NGOs take over clinics of expelled aid organisation, West Darfur

The international NGO International Medical Corps (IMC) in West Darfur has taken over the ten health clinics which were previously managed by the British-based NGO Merlin. IMC says it is “facing major challenges to secure funding from donors to operate these clinics”. Médicins sans Frontières (MSF), based in Switzerland, has announced plans to manage three health facilities in Kereinik locality. The assessments have been completed and health care facilities will start operations from June 2014. The need for health care services has significantly increased in this area bordering North Darfur since the arrival of large numbers of people displaced by the crisis in Saraf Umra. West Darfur aid organisations have also requested more support from health partners in Jebel Moon locality, bordering North Darfur. Merlin became part of Save the Children in July 2013, has been forced to cease its work in Darfur owing to a ‘legal technicality’ this year. 600,000 Darfuris had been receiving a range of life-saving medical care from Merlin, which has been operating in Sudan since 1997. File photo: Displaced people wait to be seen at an Médicins sans Frontières health post in North Darfur state (MSF) Related: ‘Displacement from Saraf Umra ongoing’: Darfur camp coordinator (22 April 2014) ‘Legal technicality’ leads to expulsion of NGO Merlin from West Darfur (17 April 2014)