Nyandeng Mayii

My name is Nyandeng Mayii. I am 76 years old refugee from South Sudan. I am a mother of two adult daughters. I fled my home country due to the civil war that claimed the lives of many innocents. Currently, I live in Tsore refugee camp. I still remember the day I left my home village of Panrieng in Sudan. It was just a usual sunny day in my village when I heard heavy gunfire. Everyone was running for their lives. I saw my brother-in-law getting killed in my compound. I didn’t care to ask what was happening; my daughter and my husband ran with everyone. We walked for days until we crossed the border into Ethiopia. It was the most difficult time in my life. I left all my belongings behind. I later heard that my entire village was looted and burned to the ground. I don’t clearly remember the year, but it has been a long time. I settled in Tsore refugee camp together with my husband and my eldest daughter. This refugee camp has become my new home since then. I gave birth to two other children in this refugee camp. I raised my children in Tsore refugee camp. I found new friends and a new place to start my life all over again. My husband was an elderly man. He passed away seven years ago. He was sick, and he was unable to get proper medication. It has been a while since I heard about HelpAge from my neighbors as an organisation that cares for older people like me. I didn’t take any time to get registered. Since I joined, I have received soap for my hygiene, a mattress, blanket, mosquito net, cooking pan, jerry can, pot, and cup. I have never had a good mattress since I settled in Tsore refugee camp and usually experience sleepless nights. Now I have a mattress to sleep on. The other essential house items made my life easier. I can store water for two days and use the bowl to wash and mix corn flour that I bake for food.