October 9, 2024 – Alexandria, Egypt
Nada Fadol, a 31-year-old Sudanese refugee, has been recognized as the 2024 regional winner for the Middle East and North Africa of the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award for her extraordinary work supporting fellow refugees in Egypt. Since the Sudanese conflict erupted in April 2023, Fadol has led the Rouh Initiative, a community center in Alexandria offering free healthcare, skills training, and social support to refugees, mainly from Sudan and Syria.
Fadol, who herself fled Sudan in 2015, transformed a modest three-bedroom apartment into a refuge for the displaced. With support from the Egyptian Red Crescent and local volunteers, the center serves as a lifeline for the community, providing medical aid, educational opportunities, and psychosocial support.
Driven by her own experiences of displacement, Fadol and her team of volunteers mobilized resources to help Sudanese families stranded at the southern border of Egypt. Her efforts have provided hundreds of refugees with basic necessities, temporary housing, and a sense of community.
In a moment of joy, Fadol expressed her gratitude for the UNHCR honor, stating, “I can’t even describe how happy I am feeling right now.” Despite the recognition, her focus remains on expanding her work to support refugees in other conflict-affected areas.
“We can help as much as we can with simple things,” she said. “Why not find volunteers in other countries that have problems? It would be a beautiful thing if we were able to help as many people in need as possible, wherever they are.”
Her dedication continues to inspire those around her, with volunteers like 24-year-old Khalida Abas, a Sudanese refugee who now trains women at the center, saying, “Nada is like my elder sister. She is my role model.”
The Rouh Initiative is a testament to the power of community-led responses in times of crisis, offering hope, home, and healing to those who have lost everything.
