Darfur’s Jebel Marra residents suffer from fever, thirst
At least 3,000 newly displaced near Mashrou Abu Zeid, close to a former rebel stronghold, are hit by diseases related to malnutrition. Drinking water is scarce in the area.
Fevers and other diseases as a result of malnutrition have spread among internally displaced people living near Mashrou Abu Zeid in East Jebel Marra. In addition to that, drinking water is scarce in the area in Darfur.
Villagers of Wadi Barkroi reported to Radio Dabanga that malnutrition is common among the approximately 3,000 displaced people, and that fevers spread quickly. The 201 displaced families in Wadi Ashara, north-east of Mashrou Abu Zeid, witness the same spread of diseases.
They further reported that residents of Numira, Dali, Massalit, Dolma, Sharafa and Humeida villages suffer from a scarcity of drinking water.
Mashrou Abu Zeid is near Fanga, a former rebel stronghold. Government forces and pro-government militia members clashed in the beginning of this year with armed rebels in the area. Many have sought refuge in Wadi Ashara when the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, backed by the Sudanese Air Force, attacked their villages in the mountainous East Jebel Marra in January.
Aid organisations are still unable to access people in parts of East Jebel Marra, in particular in the area of Golo and Rokoro locality in Central Darfur. In North Darfur's Tawila locality and other parts of Jebel Marra, they continue to register and assist people displaced by fighting between government forces and armed groups. As of 22 March, 32,700 newly displaced people have been verified, according to the latest news bulletin of the humanitarian office of the United Nations (OCHA).
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