WFP issues ultimatum to Kalma camp refugees

Says they have until October 15 to decide their position on re-registration

The World Food Program (WFP) has given the refugees of South Darfur’s Kalma camp until October 15 to arrive at a decision regarding the re-registration process, a leader of the camp told Radio Dabanga.“We have been given a deadline of October 15 to decide what our position is going to be about the re-registration process,” the camp leader said.

The WFP wants to re-register all the refugees in the camp in order to account for new arrivals in the camp and to deregister people who no longer live there. Camp residents, however, view the move with suspicion. The re-registration process involves handing over the original identity cards, which are the only proof of identity for refugees to seek food rations.

“They issued an ultimatum and said that if we don’t allow re-registration within the deadline, they won’t include us in their next annual budget. That means we might not get food rations in the next year,” the camp leader, who does not wish to be named, said.

The camp leadership declared that they would step up their communication with the camp residents in order to persuade them to arrive on a united decision about this. He also appealed to the refugees to participate in making the right decision in their self-interest.