Restoring Dignity in a Time of Displacement

When the escalation of violence forced “Amina” (pseudonym), a 34-year-old mother of three, to flee her home with her children, she left with almost nothing. Like many families affected by the crisis, she had only a few minutes to gather essential documents and a small bag of clothes before seeking safety elsewhere. She eventually arrived at a collective shelter, exhausted, frightened, and uncertain about what would come next.

The sudden displacement deeply affected Amina and her family. Living in a crowded shelter with limited privacy, inadequate hygiene conditions, and little access to basic necessities was overwhelming—especially as a woman responsible for caring for her children while also trying to manage her own needs.

During SALAMA’s outreach activities at the shelter, Amina participated in an awareness session on hygiene, self-care, and sexual and reproductive health. For her, the session was more than just information—it was a moment of reassurance during chaos. She learned practical ways to protect her health and her children’s well-being while living in difficult shelter conditions.

Shortly after, Amina also received a dignity kit distributed by SALAMA, containing essential hygiene items specifically designed to support women and girls in emergency settings. The kit included items she urgently needed but could not afford or access after displacement.

Amina described the support as deeply meaningful, sharing:

“When we fled, I left everything behind. Receiving the dignity kit and attending the session made me feel that someone saw us, understood what we needed, and cared about our dignity as women.”