Severe water crisis in Kalma camp, South Darfur

The residents of Kalma camp in Nyala locality, South Darfur, have been suffering from a severe shortage of drinking water for the last two weeks. Sheikh Eisa Adam Ahmed told Radio Dabanga that the organisations working at the camp, Oxfam-USA, Care-Switzerland, and the American Refugee Committee, said that the lack of fuel to operate the water pumps, and the low level of the water are the causes of the problem.” “In particular block 7, which hosts 18,730 displaced, is facing a huge water shortage. Some displaced now walk five kilometres to Wadi Burlei to collect water, which is not clean. A few displaced can afford to buy water for SDG2 ($0.35) per barrel.” The Sheikh appealed to the organisations working at Kalma camp to solve the problem of the drinking water “as soon as possible, in particular now the fasting month of Ramadan has started.” News photos above and below: The displaced collect water from one still-operating pump in Kalma camp, South Darfur, 1 July 2014 (Radio Dabanga correspondent)