Cold, hunger kill six children in North Darfur

Nine people have died from hunger and intense cold in East Jebel Marra region, nearby Khazan Tunjar. Among them are six children. Schools in Sudanese states have applied a special schedule for the children to deal better with the cold wave.

A witness from the area told Radio Dabanga that six of them, including two children, died in Darkoro on Thursday. “The group of villagers had fled from Dobo El Omda and Dobo Gedida from the insecurity caused by the Rapid Support Forces in the area. They have remained in Darkoro with their livestock, without any food or water sources.”

The extreme cold is buffeting the people and their animals. About 270 sheep have already died, the witness reported.

In Wadi Oshara, four children also died from severe cold and hunger. He added that dozens of cattle died early Friday morning.

The deceased children are: Jido Suleimon (4 years), Fatima Issa (5), Hassania Harun (7), and Abdallah Abaker (8 years). In Darkoro, Abdel Gayom Harun (4 years), Mariam Yahya Adam (7), Mowada Yagoub (7), Ali Adam (63), and Hawa Mukhtar Yahya (67 years) passed away on Thursday.

The witness appealed to the organisations for displaced people and refugees to immediately move to aid the displaced in Darfur camps, and provide blankets, shelter and food for them as soon as possible.

An activist from North Darfur's Zamzam camp for the displaced, close to El Fasher, affirmed that an intense cold wave has hit the region, forcing displaced people to stay inside their homes and shelters. He hopes the provision of aid to the displaced will speed up.

Schools apply schedule

Hussein Abu Sharati, the spokesman for the Darfur Displaced and Refugees Association, stressed in an interview with the radio station that the displaced population in Darfur faces the risk of being “killed in cold blood” and “starving to death”.

“Especially the thousands of newly displaced people who have fled East Jebel Marra and Tawila to get to Zamzam camp and Tabit. They live out in the open with no cover or warm clothing.”

Abu Sharati appealed to the managers of schools in North Darfur state to temporarily close, for as long as the cold wave lasts. Or, to start school later, at 11 am, following the example of schools in other parts of Sudan.

Primary and secondary schools in El Gezira state do not start until 10 am, when the cold has drawn off. The Northern Sudanese authorities closed all schools in the region. In Khartoum, the start of the lessons is delayed until 9 am.