Mohammed, 32, came from Darfur in 2007.

Everyone hears the sound of the warplane. I remember even the cows and goats. Every creature was running to the forest. While I was running I remember the feeling that the plane wanted to kill just me. Probably every creature that was running felt that way.

After getting to the forest, I went to get water. I had no idea where we would end up living. We were all together in the forest. I remember carrying th water from the well back to my family and really feeling like I wanted to join the rebellion. I wanted to fight the government.

When I told my family that I wanted to go, they didn't want me to. My mother said to wait till my younger brother was back from the army. He had been drafted.

I remember the plane above us. It killed people and animals. I wanted join the rebellion.

Mubarek, 26, came to Israel from Darfur in 2006 when he was 15 years old.

I was hanging out at the train station to buy a ticket. I was disappointed because it was closed and I wanted to buy a ticket to Khatoum. I saw the police passing by and then they came over the to me. I knew of stories about people being drafted into the Janjaweed army, people my age.

They took me to the office and I remember being in total shock. They told me that I will be in the army. It felt unreal, like I was having an out of body experience. Suddenly, someone I knew passed by the police station and saw me. He saved me. When I first saw him I knew that he would come over, that he was going to protect me.

Arbab, 27, came to Israel from Darfur in 2006 when he was 16 years old.

I remember that my older sister woke me up. She told me we had to leave, that we had to run and leave the rest of the family. She took me and we left the house and started to run.

I remember seeing people fighting. I couldn't believe it and felt like I was never going to see my family again. We kept running and after a little while we saw others running, not just from my village. And that's when I really knew it was serious.

We ran until the border of Chad. There was a crowd of people and I remembr looking for my mom and not seeing her.

My sister and I stood in line and got a tent and oil. I knew that I wouldn't have a chance to go back. This is where we were going to live and I realized I was never going back.

Mohydein, 30, came to Israel from Darfur in 2006.

It was 8:00 in the morning
when I hear the sugar cane truck outside.

I knew it was there to help us. The Janjaweed attacking nearby villages.
The truck was
our way out.

The day before the driver
He said he was going to come for us and take us to the city

It was safer.

We all came towards the truck.

About 20-30 adults that were left in the village.
The children had already left. The women got on the truck
and the men were by the truck waiting for everyone.

We were hanging out, talking.
I was looking forward to getting to the city.
Then the militants (the Janjaweed) came.

I was scared, but I thought
they are just passing through.
But others sensed real danger, saying,
"No, they are not the normal people that we know."

I was trying to hide, and not be noticed.

I remember my Uncle asked, "What's going on?"
And the militants said, "Don't worry, we have some questions".
They asked if our leader or his assistants were in the village,
but we had told them the truth, that they left for the city.
They said that we were lying.

They said lie on our stomachs. I lay down and heard them

asking
questioning

each individual separately.

Someone raised his head off the ground and was shot. I thought
my time to die was coming soon.
But then the militants took us in the sugar cane truck
and took us to next village to question the villagers there.

There were just four men left in that village and they
hung one upside down from a tree where he died.

Then

suddenly
they released us and we went on the truck again to drive to the city.

After they released us and
we started to drive
some of the militants put their hands up and said to stop again.

We did. We were terrified.
But they were only joking
and their commander waved us through.

The sugar cane driver

pressed

on the gas again and we drove to Khartoum.

Ruphael, 28, came to Israel in 2008 from Eritrea.

I want to explain the last moment
the day I left my home country.

It was 10:00 I met my friend who was willing to leave with me.
Ah, we were confidant to each other, that there wouldn't be any leakage of uh...information. Ah, we went to a mall to get more privacy to discuss about the things that we can do, that can happen to us when we get to the border.

Ahhh... we stayed there until 3 having cigarette and drink coffee. Umm... Of course we were afraid of um... the police. Maybe the police suspect us from any intelligence from government.

Umm, by three, by three pm we get out of the mall and walk to our home, looking like as usual. Without
To look
Not to look

To look as usual
Hiding our emotions
But uh...

The weather was hot.
I could feel it in my skin.
Ummm...
Clear

Clear clouds in the—
No clouds in the sky. It was hot day.
I came to home
felt
I watched
I came home

I met with my mom and step sister

uhhh

I was feeling heavy inside because I know that

I’m going to leave them at the moment but

they didn’t, they didn’t know

Even though they
were speaking to me
I was in my own world.
My mom asking me if I
want eat
My step sister asking to have coffee
and...

I waited till that five appointment date
no— time to leave the home
at 5 pm.

(Pause.)

I saw for the last moment
my father coming
200 meters away from

home
walking to get home.
and I
just left home when he was

Umm... Coming.

I couldn’t

say

even my mom
when she was near to me
Good-bye

afraid she can screw up the things
and not agree with me and what I’m going to do
But ahhh...
I say good-bye with in inside
within my self

and wishing to see them back one day.

Million, 40, came to Israel from Eritrea in 2008.

I crossed the border from Eritrea to
Sudan.
I felt
frustrated because maybe the soldiers could catch me. I think about my family.

Could I endure longing?
especially my mom.
When we got over border
I ate and I drink water with my friends. We ate hummus (laugh) and drink water.

I bathe in a lake
I remember the cold water and the birds
I think about my friends I can’t see them anymore
My t-shirt and clothes were sweaty
so I wash my clothes
I remember my girlfriend
How could I meet her again

That night I went to sleep with my arms outstretched.

I feel joy
about my freedom
about my free

my life and future
There was a sound of song
in my dream.

Kimo, 26, from Darfur, came to Israel in 2009.

I left Darfur when he was 16

I was at the market hanging out with my friends

And we were hearing about the surrounding villages that they’re packing and leaving.

I didn’t care that much

I was just kept hanging out with my friends

I came back home from the market
back home
felt tired from walking around the market all day and found only my mother at home cooking

I felt there was something
going on she doesn’t want to tell me about it
I was wondering, asking my mother where is everyone. I felt confused because
usually
someone is around

Umm... she said
everyone is out

But I felt weird because
it was Saturday
and there was no school
and my brother should be home.

I went to get water at the well.
My weird feeling almost disappeared in the three minute walk but then I still felt strange because there were
weren’t many people outside hanging out.
And I remember feeling hot and that people
looked sad.

David, 28, from Darfur. In Israel since January, 2011.

When my brother come home from work

I thought I would
I would tell him I was going to Tamazee.
I left my village when it attack by Janjaweed and go

went to my brother

I lived with him.

I was feeling depressed being in the place where he lived.
We sit down together and I see he’s
smiling
and happy
and he was glad and I was worried if
he
he refuse to give me
some cash
so I told him about my plan to go to Tamazine
for a couple for a couple of weeks
and I knew if I
told him exactly what I’m going to do
he would not allow me
to go

I feel nervous
ummmm I hear
him speaking quietly
He ask me many questions

about
what I’m going to do
and I feel afraid to
I feel fear of not succeeding with my plan and I
tell him
I will be back when schools
opens
and I thought if he agrees totally when
if he agrees totally then I can
escape form there

Yeah

And he said yes and I feel great

Adil, 27 Years old, from Darfur. Came to Israel in 2010, and has
been in Holot since February, 2014.

I was 17 years old
and I was in refugee camp

I went back home

I was happy that I was going to meet members of my family!

I see my family and I told my parent that I wanted to speak to them!
I was afraid that maybe my parent won’t agree with me to continue my study. Maybe they will support or encourage me to join the army.
To join the army group to fight against the government (Janjaweed)

And I told them
I wanted to
study medicine in Khartoum

I feel my hands was shaking
And I had long— we had long discussion with my family
How can I make it while they are still in Darfur

At last my parents agreed with me
and I feel teared up
when my parents agreed with me

I had a dinner with my family
and uhhh...
I had a feeling that my dreams are going to come true and I can study

or continue my study

I feel I was saying good-bye to my family for the last time.

Achmed, 26 years old, from Darfur. Came to Israel in 2008.

I was playing a games
when I was in my village
I was playing a games inside my house
with my friends
It’s called Tikraya
and it was daylight it was
day outside.
I felt bad because I loose the game

And then we hear noise and I look outside
and the Janjawed with guns and horses came to my village. So I felt nervous.
and I was thinking about my family
because my family there was no one at home

People told us that Janjaweeds are coming

So I was thinking
to find a place like outside the place
an abandoned area

We are
we ran outside and I was scared and my hear start! beating quickly.

I saw my sister
and brother

and ran
I ran to them
I had feeling that they could rescue me
or help me to escape.

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