Water shortage after agencies ‘removal’ from W. Darfur camps

Following the “removal” of foreign aid agencies from camps in El Geneina, West Darfur’s capital, displaced are complaining about a severe shortage of drinking water and worsening medical services. A leader of one of the camps who Radio Dabanga spoke to said the displaced are facing difficulties obtaining water and medicines after the organizations’ departure and the “inability of the government” in bridging the gap that was left as a result. The displaced do not have money to ensure the supply of running drinking water and drugs to the camps and urged authorities and local organizations to solve their problems as soon as possible. Sources informed Radio Dabanga that the Sudanese government halted the work of half of the NGOs working at the 10 camps of El Geneina on 1 January 2013.  However, they emphasized, the organizations had not been expelled from the camps. They were rather ordered to hand over their resources to the displaced and government agencies and focus their programs on voluntary return villages.Radio Dabanga file photoRelated: 9 W. Darfur camps dire conditions after agencies left: sources (14 February 2013)