Displaced Darfuris living rough need blankets, sheeting, food this winter

Residents of the Darfur camps for the displaced are suffering from a lack of blankets and plastic sheeting, as most of them, especially tens of thousands of newly displaced, are living in the open. The camp residents are also suffering from a severe shortage of food, drinking water, and health care. The coordinator of the Central Darfur camps told Radio Dabanga that the people in the camps fear this year’s winter because of a severe shortage of blankets, plastic sheets, food, water, non-food items, medical treatment, and security. He appealed via Radio Dabanga on the organisations working in Darfur to provide assistance for all camp residents to save them from the cold and starvation, particularly the new arrivals displaced by the recent clashes between the Misseriya and Salamat, and armed conflicts at Jebel Amer, Golo, and Jildo. “They are now living in the open with no cover or sheeting.” Hussein Abu Sharati, the spokesman for the Association of the Displaced persons and Refugees in Darfur likewise reported that the camp residents in South Darfur are facing great suffering this winter. “Humanitarian organisations used to provide them with plastic sheets, blankets, winter clothing, mattresses and house furniture. But unfortunately the relief was stopped. The displaced in the camps lack winter clothing, mattresses, plastic sheeting, blankets, food, water and firewood. The winter is threatening the lives of the elderly, children and the sick, and malnutrition increases their vulnerability especially during cold winters,” he concluded. File photo Related: Acute drinking water shortage, ‘health disaster’ in South Darfur camps (26 November 2013)Severe lack of drinking water in South Darfur camps (24 November 2013)’No food, medicines, protection’ in ten South Darfur camps (24 November 2013)