Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Africanews
Published on 2024-02-23 17:15:25
Displaced people living in the Zamzam camp in North Darfur have been enduring high levels of malnutrition and inadequate humanitarian aid for almost a year since the violence began. The camp, situated around 15 kilometers south of El Fasher, the capital of the state, is home to approximately 300,000 individuals who have been displaced by the conflict in Sudan.
Children are particularly vulnerable to the harsh conditions in the camp due to a lack of adequate care and access to food. Manazir Bakhit Ahmed shared her experience of receiving no aid since arriving at the camp, mentioning that even the food cards they once had are no longer available, leaving them without sufficient food supplies. Masajed Ahmed Basher, another displaced person at the camp, highlighted the challenges she faces in seeking medical treatment for her sick child, as most hospitals have shut down due to the ongoing conflict, making the nearest hospital a two and a half-hour journey away.
Jean Guy Vataux, the chief of the MÉDECINS SANS FRONTIÈRES (MSF) mission in Sudan, painted a grim picture of the situation at the camp, describing it as “truly catastrophic.” He noted that the mortality rate at the camp is almost ten times higher than expected, with children facing severe malnutrition and a high risk of death if left untreated. MSF has called for urgent action from the international community to address the humanitarian crisis and prevent further loss of life.
Sudan has been embroiled in conflict since last April, with violence spreading across the country, particularly in Western Darfur, where ethnic violence and attacks on African ethnic groups have been rampant. The United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, has urged the international community to intervene and help resolve the conflict, which has already claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions of civilians.
Since the onset of the war in Sudan, 1.6 million people have fled the country in search of safety, with over 600,000 seeking refuge in neighboring Chad. Humanitarian organizations, including MSF, have appealed for $4.1 billion in international support to assist the vulnerable population in Sudan and provide much-needed aid to those affected by the ongoing conflict.
The situation in the Zamzam camp remains dire, with children dying every two hours due to malnutrition and lack of medical care. Urgent action is needed to address the escalating crisis and prevent further loss of life in the region.
Read Original article on Africa News
