Quarterly death toll of 47 children and 18 pregnant women in Kalma camp, South Darfur

During the second quarter of 2013, the spread of diarrhoea, vomiting and malnutrition among the displaced of Kalma camp near Nyala, capital of South Darfur, has claimed the lives of at least 47 children and 18 pregnant women. Sheikh Bakhit Hamid, speaking to Radio Dabanga from Centre Eight of the camp, said that “the general situation of the newly displaced in terms of health and nutrition as very bad”. The sheikh explained that the situation is worse during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan: “Abdullah Abdulrahman died because of his insistence on fasting, even though he did not have anything to eat for breakfast. The problem of food has become worse, especially after relief organisations suspended their activities following the recent violence in South Darfur.” Hamid also explained that the displaced who are fasting due to Ramadan break their fast with water and porridge, without oils, salt or onions. “The people are praying to Allah instead eating.” Hamid also highlighted the emergence of 15 cases of swelling in the legs and in the spinal cord among the elderly. “They have had not been examined by doctors to find the cause of the disease, but we are sure it’s due to the breeding of flies,” he said. “10,000 displaced people have to share just 100 family latrines, so the children often relieve themselves in the open, which does not help.” Hamid expressed the hope that relief organisations will resume their work as soon as possible to relieve the pressure on the displaced. NGO meeting An emergency meeting was held on Thursday with representatives of “all the humanitarian agencies operating in the Darfur camps”, according to Hussein Abu Sharati, spokesman for the Association of Displaced Persons and Refugees of Darfur. “We notified them of the situation of the displaced – that there is insufficient food to be distributed to them and that our stores are empty,” he said. “They assured us that they are aware of the situation, but asked us to be patient,” he reported. Abu Sharati said that the NGOs “do not currently have the aid available,” but vow that they will distribute food to the displaced as soon as it arrives. File photo Related: Emergency meeting planned between NGOs and Darfur displaced (17 July 2013)