Acute drinking water shortage, ‘health disaster’ in South Darfur camps

The Association of Displaced Persons and Refugees of Darfur has expressed its grave concern about the “health disaster” in the South Darfur camps for the displaced due to a lack of adequate hospitals and health centres in comparison with the number of camp residents. Hussein Abu Sharati, the spokesperson for the Association explained to Radio Dabanga there are less than five health centres in Kalma camp, while it houses 260,000 people.   “The deterioration of the humanitarian and health situation and the lack of potable water have led to the outbreak of diseases among the camp residents, in particular malaria, typhoid, diarrhoea, hepatitis, and urinary retention.” Sharati demanded the authorities, humanitarian organisations and the UN provide medicines, medical staff, and health centres as soon as possible. Utash camp The residents of Otash camp are facing an acute crisis of drinking water. Since 15 days the water pumps are idle due to a lack of fuel. The spokesperson for the camp told Radio Dabanga that the price of a jerry can of water, fetched from a 1km distance north of the camp, has risen to SDG0.50 ($0.09), while the price of two jerry cans transported by donkey cart, cost SDG2 ($0.35). He added that the WEST organisation working in the field of water told them it has no budget to provide fuel for the water pumps. The spokesperson called on the authorities and the humanitarian organisations to intervene and resolve the problem, pointing out that the camp accommodates 97,000 people, in addition to 32,000 newly displaced. File photo: Men monitoring the level of water at the water pump in Abu Shouk camp for the displaced, North Darfur (Albert González Farran/Unamid) Related:Severe lack of drinking water in South Darfur camps (24 November 2013)’No food, medicines, protection’ in ten South Darfur camps (24 November 2013)97,000 Darfur displaced suffer poor health, environmental conditions (13 November 2013)