Just one school, health centre for 30,000 people in Abata, Central Darfur

The residents of 27 villages in the area of Abata in Central Darfur complained of a lack of health and educational services. They also the return of the police force which was withdrawn from the area last year. Several citizens from the area told Radio Dabanga that the about 30,000 people living in 27 villages in the administrative unit of Abata, Zalingei locality, have to make do with one medical centre, staffed by one nurse and two midwives. The Red Cross provides the centre with medicines every three months, depending on the security situation in the area. “Many pregnant women, children, and elderly have died because of the lack of medical care,” the citizens stated. There is one school with ten teachers for the 30,000 people of Abata. Last year, the police force was withdrawn from the area. The Abata residents appealed to the state authorities to return the police force, and provide them with sufficient health and educational services. File photo: Health care at Kalma camp, South Darfur (Albert Gonzalez Farran/Unamid)