Monthly report on the work of Team Zamzam, mid-November to mid-December 2025, from the coordinating counselor
(translated by Gaffar Mohammud Saeneen)
Brief summary
During the immediately preceding reporting period, Team Zamzam continued to provide essential support to affected communities of displaced persons, focusing on life-saving assistance, providing counseling to victims of sexual violence, protection of vulnerable displaced populations, and strengthening community resilience. Key activities were carried out in line with the project objectives, ensuring timely delivery of services despite various challenges.
Team Zamzam has successfully reached targeted beneficiaries through coordinated interventions, and collective efforts that include distribution of food packages, providing breakfast to help the most impoverished families and children suffering from severe malnutrition, and community engagement initiatives. Collaboration with local authorities and partners has remained strong, contributing to effective implementation and accountability.
While progress has been significant, the Project Zamzam faces diverse challenges: from limited resources to meeting the needs of a large and growing number of displaced persons. These challenges were addressed through adaptive planning, rigourous monitoring, and ongoing engagement with stakeholders and local partners.
Overall, the project remains on track to achieve its intended outcomes. Priorities for the next period include scaling up assistance where gaps persist, strengthening monitoring mechanisms, and enhancing sustainability through community participation.
Work Carried Out During the Reporting Period:
Roughly 65% in Tiné (eastern Chad) and 35% in Tina (North Darfur); the two are essentially one town, divided by an international border and a wadi that floods in the rainy season.
A collection of photos of Team Zamzam at work may be found at: https://wp.me/p45rOG-2SM
During the reporting period, the project implemented critical humanitarian activities aimed at supporting the most vulnerable populations. These included the provision of food packages to individuals and families facing severe food insecurity, with priority given to the most vulnerable households.
In addition, counseling and psychosocial support services were provided to survivors of sexual violence, ensuring a survivor-centered and confidential approach to address their immediate emotional and psychological needs.
In addition, psychological support was provided to fistula patients experiencing depression and self-isolation, helping to address their mental health needs, reduce stigma, and promote social reintegration.
Beneficiary Feedback and Urgent Needs:
Several beneficiaries, predominantly women, expressed positive feedback and appreciation for the support provided during the reporting period. They highlighted the timely assistance, respectful service delivery, and the positive impact of the interventions on their well-being and dignity.
At the same time, beneficiaries emphasized urgent needs that require immediate attention, including:
• Continued and expanded food assistance due to persistent food insecurity
• Increased access to psychosocial and counseling services
• Support for women and vulnerable groups facing protection risks
• Enhanced nutritional support for malnourished children and pregnant or lactating women.
• In addition to these demands, refugees appealed for increased intervention from humanitarian organizations to ensure access to essential basic services, including adequate food supplies, safe drinking water, and essential medicines.
Type of Food Distributed and Number of Beneficiary Families
During the reporting period, food assistance was provided to targeted beneficiary families. Each food package contained the following items:
• 2 kilograms of flour
• 2 pounds of sugar
• 1 kilogram of red lentils
• 1 pound of powdered milk
• 2 pieces of soap
These food packages were distributed to the most vulnerable families in accordance with established beneficiary selection criteria.
Amount of Food Distributed
During the reporting period, the following food and non-food items were distributed to targeted beneficiaries:
• Sugar: 6 bags @ 50 kg/bag
• Flour: 18 bags @ 50 kg/bag
• Red lentils: 22 bags @ 25 kg/bag
• Powdered milk: 4 bags @ 25 kg/bag
• Washing soap: 8 cartons, each containing 48 bars of soap
These distributions were conducted in accordance with planned activities to address urgent food and basic hygiene needs among vulnerable families.
Number and Profile of Beneficiaries
A total of 1,625 families benefited from the food package distribution during the reporting period. The majority of these families included young children suffering from severe malnutrition. In addition, the beneficiary population comprised individuals with physical and mental disabilities, as well as others suffering from various injuries and wounds.
Under the breakfast feeding program, a total of 11,723 individuals were reached, of whom over 80% were children under 18 years of age. This intervention contributed significantly to addressing immediate nutritional needs among the most vulnerable populations in shelters and refugee camps.
[More than 18,000 people received some food relief from Team Zamzam during this reporting period–ER]
Counseling Sessions
During the reporting period, a total of 36 individual counseling sessions and 13 group counseling sessions were conducted.
Attendance in group sessions increased significantly, reflecting growing trust and engagement among beneficiaries.
In addition, new counseling techniques were introduced to foster a more positive, supportive, and friendly atmosphere between counselors and beneficiaries, enhancing the overall effectiveness of the sessions.
For the upcoming period, counselors plan to expand group counseling sessions by increasing participation from an initial average of 12 beneficiaries per session to 18 beneficiaries per session, in order to reach more individuals in need of psychosocial support.
One example of Team Zamzam intervening with successful psychosocial counseling:
Testimony of Halima M. A. Said (name partially anonymized)
“I was attacked four months ago while fleeing from El Fasher to Tawila in search of safety with my family and others we had met at shelter centers in El Fasher. We were intercepted by Janjaweed militia, who rounded us up and robbed us of the few belongings we had, including our mobile phones, money, and even our clothes, leaving us naked to humiliate us.
“They beat us, subjected us to severe racial insults, and sexually assaulted us. After we managed to reach Tina two months ago, I suffered greatly from nightmares and fear. However, the sisters from Team Zamzam provided me with counseling and support, which helped me cope with the trauma. I am now feeling much better and deeply grateful for the care, support, and compassion they showed me.”
