Hunger in South Darfur camp, aid poised for Jebel Marra displaced

Thousands of people living in Kalma camp for the displaced near Nyala, capital of South Darfur, took to the streets on Tuesday demanding food aid. Relief organisations have requested camp leaders in the Kass camps to register the new arrivals in preparation of food distribution.

Speaking to Radio Dabanga, Saleh Eisa, Secretary-General of the Kalma camp said that more than 10,000 people living in Kalma camp for the displaced near Nyala, capital of South Darfur, took to the streets on Tuesday in protest against the halting of food rations for six months.

The displaced, who arrived at the camp in 2013 and 2014, were not added to the permanent food subsidy lists of the aid organisations in the state. “The last time the organisations provided them with food was six months ago,” he said. “The situation has become close to catastrophic. Many people are really suffering from hunger.”

He appealed to relief organisations working in the field of food “to act immediately to save the people”.

Kalma camp, hosts more than 160,000 people, and is one of the largest camps for the displaced in Darfur.

Newly displaced in Kass

Displaced from Jebel Marra continue to arrive in South Darfur. Last week 213 families from nine villages reached the camps for the displaced in Kass.

“213 families, consisting of 1,532 people, arrived at the Eirli, Aradeiba, El Sanawiya Benein, and Abdeljabar camps,” the Kass camps coordinator informed Radio Dabanga.

“The majority of them are women, children, and elderly. They are living in the open without food medicines, or covers.”

The coordinator said that a number of organisations visited the camps on Tuesday, and requested the camp leaders to list the new arrivals in preparation of food distribution.