Thousands of displaced in East Darfur in need of aid
An estimated 43,300 displaced from different areas in Darfur are sheltering in Yassin, East Darfur. According to findings of an inter-agency mission on 22-24 April, 5,434 people arrived to Yassin town and its surrounding villages since April 2013, the latest humanitarian bulletin of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported. The 37,566 other displaced are staying in the area since 2004. According to the mission’s findings, food is the most critical need of the people in the town and the surrounding area. The food deficit in East Darfur State has risen to the 60 percent, and Yassin, located west of the capital Ed Daein, is the most affected locality, as indicated by the State Ministry of Agriculture’s post-harvest assessment. The food shortage in the area has been attributed to poor rains and a pest infestation, the displacement of people in Muhajeriya and Labado towns, insecurity along the main supply routes, and the soaring prices of food at the local market. There are concerns that the current food deficit is likely to cause a secondary displacement of these displaced to other locations within East Darfur, if the people in Yassin town and neighbouring villages do not receive urgent food aid. The inter-agency mission has recommended emergency food rations for the newly displaced, and seasonal food support for the “older displaced”. Water and sanitation Water and sanitation are another critical issue in Yassin town. Of the five boreholes in the town, one is broken. According to the Government’s water service, the current water supply in the town is not enough to cover the needs of 38,000 people living in the town, and others arriving from neighbouring villages. Sanitation is a serious concern as people and livestock share the same water sources, which have not been chlorinated. This situation will likely deteriorate during the rainy season, as water points have no drainage system. Photo: New displaced in Zamzam camp, North Darfur, 3 April 2014 (Albert Gonzalez Farran/ Unamid) Related: Acute food shortage, people raid ant hills in East Darfur (7 May 2014) ‘Huge food gaps in South and North Darfur’: officials (6 May 2014)
An estimated 43,300 displaced from different areas in Darfur are sheltering in Yassin, East Darfur.
According to findings of an inter-agency mission on 22-24 April, 5,434 people arrived to Yassin town and its surrounding villages since April 2013, the latest humanitarian bulletin of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported. The 37,566 other displaced are staying in the area since 2004.
According to the mission’s findings, food is the most critical need of the people in the town and the surrounding area. The food deficit in East Darfur State has risen to the 60 percent, and Yassin, located west of the capital Ed Daein, is the most affected locality, as indicated by the State Ministry of Agriculture’s post-harvest assessment.
The food shortage in the area has been attributed to poor rains and a pest infestation, the displacement of people in Muhajeriya and Labado towns, insecurity along the main supply routes, and the soaring prices of food at the local market. There are concerns that the current food deficit is likely to cause a secondary displacement of these displaced to other locations within East Darfur, if the people in Yassin town and neighbouring villages do not receive urgent food aid. The inter-agency mission has recommended emergency food rations for the newly displaced, and seasonal food support for the “older displaced”.
Water and sanitation
Water and sanitation are another critical issue in Yassin town. Of the five boreholes in the town, one is broken. According to the Government’s water service, the current water supply in the town is not enough to cover the needs of 38,000 people living in the town, and others arriving from neighbouring villages. Sanitation is a serious concern as people and livestock share the same water sources, which have not been chlorinated. This situation will likely deteriorate during the rainy season, as water points have no drainage system.
Photo: New displaced in Zamzam camp, North Darfur, 3 April 2014 (Albert Gonzalez Farran/ Unamid)
Related:
Acute food shortage, people raid ant hills in East Darfur (7 May 2014)
‘Huge food gaps in South and North Darfur’: officials (6 May 2014)
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