Back to School After Fleeing Violence in Sudan

Sudan's catastrophic conflict forced 13-year-old Azuz and his family out of their home in Al Fasher, North Darfur. For 20 days, they drove in search of safety. When supplies ran out, they ate tree leaves. The family has settled, for now, in a refugee encampment in River Nile State. "I was scared the entire journey until we reached here," says Azuz, seated in a plastic chair surrounded by tents. "All of us, me and my siblings were scared." For children whose lives have been upended by war, returning to the familiar dynamics of a classroom with children their own age provides a much-needed sense of normalcy and relief. "When we came, we saw the school year was about to end," says Azuz's mother, Najla. "UNICEF helped us a lot in registering the children in schools. Now [my children] can even write in Arabic and English." "I'm happy to be back to learning in school," Azuz says. "If the opportunity comes and the war ends, I will return to Al Fasher." Subscribe to UNICEF USA's YouTube Channel for the latest updates. To learn more about UNICEF and UNICEF USA, visit: https://www.unicefusa.org Read our stories about UNICEF in action: https://www.unicefusa.org/stories Follow UNICEF USA here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unicefusa Twitter: https://twitter.com/UNICEFUSA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNICEF-USA