Salva Dut, one of Sudan's 'Lost Boys,' shares his incredible journey of survival after being separated from his family during the civil war. He vividly recounts his harrowing escape from Sudan at age 11, facing trauma and the challenges of life in a refugee camp. Salva also reflects on the resilience of his community and the bonds formed among the boys during their ordeal. The emotional weight of isolation, longing for family, and the hope for a new life in the U.S. paints a powerful picture of perseverance and the search for connection.
Salva Dut's childhood in Sudan was tragically interrupted by war, forcing him to develop resilience and survival instincts during his harrowing journey.
As a leader among the Lost Boys in the refugee camp, Salva cultivated essential decision-making skills that helped navigate extreme hardships and foster unity.
Deep dives
Salva's Early Life and Background
Salva Dutt was raised in a loving family in the small village of Lao Arik in Southwestern Sudan, where he enjoyed a simple existence tending to animals and spending time with his many siblings and cousins. His upbringing was marked by traditional family values and a close-knit community, especially given his father's polygamous lifestyle, which resulted in numerous half-siblings and cousins. This harmonious childhood came to a tragic halt when, at just 11 years old, Salva was separated from his family due to the outbreak of the Sudanese Civil War. The chaos and violence he witnessed while fleeing from the attacks deeply impacted him, instilling a resolve to survive despite the overwhelming sense of loss and uncertainty about his family's fate.
The Journey of Survival
Salva's exodus began when he fled from his school amidst gunfire, seeking safety away from the violence engulfing Sudan. He embarked on a perilous journey, walking for days and sometimes weeks, with the constant threat of danger from armed men and wildlife. During this time, Salva was often separated from his companions but managed to reunite with his uncle, bringing him a sense of security that was tragically short-lived when his uncle was murdered before his eyes. This harrowing experience propelled Salva to adopt a survival mentality, which helped him push through extreme hardships, such as hunger, thirst, and the trauma of loss.
Life in Refugee Camps
Eventually, Salva arrived at the Itang refugee camp in Ethiopia, where he experienced both relief from the chaos of war and the sadness of being separated from his family. The camp offered safety from violence, but conditions were dire, marked by disease and overcrowding, as he adjusted to life without the comforts of home. Over the ensuing years, Salva became a leader among the other boys, eventually leading a group of 1,500 young refugees as they sought to survive while dreaming of reuniting with their families. His leadership was rooted in the resilience he'd built through his traumatic past, and he learned to make tough decisions to help them navigate the many challenges faced in the refugee landscape.
A New Life in America
After nearly a decade apart, Salva was selected for resettlement in the United States, a move that promised safety but also brought a profound sense of loss for his homeland and family. In America, he faced a steep learning curve adapting to a new culture, grappling with the comforts of modern life such as electricity and communication technology that were foreign to him. Despite these challenges, Salva thrived, securing employment while pursuing his education and fostering connections within the community. His journey was marked by an enduring hope of reuniting with his family, and he experienced both personal growth and a newfound sense of belonging in this new chapter of his life.
Salva Dut is one of Sudan's so-called 'Lost Boys.' Separated from his family at the age of 11 when the civil war reached his village in 1985, Salva walked for weeks to reach safety in a refugee camp in Ethiopia. There, he lived out most of his teenage years, amongst thousands of other orphans. Like most of them, Salva had no idea what had happened to his family. With little adult supervision, the boys developed their own systems of organisation. That was to prove vital when in 1991 they were driven from the camp by a new conflict. Salva was 17 by this point, and he'd become a leader amongst the boys. In total there were 17,000 of them. They set off in groups, first back towards Sudan, then south, towards Kenya. When they emerged from the wilderness after many months, aid workers were astonished to find them still alive. They shared their story with the world. The United Nations recommended almost 4,000 of the Lost Boys for resettlement in the US, and Salva's name was among them. By this point, in his early 20s, Salva had been separated from his family for a decade. A reunion seemed impossible. He would be boarding a flight and leaving the continent of his birth behind.
The second part of Salva's story will be broadcast on the next edition of Lives Less Ordinary
Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Jo Impey
Get in touch: liveslessordinary@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp: 0044 330 678 2784
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