Food shortage in South Darfur camps

Refugees in North and West Darfur reject WFP’s re-registration programA large number of refugees from Marshinq camp in South Darfur have begun migrating to the surrounding cities due to lack of food rations since two months, sources in the camp told Radio Dabanga.A resident of the camp told Radio Dabanga that lack of food rations from the World Food Program (WFP) has affected nearly 20,000 refugees from 11 camps around the area.“The situation is catastrophic. In case the food doesn’t reach us in the next couple of weeks, many children, pregnant women and disabled people will risk death,” he said.Fears over WFP re-registrationRefugees from West Darfur’s Mornei refugee camp rejected the WFP’s offer for re-registration of their identity cards out of fears and doubts regarding the objective of the process.The WFP had said earlier this year that it has begun the re-registration process in many refugee camps across Darfur to account for new refugees in camps and to discount those who no longer reside.However, refugees fear that once they hand in their registration cards, their only proof of identity, they would no longer receive food rations.A sheikh (local leader) from the camp told Radio Dabanga that refugees also fear and suspect that re-registration process may interfere with the voluntary return program. “Residents think that they will be forced to return to their villages. That’s why the refugees have strongly opposed this proposal,” he said.The residents demanded a full guarantee and explanation from the WFP about their re-registration process.“There has been a reduction in food rations. The last time we got food from the WFP was on November 18,” the sheikh said.The refugees refused to hand over the cards and said that they preferred the old cards over the new. However, they were told by representatives of the WFP that they won’t be able to receive food rations unless they agreed to re-register themselves, the sheikh said.Fears of lack of continuityRefugees from North Darfur’s Abou Shok camp rejected the WFP’s new supply method which involves local traders in the chain.The refugees denounced the new method and said that not all leaders in the camp had approved it. They also feared a lack of continuity because of the new distribution style.Mohammad Yagoub, a refugee from the camp, told Radio Dabanga that only four or five mayors and leaders in the camp had signed the agreement for the new distribution network for their personal interests.