Sudanese NGOs to stop health services in South Darfur

A number of national organisations providing health services in the South Darfur camps for the displaced will be forced to halt their services because of financial constraints.

Next month, the Rufaida Health Organisation (RHF) will be unable to continue providing health services in Otash camp for the displaced and in the area of Um Dafug, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in its latest weekly bulletin.

The NGO reportedly did not receive funding from the Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) this year, and they have no other source of funding.

RHF is one of three organisations, along with the Sudanese Red Crescent Society and World Vision International (WVI), which provide health services to the 90,500 residents of Otash camp. RHF is the only health service provider for some 7,000 displaced people, and 9,300 returnees in the area of Um Dafug.

In Dereig camp, the Sudanese Patient Helping Fund (PHF) and the National Initiative for Development Organisation (NIDO) also report that a lack of funding will force them to close health operations in the camp after April, OCHA reports. The NGOs are the only health service providers to the estimated 36,700 displaced in the camp, as well as to some residents of Nyala town.