The heartfelt cry of Daouda, father of seven children who became disabled

It is noon under a scorching sun. Daouda Oumarou takes refuge in his bedroom while his mother and wife are busy with household chores and his children are away at school.

Shaking and with tears in his eyes, Daouda Oumarou, 35, a driver, married and father of two, recounts how his life was turned upside down overnight.

"A little over four months ago, I was returning from Makalondi to Torodi when terrorists ambushed us. We were surrounded and they started shooting from all sides. Some passengers managed to escape, others were killed on the spot.

I was hit by five bullets, but the one that changed everything was the one that hit my spine. Since then, I have lost the use of my legs. They left me there, lying in my own blood. If God hadn't saved me, I wouldn't be alive today."

Since this tragedy, Daouda's daily life has been difficult. 

I can't do anything on my own, I'm afraid of falling if I take the risk of getting up. Whatever I want to do, I have to call my wife to help me. If she's not there, I have to wait for her to come back or pray that someone knocks on my door. For urgent needs, such as urinating, I have a small container next to me that I use.

Unable to work, he depends on the help of his family and the goodwill of others to survive.

"In addition to my two children, for over a year I have been taking care of the five children of my brothers, one of whom died after a short illness and the other who was killed by armed groups. We struggle to find enough to eat. Sometimes people come and bring me a little money or food. My older sister also sells cakes by the side of the road, and she often brings us some."

As part of activity 87576462 of the VISSER project, World Vision distributed 21 food kits to survivors of the Makolondi attack, including Daouda Oumarou.

“I recently received support from World Vision in the form of rice, oil, and other food items, but with such a large family, everything was gone in less than a month.” By the grace of God, we manage to feed ourselves every day with what our family and kind-hearted people bring us. Sometimes we even manage to have three meals a day.

 Despite the pain and hardship, Daouda remains faithful and hopeful.

“I have faith that one day I will be able to walk again. For now, I hope to find a job that will allow me to support myself, feed my family, and send my children to school. I am also appealing to World Vision for a small adapted bicycle so that I can get around without depending on others.”