Militia attacks, diseases kill 10 in South Darfur camp

The poor humanitarian conditions for displaced people at El Salam camp in South Darfur are deteriorating as thousands continue to arrive at the site. To aggravate the situation, a sheikh said that this week alone, eight people died of disease while two were killed by militiamen.The current population of El Salam camp near Nyala exceeds 85,000, and is growing daily. Many have arrived since the beginning of March. The displaced are fleeing tribal clashes and battles between government and rebel forces. Sheik Mahjoub Adam Tabaldiya said that the Nyala population has doubled as a result.Tabaldiya said that this week’s death toll includes six children siblings, the children of Hawaa Musa Abdullah and Kaltoum Ibrahim Abdullah. “Hundreds of people have been infected with various diseases, including kala-azar (visceral leishmanaisis, also known as black fever), with many coughing, vomiting and suffering from conjunctivitis. “Hundreds of people queuing-up at El Salam’s overstretched health centre every day,” he said.The sheikh appealed to health organisations to move and save the patients.Two killedTwo displaced people were killed and three were wounded on Tuesday by pro-government militiamen, Sheikh Tabaldiya told Radio Dabanga.He said that the insurgents entered the camp in three Land Cruisers and were parked at the market. The gunmen said they were leaving the camp of their own accord, but on their way, they opened fire and robbed some displaced people. The militiamen have now stationed themselves outside El Salam camp, and remain unpunished.Sources have appealed to Unamid to “carry out its duties and protect the displaced”. They are also requesting that the government prosecute the perpetrators.File photo of Darfur camp (UN OCHA)Related: El Salam new arrivals ‘double Nyala population’: South Darfur (20 May 2013)