Saba’s safe passage from Sudan
Donation protected
Our dear friend Saba El Musharaf, her family and the people of Sudan desperately need your help. Saba needs emergency money to flee the country.
UPDATE Friday 5/5/23: Saba and her extended family have reached Cairo. It has cost them $6500 US to get this far and they are running out of money in Cairo. We are waiting for Gofundme to do their checks and release the emergency money we have raised so far.
UPDATE Sunday 30/4/23: Saba and her family have now safely reached Aswan in Egypt. Thank you for all your donations so far. We will provide an update and share more on her story soon.
"Many people are trapped in Sudan as they couldn't afford the price of escape - as if the journey isn't treacherous enough." [Saba]
What help does Saba need? Friday 28/4/23 (Gofundme setup date)
Saba is a British-Sudanese national stuck in Wadi Halfa on Sudan’s northern border with Egypt after a gruelling 24-bus ride from the capital with her three young children. She needs emergency money to get out of the country as her accounts have been frozen and the British government can only help her evacuate once she crosses the border into Egypt. The cost of crossing the border alone, including buses, private car and accommodation is approximately $6500 US for eight people in total. More money will be needed if she has to pay for flights to the UK for her immediate family.
It’s enough dealing with the trauma of her situation and worrying about her family, without the extra financial strain. We want to ease the burden so she has the money she needs and can focus on getting through her ordeal one step at a time. If she gets on an evacuation flight and doesn’t use all the money, any extra money raised will go to Save the Children to support other Sudanese families who aren’t in a position to help themselves.
Violence began on April 15 2023 in Sudan’s capital Khartoum as a result of power struggles within the country’s military leadership. Civilians are now caught up in the conflict.
Saba was faced with an agonising decision: stay and put her family’s life at risk or leave and undertake an equally perilous journey.
Saba’s Story
Saba is a University of London-trained pharmacist who spent many years working in a central London hospital with vulnerable cancer patients. Determined, independent and hard-working, she is not usually one to ask for help and is always the first to offer it. She overcame considerable challenges to set up a business in Sudan including confronting difficult social stereotypes relating to independent working women.
An entrepreneur, businesswoman and mother, Saba has forged her way in the cosmetics industry developing products specifically created for dark skin, all while bringing up her three children. Her plans for the future were to expand her business both in Sudan and abroad. A role model for other women in her country, she gave TED talks to encourage others. Now she has left her home and everything she worked for behind to flee from the violence. She recently told us that her clinic has been ransacked.
Saba's journey in her own words
Saba has been in touch sporadically through voice messages and texts when she has had an internet connection.
28/4/23
“I was worried where I was [Khartoum] as the shelling was pretty bad and a day after I made my way to cross the border, the Embassy started evacuating so it was my bad luck. There’s nothing they can do where I am but said as soon as I cross the border into Egypt they can help.”
“I never imagined in a million years that Sudan would have to face this. We had to escape the city by bus to get to Egypt. It’s a nightmare. Please pray for me. I’ve been on a bus ride for 24 hours.”
“I’m in this place called Halfa. All the drivers are lying to people. We paid him and he dropped us off at Halfa instead of Aswan in Southern Egypt, 300 km from the border. This bus driver – they’ve done it to so many other people. So many people are stranded in Halfa and that’s part of the problem: they can’t get across. Now they're threatening to close the border.”
“There is a promise of a car tomorrow; 2000 dollars just to cross the border! We had to borrow money from my brother. We didn’t have any money. Bank accounts, the whole system was down. I hope the car comes tomorrow.”
“A kind family we met on the bus have taken us in. How can I describe it? It’s a roof over our heads but it’s not the best conditions. I saw a scorpion the other day. I just want to get out. I can’t believe this is happening. It’s so scary. I’m trying to be strong for me and the children but we’re all so scared.”
Sadly, the shelling started just before the religious holiday of Eid, celebrated by muslins worldwide to mark the end of the fasting of Ramadan. This is normally a time of celebration and coming together, one that Saba’s children in particular must have been excited about. Saba posted a message before she fled:
Happy Eid ❤
Gun shelling continues but I'll be damned if you rob my children of their Eid .فرحة العيد رغم القذف .
Many happy returns and may you always be safe and victorious
21/4/2023
We still don’t know if Saba and her family have crossed the border but will update this site when we have news. She has registered her presence in Sudan with the FCDO who are monitoring the situation and providing travel updates. "There is almost no infrastructure at these border crossings. Individuals are currently waiting up to several days to transit the border, with very limited access to food and water."
Please give any amount you can, however big or small and help us share this fundraiser. Help will go directly to Saba, her family and other families suffering a similar plight.
We love you Saba and know you can do this! We are praying for peace in Sudan and are with you all the way.
Transparency Notes
I’m a British national from Wiltshire in the UK where I live with my husband and three children. My background is in education (I’m a former school teacher).
I have known Saba and her family for over 25 years and she is my friend.
To get Saba the emergency money she needs as quickly as possible, I will be receiving it in my UK bank account. I will then transfer the money raised to Saba’s UK bank account. She needs a minimum of USD 2000 to pay for her car ride across the border. If the remaining funds raised are not needed by Saba to leave Egypt (because she receives evacuation support), money will be donated to Save the Children. I have not yet been able to ask Saba which is her preferred charity for supporting refugees but I feel strongly she would want to support other families with children.
This is the quickest way to get Saba the money she needs in an emergency. If you do not know me or Saba personally and would like more information to confirm my identity and intentions, please contact me and I will give you information by private message. You will find the contact organiser button below.
Thank you for your support.
Anna
Organizer
Anna Taylor
Organizer