Measles kills four children in El Salam camp, South Darfur

Four children have died of measles in El Salam camp for the displaced near Nyala, capital of South Darfur, and there are threats the camp “might have to be dismantled”. Speaking to Radio Dabanga on Friday, Sheikh Mahjoub Adam Tabaldiya attributed the children’s deaths a lack of medicine, health care and a food shortage at the camp. Sheikh Tabaldiya reiterated that “the displaced are going through very difficult humanitarian and health circumstances, especially children, women and the elderly”. He warned that “the camp might be dismantled from lack of food, medicine and due to organisations’ stoppage of food provision to displaced people,” the sheikh said, appealing to the authorities and humanitarian NGOs to urgently provide food for the displaced. Many of the displaced from across the Darfur camps have expressed concern about the spread of disease during the rainy season. A woman from Dreige camp in the same locality told Radio Dabanga that the heavy rains last week have “turned the camp into a pool of water,” which encourages the breeding of flies and mosquitoes. As this can promote the spread of disease, she appealed through Radio Dabanga to humanitarian organisations working in the field of environmental sanitation field to bridge and spray the water pools and provide plastic sheeting, mosquito nets and tents for the displaced. The Association of Displaced Persons and Refugees of Darfur has described 2013 as “the worst for Darfur camps”, as record numbers of displaced struggle in abysmal conditions throughout the region. Speaking to Radio Dabanga, the spokesman for the Association, Hussein Abu Sharati, also expressed concern about the deteriorating health conditions and spread of diseases among the displaced. “The heavy rains result in a general deterioration in environmental health. This coupled with a lack of shelter such as plastic sheets and tents, contributes to the spread of diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea, bronchitis, urinary conjunctivitis and all manner of autumn diseases in the camps.” Abu Sharati added the voice of the Association to the appeal for international organisations to provide assistance, plastic sheets and tents for the displaced so that they can better endure the rainy season. File photo: Displaced children are especially vulnerable to disease in the Darfur camps (Albert González Farran/UNAMID) Related: 500 homes destroyed by flood in South Darfur camp for displaced (19 July 2013) Quarterly death toll of 47 children and 18 pregnant women in Kalma camp, South Darfur (18 July 2013) Rains cause damage and destruction in Central Darfur (15 July 2013) 2013 ‘worst year for Darfur camps’: displaced association (18 June 2013)