Lia, psychologist : “Trauma knocks at every door”

Lia, psychologist, enters a small and dark room at one end of the semi-permanent metal sheet building, which hosts the psychological activities of Nguenyyel camp, in Ethiopia, where 86,000 South Sudanese refugees are living in dire situation.

Thick curtains block the view and give a sense of intimacy. She sat on the floor along with her translator and a 40-year-old woman. Voices are low, almost whispers. The stories that are told in this room are made of violence and fear, painful memories that will not fade away. But with help, the sorrow can be smoothed. The grief will stay but with support, people can achieve acceptance and resilience.

She is one of the three psychologists who works in the psychological distress program, launched by Action Against Hunger in August 2017 in order to address traumatic situation.

Lia has about 30 clients as she calls them. “They are actors of their own recovery. We counsel both children and adults. We see a lot of epilepsy, which is one of the most common post traumatic syndromes. Trauma knocks at every door.”

Today, her client wants to talk about her 12 years old daughter whom Lia is also counselling. When they were living in South Sudan, the little girl was kidnapped by the Murle tribe at the age of 8. She stayed three years as a slave before being sold to another owner from a different tribe. Eventually, the owner was persuaded by the authorities to return the girl back to her real family.

Unfortunately, on her return she found her mother now lived in the refugee camp, had remarried and learned the sad news that her father had been killed in South Sudan. Her return to this new family was not accepted by her new stepfather and step-uncle. She faced regular abuse and rejection, and one day, whilst her mother was out collecting firewood, her step-uncle and his friends burst into the shelter and raped her. The perpetrators subsequently fled the camp to avoid arrest.

Lia was the first person that the girl told about the rape. She has continued to support and help her including accompanying her to the medical center for treatment and provided on-going counselling support.

The woman sighs and explains that she is also concerned about another of her daughters who had also been abducted for one year by the same group in South Sudan. Since her return to the family, she has been telling her mother repeatedly that during this time they had made her eat snakes and insects.

Thoughts never leave her head. However, she feels lucky; at least her two daughters are back, some parents will never see their children again.