Coping strategies of Darfurians displaced women in Khartoum

Abstract

This study was designed to identify the Drarfurians (Darfurians: Refers to Darfur States people of western Sudan that face ongoing civil war and tribal conflicts) displaced women's sustainable strategies to meet their basic livelihood survival needs in Khartoum, Sudan. The purposive non-random sampling technique was adopted to select 90 displaced women. Data were collected in the face-to-face interviews by using a pretested questionnaire and observation.The study findings indicated that the respondents live in extremely poor conditions, characterized by high illiteracy rates, large numbers of dependents and very low income. The displaced women were compelled to accept low paid jobs to meet their household basic needs. Displacement to urban centers does not create improved opportunities for a significant portion of city dwellers living in slums as squatters. The results also revealed that the displaced people in Khartoum live in poverty and have little access to employment in the formal sector. The displaced communities are vulnerable in terms of their physical and social capital. Females headed households such as widows, are at increased risk of abuse, exploitation, coercion and manipulation because of their gender and status. The survivals strategies adopted by the respondents include inter alia income generation activities such as street vending, wage labor, buying low price food items and second-hand clothes; and social networking with the displaced people coming from the same tribe and/or origin to cope with their difficult situation. Key words: Darfurians, sustainable strategies, livelihood, displaced, vulnerable, social capital.