‘Displaced in East Darfur need assistance’: OCHA

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has highlighted the plight of an estimated 5,200 displaced people in East Darfur who need urgent assistance. The latest OCHA humanitarian report refers to an inter-agency assessment conducted from 19-23 June, that states that “5,200 people displaced from Muhajeriya town are taking refuge in Yassin (2,060 people), Seleah (1,246 people) and Abou Adid (1,927 people).” The report underscores that the people are in need of water, health services, education, shelter, non-food relief supplies and agriculture assistance. “Most of the displaced people have integrated into the host community, placing increased pressure on existing services. Findings showed that there are chronic water shortages in Seleah and Yassin towns, with animals sharing the same water sources as the displaced and host communities,” the report says. “In Abou Adid, there is no water yard and people walk up to 15 kilometres to reach the nearest water source.” The report concedes that although health services are provided by the international NGO Merlin in Yassin town and Seleah, people in Abou Adid travel up to 22 kilometres to reach the clinic in Seleah for health assistance. “Moreover, medical supplies are running low in both clinics. According to Merlin, the number of consultations at the Seleah clinic has increased from 450 to 700 patients a week between April and May.” The report concludes that displaced people interviewed said that they have access to land, but need agricultural assistance. “Existing schools in the three locations have enough space for the newly displaced children, but the schools require more education materials.”On 6 April, SLA-MM militants attacked the two strategically located towns Labado and Muhajeriya in East Darfur. The Sudanese Army (SAF) regained control as the rebel forces withdrew ten days later. In May OCHA announced that a total of 60,000 people had been displaced from both towns. Photo: Displaced people and animals share a water source in Yassin (UN)Related: ‘Militias guilty of atrocities in East Darfur’: witnesses (5 June 2013)

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has highlighted the plight of an estimated 5,200 displaced people in East Darfur who need urgent assistance.

The latest OCHA humanitarian report refers to an inter-agency assessment conducted from 19-23 June, that states that “5,200 people displaced from Muhajeriya town are taking refuge in Yassin (2,060 people), Seleah (1,246 people) and Abou Adid (1,927 people).”

The report underscores that the people are in need of water, health services, education, shelter, non-food relief supplies and agriculture assistance.

“Most of the displaced people have integrated into the host community, placing increased pressure on existing services. Findings showed that there are chronic water shortages in Seleah and Yassin towns, with animals sharing the same water sources as the displaced and host communities,” the report says. “In Abou Adid, there is no water yard and people walk up to 15 kilometres to reach the nearest water source.”

The report concedes that although health services are provided by the international NGO Merlin in Yassin town and Seleah, people in Abou Adid travel up to 22 kilometres to reach the clinic in Seleah for health assistance.

“Moreover, medical supplies are running low in both clinics. According to Merlin, the number of consultations at the Seleah clinic has increased from 450 to 700 patients a week between April and May.”

The report concludes that displaced people interviewed said that they have access to land, but need agricultural assistance. “Existing schools in the three locations have enough space for the newly displaced children, but the schools require more education materials.”

On 6 April, SLA-MM militants attacked the two strategically located towns Labado and Muhajeriya in East Darfur. The Sudanese Army (SAF) regained control as the rebel forces withdrew ten days later. In May OCHA announced that a total of 60,000 people had been displaced from both towns.

Photo: Displaced people and animals share a water source in Yassin (UN)

Related: ‘Militias guilty of atrocities in East Darfur’: witnesses (5 June 2013)