Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Author: Sohaib Satti
Country: Sudan
Photo story page at facebook (facebook.com/Photo1story)
SUMMARY
In 2009, 12-year-old Umm Shawail from the village of Sodri in western Sudan endured extreme cruelty when her father punished her by throwing her into a well filled with dangerous creatures. She survived for 40 days, reportedly helped by a mysterious figure who provided her with food. Rescued by local children and treated in Khartoum, her story became a national legend, but she continued to suffer from trauma and epilepsy, leading to her tragic death in 2015. Her tale underscores the harsh realities of ignorance and cruelty in some remote villages, as well as the enduring strength of the human spirit.
BACKGROUND
In the heart of western Sudan, in a small village called Sodri, a story of remarkable survival and deep tragedy unfolded in 2009. A 12-year-old girl named Umm Shawail became the center of a tale that gripped the nation, a story that would forever be remembered in local folklore and conversation.
The young girl, whose life revolved around her family and the daily routine of tending to their sheep, saw her world change on one fateful day. As she returned home after a day of grazing the sheep, she discovered that some of them had gone missing. Her father, in a rage, subjected her to an unthinkable punishment—he pushed her into a deep well in a remote area of their village. This well, feared by many, was known to be a home for dangerous creatures like scorpions, snakes, and bats. It was a place of darkness and terror, and now it was to be Umm Shawail's prison.
What makes this story even more extraordinary is the account given by the girl after her miraculous survival. She claimed to have been in the well for 40 days. But what is even more mysterious is her story of a figure—a man in white clothes with unclear features—who visited her every day. According to her, this figure brought her food, giving her milk, enough to sustain her through her ordeal. On the 39th day, the man reportedly told her that this would be her last meal, and that the next day, she would be rescued.
On the 40th day, a group of children playing near the well heard her cries. They ran back to their families, who came to her rescue. It was a miracle she was found alive, and soon, she was taken to Khartoum, where she was treated and cared for. Her survival was seen as nothing short of a divine intervention, and her story spread throughout Sudan and beyond.
As for her father, justice was served—he was imprisoned for his horrific actions, a grim reminder of the consequences of such cruelty. Umm Shawail, however, could never fully escape the shadows of her past. Though she tried to move on with her life, marrying her cousin at the age of 17 and changing her name to Amna, the trauma of her ordeal followed her. She suffered from severe epilepsy, a condition many believed was triggered by the intense trauma she had endured.
In 2015, her life came to a tragic end when she passed away from an epileptic seizure while on her way home. Her death brought a somber conclusion to a life marked by both extraordinary survival and deep suffering.
The story of Umm Shawail is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the role of faith in overcoming despair. It also sheds light on the extreme cruelty and ignorance that can prevail in some remote Sudanese villages. Her father's actions reflected a deep-seated patriarchal mindset and a lack of education and awareness about human rights and child protection. Traditional customs in such areas often overshadow modern understandings of mental health and compassion, perpetuating cycles of abuse. Umm Shawail's story remains a poignant reminder of both the strength and vulnerability of those living in the shadows of outdated practices.
REFERENCES
Hamdon Kabbashi Hamdan - "Umm Shawail - Details of the Story of the Arab Al-Juhani Who Killed His Daughter in the Twenty-First Century in Sudan, and Interesting Tales". Available at: [Noor
Book](https://noor-book.com/en/wvzx4m)Sky News Arabia - "She Lived 33 Days Inside a Well... A Sudanese Girl Offers Hope for Ryan's Survival". Available at: [Sky News Arabia](https://skynewsarabia.com)
Sada Electronic Newspaper - "A Tragic Story of a Girl Whom Her Father Put her in a Well Full of Snakes for a Month". Available at: [Slaati.com](https://slaati.com)
Sudaress Website - "In Pictures: The Girl Umm Shawail, Who Has the Strangest Sudanese Story, Weds as a Bride". Available at: [Sudaress](https://www.sudaress.com)
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