Short rations, rising Ramadan prices plague Darfur displaced

Displaced people in camps across Darfur are struggling to augment the shortened food aid rations due to escalating market prices during Ramadan. Speaking to Radio Dabanga, a sheikh of Kassab camp in North Darfur complained of the sudden rise of food and commodity prices at the camp. He lamented that a pound of dates has risen to SDG15 ($3.40), a pound of balila soup costs SDG16 ($3.63), and a kilo of dried beef SDG30 ($6.80), and a heap of tomatoes as much as SDG5 ($1.15). “The displaced of the camp do not have the cash to afford their daily needs,” he explained. “The World Food Programme has already distributed the complete corn ration for the displaced, however this was reduced from 15 kilogrammes to 12 kilogrammes after a lapse of about three months.” He highlighted that most of that ration will have been consumed in the run-up to the holy month of Ramadan. “This has caused the price of a plate of millet to climb to SDG5 ($1.15) and maize to SDG3 ($0.70).” The displaced of Fatta Borno camp in North Darfur have similar complaints, and especially lament the soaring price of vegetables. The Sheikh of the camp told Radio Dabanga that the price of a pound of sugar has risen to SDG3 ($0.70), a pound of dry okra to SDG12 ($2.75) and the same quantity of dried tomatoes to SDG5 ($1.15). At Garsila camp in Wadi Salih locality in Central Darfur, Radio Dabanga has learned that corn and millet now cost SDG14 ($3.20) a pound. “These high prices, plus the non-delivery of humanitarian aid, means that the displaced are facing a very dire humanitarian situation”, a sheikh said. File photo by Unamid Related: Shortages for Darfur displaced as prices soar for Ramadan (11 July 2013)