Unknown disease kills 18 in Kalma camp, South Darfur

An unknown disease that broke out in South Darfur’s Kalma camp a month ago has claimed the lives of 18 displaced. The Association of Displaced People and Refugees of Darfur called on the UN, health organisations operating in Darfur, and the Sudanese Ministry of Health to immediately intervene, and stop the spread of the hitherto unknown disease, “before it turns into a disaster”. “The mysterious disease that started spreading in the camp a month ago, has killed 18 people so far”, Hussein Abu Sharati, chairman of the Association told Radio Dabanga on Monday. “The symptoms are a loss of appetite, headache, pain in the chest, diarrhoea, vomiting, and a high fever.” He said that Kalma camp is short of food, medicines, health care, sanitation, and educational services. “The camp is simply overcrowded.” Kalma camp for the displaced, located near Nyala in South Darfur’s Bielel locality, received more than 7,000 newly displaced in March, after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, commanded by the Sudanese security apparatus, had attacked more than 100 villages southeast of Nyala. In 2007, it was estimated that there were over 90,000 displaced living in the camp. File photo: Newly displaced women construct a shelter in Kalma camp, 9 March 2014 (Albert González Farran/Unamid) Related: Unknown disease hits El Salam camp in South Darfur (15 June 2014) Diseases spread in South Darfur’s Kalma camp (4 May 2014)Disease hits Kalma camp in South Darfur (1 April 2014)