Torrential rains cause death, disease in South Darfur

Torrential rains that fell on Thursday at camp Kalma in South Darfur led to the death of three newly displaced children. The weather conditions have also been blamed for influenza and coughing in 16 others. They were taken to hospital for treatment due to the cold and lack of shelters. Abkar Mohamed Adam, the Sheikh of newly displaced told Radio Dabanga that people are living in the open with no sheeting or health facilities. He appealed via Radio Dabanga to humanitarian organisations to address the situation by providing them with shelter and health services. “We need to save these people from further humanitarian disaster, “ he said, highlighting that more than 17,000 newly displaced people are now living in the open without food or shelter. A representative of the newly displaced women confirmed to Radio Dabanga that three children were among the dead on Thursday, and seven others have been severely affected by several diseases including coughing and diarrhoea. They are now are receiving treatment at the hospital that is hard-pressed by lack of medicines and medical staff. The woman describing the situation in the camp as “serious”, especially the spread of diseases such as diarrhoea and coughing among the children and pregnant women who live in the open without cover from the sun and rain. She demanded via Radio Dabanga that medications be provided to reduce the risk of disease, and reiterated the need for urgent provision of plastic sheets for the tens of thousands of residents who are now out in the open at Kalma camp. File photo (UN OCHA) Related: Harsh weather has many living rough in Morney camp, West Darfur (7 June 2013) UN speeds relocation of Darfur refugees in Chad amid rains, security issues (4 June 2013) Harsh weather toughens conditions for displaced of North Darfur (30 May 2013)