Shortages for Darfur displaced as prices soar for Ramadan

The displaced persons of Sirba camps in West Darfur have appealed to humanitarian organisations and charities to support them during the holy month of Ramadan. A displaced woman told Radio Dabanga that commodity prices have risen dramatically. “As the displaced cannot afford to purchase goods, they require urgent assistance. Their plight is aggravated by the climate of lawlessness and the generally deteriorating economic situation,” she said. The displaced of camp Manawashi in South Darfur have told Radio Dabanga that they are facing Ramadan amid unprecedented price rises and a deteriorating security situation. Sources say that the price of a sack of sugar has risen to SDG350 ($80), a sack of onions to SDG330 ($75), a small sack of rice to SDG120 ($27) and a pound of dates to SDG7 ($1.60). “The World Food Programme (WFP) promised to distribute food rations six months ago, but we have not received anything up till now,” one of the displaced said. “Some of us trying to fetch firewood, but the deterioration of the security situation stands in our way.” The displaced of camp Zamzam in North Darfur have also appealed to the WFP to increase food rations. One of the sheikhs of the camp lamented that “the WFP has cut food rations at just the wrong time, as the displaced must face the rising commodity prices at Ramadan”. The sheikh said that in the Zamzam area, the price for a tin of oil has risen to SDG190 ($43) and a kilo of meat to SDG40 ($9). He appealed to organisations and charities to support and help them.File photo