No health service, medicine in Darfur’s East Jebel Marra

At least 150 East Jebel Marra children fell ill in September from malnutrition. Many people are suffering from malaria and diarrhoea, while there are no health services or medicines available in the area. A number of people living in East Jebel Marra reported to Radio Dabanga that a growing number of children are now prone to diseases owing to malnourishment. Many people are suffering from diarrhoea, and because of the rainy season, malaria is spreading rapidly. “The largest problem is that there are no health services in East Jebel Marra,” the sources said. “The North Darfur government banned humanitarian organisations from the area years ago. The provision of medicines is also forbidden, as they would be used by the rebels, the authorities claim.” According to the residents, the areas that are mostly impacted by malnutrition, malaria, and diarrhoea are Hillet El Doma, Fula, El Kura, Himeida, Dila, Deba, and Naira. They appealed to the international community to pressure the Sudanese authorities to grant relief organisations access to East Jebel Marra. A week ago, Unamid officials visited areas in East Jebel Marra for the first time in four years.  File photo Related: Two women gang-raped in Darfur’s East Jebel Marra (6 October 2014)Unamid visit bombed areas of East Jebel Marra, Darfur (2 October 2014)