IDP leader: 16000 new arrivals at Zamzam Camp, Darfur

An estimated 16000 newly displaced people have arrived in Zamzam Camp as of last Thursday, according to a leader with the new arrivals. They come from the areas of Tabit and Abu Zereiga where they were forced out in fear of government troops and warplanes that came to battle rebel forces since 24 January.Leaders of the newly displaced people estimated that their numbers have reached 16000 at Zamzam as of last Thursday. Dozens more arrivals were also reported Friday. Some arrivals reported that all their property had been taken by government forces that were recently deployed in the region. They also claimed three villages had been burned.

One leader of the newly displaced people told Radio Dabanga that they face a water crisis in Zamzam due to a lack of water pumps. He added that filling up jerrycans of water requires standing in a long line from the morning to the end of the day. In general the humanitarian conditions are bad and nobody has yet come to assess the situation of the new arrivals.