Nasir Abdalla, National Field Coordinator with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Sudan, reflects on life three years into the conflict, where he serves communities affected by violence while living apart from his family. Grounded in gratitude, Mr. Abdalla shares why helping others continues to give him purpose and hope.
When we last spoke, you were still in Sudan while your family had been displaced. What is your situation today?
I am still in Sudan. I just moved from Kassala to a new duty station in Kosti in White Nile State, where things are fairly stable, but the ongoing threat posed by increased drone attacks is causing widespread fear among residents.
Where I am now, at the border with the Kordofan region, armed fighting is a daily occurrence and that is worrying. It is also triggering an influx of internally displaced persons into Kosti, which is straining our ability to respond to an already dire situation.
At the time, you told us that "Every day, I hear of a relative being injured or killed. It is immensely painful." Yet you continued to show remarkable resilience. How are you holding up three years into the conflict?
On a personal level, I am doing well despite what is happening around me.
First and foremost, I am grateful I can continue to contribute to the humanitarian response and help my people, especially those displaced by violence, as I know what it feels to be forced to leave your home, be away from family and friends, and struggle to rebuild your life.
I am also grateful I could visit my family despite being away from them. While I have only been able to visit them twice, the last time in April last year, I could spend two weeks with them. I treasure being able to stay closely connected through daily video and voice calls. It helps me maintain a balance between my personal life and work. I realize this is a luxury many simply don¡¯t have.
And yes, I am immensely grateful that in the end, I do have a job and a salary, and this allows me to provide for my extended family.
Whenever I meet displaced communities and I see the conditions they are living in, I¡¯m reminded that, while I have been separated from my loved ones for over a year, there are people who have been apart for three years or more, who haven¡¯t seen or been able to reach one another at all throughout the conflict.
There are mothers searching for their missing children, families who have no idea where their relatives are, or if they are still alive.
People who have lost everything ¨C their homes, their livelihoods. They have no source of income and depend entirely on humanitarian assistance.
Seeing their struggles puts my own challenges into perspective. It motivates me to focus on helping and supporting others, and to play a role - no matter how small - in easing their suffering.
My children were surprised to see me with grey hair during my latest family visit in March 2025.
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