KHARTOUM, April 22 (Xinhua) -- In November 2023, Osman Al-Jundi, a Sudanese journalist, launched the Fak Riq Takia to provide food for displaced people in Omdurman, a city located northwest of the Sudanese capital Khartoum.

After the outbreak of the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces on April 15, 2023, Sudanese activists and volunteers, including individuals like Al-Jundi, set up Takias in Khartoum and other cities, where they offered food and support to residents grappling with severe livelihood and security challenges resulting from the conflict.

The term Takia originated from the Arabic word "mutaka." In Sudan, it refers to a place where people perform religious rituals, such as the memorization of the Holy Quran by religious students, while also serving as a sanctuary for the impoverished and needy, providing them with access to food and refuge.

"At first, the idea was to offer morning tea with milk and locally baked goods, but it evolved into providing daily lunch and Friday breakfast for more than 300 families affected by war. These families were scattered at homes and four shelter centers in the neighborhoods of Al-Hattana, Al-Manara, and Al-Waha in Omdurman," he said.

Fak Riq Takia, a local colloquial term for morning breakfast and one of the most notable Takias in Sudan, receives both financial and in-kind support from public and private bodies, as well as Sudanese expatriates, Al-Jundi noted.

In addition to food assistance, Fak Riq Takia also provided other services, such as giving clothing to families affected by the conflict, many of whom had fled their homes without their belongings, according to Al-Jundi.

"Furthermore, we distributed bags containing baked goods, sweets, and children's clothing to needy families during the recent Eid al-Fitr celebration, which marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan," he added.

Since the conflict began in April last year, more than 14,700 fatalities have been recorded, while the number of people displaced inside and outside of Sudan has reached 8.2 million, according to figures published by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Many displaced Sudanese rely on charities for their daily sustenance.

"The threat of falling shells forced my family and me to flee our area and come here, where we've been receiving food from the Takia ever since," said Nimeiry Taha, a Sudanese displaced from the Al-Omda neighborhood in central Omdurman.

He noted that such community initiatives have significantly mitigated the impact of the war, serving as vital community institutions in the absence of government assistance.

Al-Tayeb Al-Muzamil, who was displaced from the Al-Fetaihab neighborhood in western Omdurman, emphasized that the Takia now serves as more than just a food provider. For Al-Muzamil, it has become a "social club" where displaced individuals from various areas meet every day for social interactions.

Mobadiroon is a Takia in southern Khartoum that relies on financial and material aid from charitable individuals both within and outside Sudan.

Ahmed Khojali, a volunteer at Mobadiroon Takia, highlighted the challenges they currently face due to disruptions in communication networks and the internet in Khartoum, which have interrupted financial transactions.

"Despite our modest resources, we are trying to offer food to dozens of families in the southern Khartoum area," said Khojali. Enditem

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