For 75 Years, Protection Has Saved Lives. Today, It Saved Hinwa’s

At 36, Hinwa Ahmed never imagined she would one day be forced to flee her home, seeking protection. For years, she had a stable life, a career, and a family in Darfur. Then the war came.

War shattered everything

When conflict escalated in Darfur, armed groups began targeting civilians, spreading fear and violence across her community. People were accused, hunted, and punished based on suspicion alone.

In July 2023, Hinwa’s family home was attacked. Her father and brother were killed.

“They were looking for me,” she recalls. “They accused people of being spies. Anyone they suspected was at risk.”

Hinwa fled overnight with her youngest son in her arms. In the chaos, she was separated from her husband and three older children—aged 13, 8, and 6.

A desperate journey in search of safety
After escaping to Chad and finding no news, Hinwa continued her journey to Libya, hoping to find safety and assistance. Like many who are exhausted, grieving, and desperate, she also attempted the sea crossing. She tried several times. Each attempt ended in detention, and abuse. “I was detained for months. I had no family left to help me. I lost almost everything.” Even after release, life in Libya remained unsafe. She faced exploitation, homelessness, and violence. “There came a time when I was completely losing hope.”

A lifeline: protection and care
“There came a time when I was completely losing hope,” she recalls. Eventually, she received medical care and support that helped her begin to heal—physically and emotionally—after everything she had endured. “And I thank UNHCR as well, because a solution was found for myself and my son.” Her journey to this point has been long, painful, and marked by unimaginable loss. But it is also a testament to resilience and to the importance of durable solutions for those who have acute protection needs.

A pathway to safety
Through the humanitarian corridors from Libya to Italy, Hinwa and her son have finally been offered a chance to rebuild their lives in safety. “I lost my home, my family, my work… everything,” she says. “But now at last my boy can have a good life.” These safe and legal pathways are lifesaving for survivors of conflict, violence, and persecution. For Hinwa, the humanitarian corridor is the beginning of a future where her son can grow without fear.

75 years of protection
As UNHCR marks 75 years of protecting people forced to flee, stories like Hinwa’s remind us why this mandate matters and why durable solutions remain essential. Humanitarian corridors offer a real alternative to dangerous journeys. They save lives. They give families a chance to heal. And they uphold the core principles that have guided UNHCR for seven decades: protection, dignity, and hope. “I had a good life once,” she says. “In one moment, everything disappeared. But now… now there is hope again.”