North Darfur displaced disappointed in WFP assessment

The displaced residents of the camps in Kutum locality in North Darfur have described the results of the needs inventory conducted by the World Food Programme (WFP) in late 2014 and early 2015 as “disappointing”.

They describe it as “an early withdrawal of the WFP rather than an early recovery”, as it has excluded and deprived large numbers of displaced people of food rations.

They have filed a memorandum demanding the WFP reconsider the study.

The head of camp Kassab, Sheikh Taher Ismail, told Radio Dabanga that the study included the camps at Kassab, Fata Borno, and Kutum town. He explained that the study included more than 10,000 families living in Kassab camp.

He pointed out that the results of the study showed that 1,940 families (19 percent) are eligible for food on a monthly basis, while about 4,000 families (58 percent) are eligible on a seasonal basis (two months a year). He said that the study excludes 5,753 displaced (29 percent) from food rations.

Last week, the displaced of the three camps raised a memorandum to the WFP demanding the review of the study. They also appeal for training so that the displaced can improve their capacities and generate more income themselves.

They further called on the WFP and donors to visit the camps to assess the humanitarian situation on the ground.

The memorandum stresses that the security situation in the area is still unstable and that the current agricultural season is an inevitable failure because of a lack of rain.