتماعى و الأسرى.
و مع أن القطاع غير الرسمى قد أتاح للنازحات فى أو حول مدينة الخرطوم خيارات و فرص جديدة
لتوسيع قدران فى اتخاذ القرارات المناسبة على مستوى أسرهن وأكسبهن مهارات جديدة فى مجال
الانشطة الاقتصادية التى ساعدن فى كسب المزيد من الثقه فى انفسهن، الا ان الغالبيه مازلن يقتقرن
الى المعرفه بكيفيه ممارسه الانشطه الاقتصاديه والاجراءات القانونيه اللازمه ليتمكن من تفادى ازعاج
السلطات المحليه والشرطه .
اظهرت نتائج الدراسه بوضوح ان معظم النازحات من الجنوب يعتمدن على تصنيع الخمور البلديه
الامر الذى يوقعهن باستمرار تحت طائله القانون . كما ان قيمه التعليم والوعى بدت عاليه وسط
النازحات. اظهرت الدراسة ايضا ان انعدام راس المال و قنوات التسويق الصحيحة تقف عائقا فى
طريق المراة النازحة لاحراز اى نجاح فى مجالات الانشطة الاقتصادية التى تقوم ا.
توصلت الدراسه الى عدة توصيات تشتمل: ضرورة ان تتبنى الحكومة و المنظمات الطوعية برامج
تدريبية تأهيل النازحات لبناء وتنميه قدرات تمكنهن من اكتساب مهارات اقتصاديه لضمان توفير
فرص عمل افضل لهن .
Southern Sudan in Khartoum State
By:
Ramson Duku Kweji
cknowledgement
I would like to express my sincere thanks to those who contributed
morally and actively to this study exercise. I will never hesitate
mentioning; the most vital individuals have been my supervisor
Dr. Abdel Raouf Suleiman Bello, Head Department of Agricultural
Extension & rural Development, who tirelessly worked with me to
make this research a success. The staff in the Department were
vis-à-vis instrumental.
Discussions with the IDPs were very helpful to better my
understanding of the situation of the displaced. Above all my
heartfelt thanks go to the displaced southern mothers/women in the
camps and squatters in and around Khartoum. This research would
have not materialized without the precious time they offered
answering my questions. The commitment of my colleagues
Emmanuel Mono Duku, Wilson Lodiong Sebit Didik and Alex
Liki Ruben (my brother in-law) in collecting the reliable data was
of great appreciation.
Many thanks are also to my comrades in the struggle Khadija
Adam Sebil, Anthony Tabia Tukube and Suleiman Osman Legge
who have done more than enough during our study course.
My beloved wife Jackline Poni Ruben can not pass unmentioned
here, for her wonderful job at home while I struggled with the
books. May God bless her.
I continue to be indebted to the presidency of the Republic for
having sponsored my Msc. Study at the University of Khartoum.
Special tribute is paid to Engineer Sheikh Besh Akur, of the
Development Fund for Southern Sudan and War Affected Areas
for his fatherly advice and contribution to my studies.
iv
Finally, ADRA-Sudan, Um-Jawaseer Project administration,
particularly Alex Murye Thomson and Haidar Ahmed Ashri, are
acknowledged for having kindly allowed me use the project
computer facilities in my final touches. Otherwise, Marvet, of
UNDP-Khartoum, security department will always be remembered
for her patience with the keyboard in front of her computer
monitor.
v
Abstract
This study was conducted to explore the socio-economic status quo
of the displaced women from southern Sudan in Khartoum State,
the impact of the displacement on these women, and the strategies
they adopted to cope with the situation.
The study was conducted in Soba Aradi squatter area and Wed El
Bashir (WEB) camp in Khartoum State. Ninety respondents were
selected using the purposive sample method. Forty five from each
of the above mentioned areas, the reason was to see how the
displaced women from officially designated camps and in squatter
areas cope with the crisis of displacement.
The study revealed that, regardless of national and international
efforts, the situation of the displaced women is absurd; they carried
out marginal economic activities, some of which brought them in
to conflict with the law. They also earned very low incomes which
affected their decision making abilities. The study also indicated
that the lack of capital and proper marketing avenues barred these
women from progressing in business.
Despite some relief assistance, the displaced have suffered
from starvation, diseases, lack of proper accommodation
apart from moral and psychological suffering due to social
and family structures disintegration.
Although the informal sector has offered to many displaced
women settled in/and around urban Khartoum new
opportunities expanding their decision making ability at
home, gained new skills in business and helped them gain
self-confidence in the economic activities, the majority still
lack business knowledge and legal procedures to avoid
municipal and police harassments.
vi
The results clearly indicated that most of the displaced
women from the south mainly depend on brewing beer
which has ever brought them into conflict with the law. The
value of education or awareness is also high among southern
women. Lack of capital and proper marketing avenues
hinder the women from progressing in business.
The study ends with some recommendations including; training
programmes for the displaced women, by NGOs and the
government, for capacity building should be developed and
introduced, to enable them to acquire marketable skills to secure
better paying jobs, the provision of health & education facilities,
and women empowerment through awareness raising and group
mobilization to be able to obtain loans and venture in to relatively
bigger businesses than depending on petty trade
vii
الخلاصة
اجريت هذه الدراسة دف الوقوف على الاوضاع الاقتصادية الاجتماعية الراهنة للنازحات
من جنوب السودان لولاية الخرطوم،كما اا دف للتعرف على اثر التروح على هؤلاء النسوة و
استراتيجيات التكيف التى يتبعنها للعيش فى ظل هذه الظروف.
تم اجراء الدراسة بولاية الخرطوم بمنطقة السكن العشوائى بسوبا الاراضى و معسكر النازحين بود
البشيرحيث اختيرت عينة قوامها ٩٠ مبحوثة باستخدام العينة الفرضية، اى بمعدل ٤٥ لكل من
المنطقتين المذكورتين اعلاه.
بالرغم من الجهود الوطنية و الدولية اظهرت الدراسة ان حالة المراة النازحة قد ساءت بفعل التروح
حيث انخفض دخلها و قدرا على اتخاذ القرارات المناسبة بحكم ممارستها لبعض النشاطات الهامشية
والتى تقود احيانا للصدام مع السلطات المختصة،هذا اضافة الى ان ضعف الدخل المتحصل عليه
والذى يؤدى الى التاثير على عملية اتخاذ القرارات.
لذلك و بالرغم من بعض العون الاغاثى،لا زالت المراة النازحة تعانى من حالة الجوع و الامراض
اضافة الى افتقارها للايواء المناسب هذا فضلا عن معاناا النفسية والاخلاقية بسبب التفكك
الاجتماعى و الأسرى.
و مع أن القطاع غير الرسمى قد أتاح للنازحات فى أو حول مدينة الخرطوم خيارات و فرص جديدة
لتوسيع قدران فى اتخاذ القرارات المناسبة على مستوى أسرهن وأكسبهن مهارات جديدة فى مجال
الانشطة الاقتصادية التى ساعدن فى كسب المزيد من الثقه فى انفسهن، الا ان الغالبيه مازلن يقتقرن
الى المعرفه بكيفيه ممارسه الانشطه الاقتصاديه والاجراءات القانونيه اللازمه ليتمكن من تفادى ازعاج
السلطات المحليه والشرطه .
اظهرت نتائج الدراسه بوضوح ان معظم النازحات من الجنوب يعتمدن على تصنيع الخمور البلديه
الامر الذى يوقعهن باستمرار تحت طائله القانون . كما ان قيمه التعليم والوعى بدت عاليه وسط
النازحات. اظهرت الدراسة ايضا ان انعدام راس المال و قنوات التسويق الصحيحة تقف عائقا فى
طريق المراة النازحة لاحراز اى نجاح فى مجالات الانشطة الاقتصادية التى تقوم ا.
توصلت الدراسه الى عدة توصيات تشتمل: ضرورة ان تتبنى الحكومة و المنظمات الطوعية برامج
تدريبية تأهيل النازحات لبناء وتنميه قدرات تمكنهن من اكتساب مهارات اقتصاديه لضمان توفير
فرص عمل افضل لهن .