‘Darfur’s Tawila faces health care crisis as clinic closes’: Sheikh

More than 1,000 patients, including 200 pregnant women, 500 children, and 300 seniors in Rwanda, Dali and Argo camps in Tawila locality, North Darfur, reportedly have no access to health care due to the closure of the camps’ clinic. A sheikh told Radio Dabanga that the clinic run by Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) closed when the NGO apparently moved its operations to state capital El Fasher on Tuesday. “Now, about 1,000 people a day, who suffer from malaria, diarrhoea, malnutrition, and other diseases are helpless,” he said. “We have contacted Unimid to ask for medical supplies. They say that they do not have any but will raise the matter with higher authorities.” The sheikh demanded that the health authorities and humanitarian organisations expedite the rescue of patients especially those pregnant women who are approaching full term. He also appealed to MSF to return and re-open the clinic. As reported previously by Radio Dabanga, the unstable security situation in Darfur has prompted many humanitarian relief NGOs to reduce their operations within the camps for the displaced. For example, the compound of MSF in Tawila locality has reportedly been attacked twice in the past week. File photo: A mother with new-born twins in hospital at El Fasher (Albert González Farran/Unamid) Related:‘Second attack on NGO’s North Darfur HQ this week’: witness (5 September 2013) ‘Infant mortality rates risen to five a day in Darfur camp’: Sheikh (3 September 2013) Malnutrition kills 10 children in Central Darfur (2 September 2013) Militia attack NISS and MSF buildings in North Darfur (1 September 2013)