Displaced families who have fled the conflict zones of Umm Dukhun, Rahad El Berdi, Dimbar, Faih Murr and Shafwa are suffering “harsh humanitarian conditions” at camp Saraf in Nyala.

Speaking to Radio Dabanga, a spokesman for the displaced said that 1,288 families who have come from the conflict zones of South and Central Darfur. “They fled Rahad El Berdi Rahad to Nyala in April last year, after the start of hostilities between the Misseriya and Salamat tribes,” he said.

“We initially stayed at Zahra secondary school in Nyala, but when the school year started, we were moved to Saraf camp, where there is a general lack of services.”

The spokesman criticised the government, accusing it of failing to carry out its duties and obligations towards its citizens: “It is unreasonable of the government to ignore 1,288 families who have been thrown into a camp, without providing them with any drinking water, food, shelter or allowing any organisation to help us.”

He warned of the spread of diseases due to a lack of median care during the autumn, appealed to humanitarian and benevolent organisations to act immediately to provide them with assistance. He also highlighted the shortage of schools in the camp. “There are hundreds of students who need to go back to school, so we appeal to the competent authorities and organisations working in the field of education to move to open schools,” he concluded.

The newly displaced of camp Kalma, also in Nyala, have complained about the deterioration of the food, health and education situations. Head Sheikh Juma Bakhit Hamid, told Radio Dabanga on Friday that the conditions for the newly displaced are very bad, as a large number of them are still living in the open without shelter from the rain. He echoed his camp Saraf counterpart’s concern about a lack of schools for the children.

“The newly displaced have received no food, health or education aid of any kind since the end of February,” he said. “They have completed the registration process at the International Organization for Migration, but more than 10,000 families must drink from only two pumps that work, and must use open spaces as toilets.”

He appealed to the international community and humanitarian organisations to address their suffering, especially since there are children dying of hunger.

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Article source: http://www.radiodabanga.org/node/51742