Hussein Hassan - Emergency Coordinator in South Sudan
“When we listen, care, and act, we don’t just change outcomes—we change lives.”
In South Sudan, where conflict and crisis reshape daily life, Hussein Hassan is a steady presence. As part of UNFPA’s emergency response team, Hussein has been on the frontlines, seeing firsthand how violence and instability impact the lives of women and girls.
Hussein's voice:
For the past two years, I have had the privilege of working as an Emergency Coordinator with UNFPA in South Sudan. This role has taken me to remote villages, crowded transit centers, and overstretched health facilities. Everywhere I go, I see both hardship and strength.
I’m writing today not just to share the work we do but to give voice to the people I’ve met. Their stories—of survival and courage—are a reminder that sexual and reproductive health services, GBV prevention, and humanitarian support are not luxuries. They are lifesaving.
Here are just a few of the stories Why I Write:
“Silence Protects the Violence”: A Survivor’s Fight for Justice
At a women and girls’ friendly safe space in Malakal Protection of Civilian (PoC) site, I met Siham*, a mother of three who survived years of domestic violence. This is her story:
“For years, I lived in fear, thinking I had no way out. But when I came here, they told me I have rights, that what happened to me was not my fault. Now, I tell my story because silence protects the violence. My daughters will grow up knowing their worth.”
The friendly spaces for women and girls like the one Siham found offer survivors counseling, healthcare, and the tools to rebuild their lives. Yet, many women still suffer in silence. I write because every survivor deserves the chance to heal.
“I Thought I Would Die”: A Mother’s Life Saved by SRH Services
During a visit to a health facility in Bentiu, I met Nyandeng*, who had walked for hours while in labor. Thanks to the health facility trained midwives and inter-agency emergency RH kits provided by UNFPA, she delivered a healthy baby boy.
“I thought I would die like my sister, who bled for hours with no help. But today, I am alive. My son is alive. I wish every mother could find help like I did.”
Maternal mortality remains a harsh reality in South Sudan. I write because no woman should die while giving life.
“We Left Everything Behind”: A Refugee Mother’s Hope for Her Children
At a transit center in Joda, near the Sudan border, I met Fatima*, who fled her village with her two children after violence engulfed her community.
“The road was long, and we were scared every night. But when we crossed into South Sudan, we found people who cared. Now, I just want my children to go to school and feel safe.”
I write to remind us that displacement is not just about numbers, it is about mothers like Fatima, seeking safety and dignity for their children.
“It’s Not Just a Women’s Issue”: A Male Champion for GBV Prevention
In Bor town, I met Deng*, a local chief who stood during a community dialogue to challenge harmful norms:
“For a long time, we thought GBV was a women’s issue. But we were wrong. It is our issue, because we are the ones who must change. If we teach our sons to respect women, we will build stronger, safer families.”
Engaging men in GBV prevention is critical to breaking cycles of violence. I write because change begins when men like Deng speak up.
“Without These Supplies, We Would Have Lost Lives”: Health Workers on the Frontlines
While visiting a Reproductive Health facility in Mingkaman, I spoke with Florence*, a midwife who described the impact of UNFPA’s support:
“When a mother comes in with complications, we don’t have time to wait. These kits mean we have the tools we need, essential medicines, clean delivery kits, and newborn supplies. Without them, we would have lost many mothers and babies.”
In health facilities like this, supplies are not just equipment, they are hope. I write to advocate for continued investments that save lives.
“I Felt Human Again”: A Dignity Kit Beneficiary
At a women and girls’ friendly space in Pibor, I supported distributing dignity kits and solar lanterns to women who had fled recent violence. After receiving her kit, Rose* turned to me and said:
“When you run from war, you lose everything, even your sense of self. But when I opened this kit, I felt human again. It reminded me that someone, somewhere, cares.”
I write because dignity is more than survival, it is about restoring a sense of normalcy in times of crisis.
Why I Continue to Write
Siham’s courage, Nyandeng’s relief, Fatima’s hope, Deng’s leadership, Florence’s dedication, and Rose’s restored dignity represent the heart of our work. They are living proof that providing friendly spaces, reproductive health services, and dignity kits is not just humanitarian practice, it is an investment in human dignity.
I write because their stories deserve to be heard. I write to remind us that behind every intervention is a life changed, a family strengthened, and a community empowered.
*Names have been changed to protect identities.
