Camps face critical living conditions as winter approaches

State-wide Radio Dabanga survey reveals serious lack of basic commodities and foodThe displaced people residing in camps across Darfur are currently coping with critical living conditions, a survey by Radio Dabanga reveals. As winter comes, they are exposed to the cold and the spreading of diseases, without sufficient numbers of blankets, food, fireworks and tents. The children and elderly among them are especially fragile under these conditions. A survey by Radio Dabanga collected complaints from all three states; with the camps of ZamZam, Kassab and Saraf Omra in North Darfur, Garsila, Morni and Zalingei in West Darfur, and Kalma and Mirshing in South Darfur describing this winter as one of the harshest, with a substantial drop of temperatures. The cold is especially hard to handle during the nights, and adds-up to the difficulties brought by the lack of the most basic commodities and food.”One meal per day, no tents since 2009″ This critical situation is worsened by the rise of the already high food prices: The majority of displaced people only eats one meal per day, and families are unable to afford winter clothes for their children. Most of them have not been provided with tents since 2009, when the Sudanese Government expelled the humanitarian organizations working in their areas, and the ones they’ve had since that time are not useable anymore due to their exposure to the heavy rains and sun. The displaced people reported that the price for a new tent had reached 150 Sudanese Pounds (about 56 USD).Camps call for help The survey also pointed out the inability of the displaced to go out of the camps to fetch wood; women especially fear to be killed, raped or beaten up. “The displaced appeal to local and international organizations to provide them with the food, medicines, blankets and tents we need to face the winter,” a displaced person told Radio Dabanga.