N. Darfur camp conditions deteriorate, total displaced increases

The increasing number of displaced persons arriving at Zam Zam camp, North Darfur, is contributing to the deteriorating health conditions of its residents, an activist told Radio Dabanga on Tuesday, 22 January.He pointed out that most of the newly-arrived displaced come from East Jebel Marra. The activist added that the camp’s medical assistant, midwife, two nurses and the ambulance stopped their work as their contract expired on 30 December 2012. Amid the situation, Zam Zam’s health department met several times to try to resolve the problem, but so far nothing has been decided. Besides, poor security conditions, especially at nighttime, hinder the movement of vehicles outside the camp affecting pregnant women and children, according to the activist. He appealed to the World Health Organization and to North Darfur’s ministry of health to immediately intervene and “save pregnant women and children”. Kutum At the same time, displaced living at camp Kassab near Kutum in North Darfur, are facing a severe shortage of drinking water due to the disruption of 10 hand pumps –out of a total of 26- and of two water tanks. Sheikh Taher Ismail told Radio Dabanga that Kassab’s population is witnessing a water crisis for about four days. He said the displaced must travel long distances to fetch water from villages such as Kambot and Thanawi in Kutum locality. Ismail appealed to competent authorities and organizations to expedite the provision of maintenance to the camp.  File photo/ IRIN See also: ‘Sudanese air force bombs injure 2 children’, N. Darfur (21 January 2013)