Life ‘harsh and intolerable’ for Darfur displaced

The displaced in camps across Darfur are suffering from “harsh humanitarian and security conditions”, illustrating the reality ‘on the ground’ of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon’s recent assessment that “the situation in Darfur continues to regress’. Multiple independent reports reaching Radio Dabanga from camps for the displaced throughout Darfur daily show that some challenges are endemic: a shortage of food, shelter, clean drinking water, security and medical care. From among these reports of hardships, the coordinator of the camps near Zalingei, capital of Central Darfur bemoans “a network of pro-government militias that pursue and threaten the citizens and displaced person. “They loot and rob homes, shops and along the roads at gunpoint.” He appealed via Radio Dabanga to Unamid to resume patrols, demanding that the mission pay attention and respond to the camps’ management reports as long as the mission is responsible for protecting the displaced. The supply-and-demand commodity dynamics of the humanitarian crisis, coupled with the holy month of Ramadan, mean that in the Zalingei camps, the price of a kilogramme of beef has risen to SDG40 ($9), a plate of corn to SDG15 $3.40), millet to SDG20 ($4.53) and a cake of soap to SDG3 ($0.68). The soaring prices – beyond affordability for many displaced – are of as much concern to Sheikh Mahjoub Adam Tabaldiya, who often speaks to Radio Dabanga on behalf of the displaced of the camps surrounding Nyala, capital of South Darfur: “Life in the camps has become harsh and intolerable,” he said on Monday. “We are suffering an unprecedented rise of food prices; as the suspension of provision of assistance to displaced persons by international organisations has aggravated the crisis.” Sheikh Tabaldiya says that in the Nyala camps, the price of a pound of sugar has now risen to SDG4 ($0.90), tea to SDG7 ($1.60), a small bag of juice powder to SDG5 ($1.15) and a plate of milled corn to SDG3 ($0.68). File photo: This displaced Darfuri woman must walk many kilometres a day to find clean drinking water (by Albert González Farran/Unamid)Related: UN Chief: ‘Situation in Darfur continues to regress’ (22 July 2013) Short rations, rising Ramadan prices plague Darfur displaced (12 July 2013)

The displaced in camps across Darfur are suffering from “harsh humanitarian and security conditions”, illustrating the reality ‘on the ground’ of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon’s recent assessment that “the situation in Darfur continues to regress’.

Multiple independent reports reaching Radio Dabanga from camps for the displaced throughout Darfur daily show that some challenges are endemic: a shortage of food, shelter, clean drinking water, security and medical care.

From among these reports of hardships, the coordinator of the camps near Zalingei, capital of Central Darfur bemoans “a network of pro-government militias that pursue and threaten the citizens and displaced person. “They loot and rob homes, shops and along the roads at gunpoint.”

He appealed via Radio Dabanga to Unamid to resume patrols, demanding that the mission pay attention and respond to the camps’ management reports as long as the mission is responsible for protecting the displaced.

The supply-and-demand commodity dynamics of the humanitarian crisis, coupled with the holy month of Ramadan, mean that in the Zalingei camps, the price of a kilogramme of beef has risen to SDG40 ($9), a plate of corn to SDG15 $3.40), millet to SDG20 ($4.53) and a cake of soap to SDG3 ($0.68).

The soaring prices – beyond affordability for many displaced – are of as much concern to Sheikh Mahjoub Adam Tabaldiya, who often speaks to Radio Dabanga on behalf of the displaced of the camps surrounding Nyala, capital of South Darfur:

“Life in the camps has become harsh and intolerable,” he said on Monday. “We are suffering an unprecedented rise of food prices; as the suspension of provision of assistance to displaced persons by international organisations has aggravated the crisis.”

Sheikh Tabaldiya says that in the Nyala camps, the price of a pound of sugar has now risen to SDG4 ($0.90), tea to SDG7 ($1.60), a small bag of juice powder to SDG5 ($1.15) and a plate of milled corn to SDG3 ($0.68).

File photo: This displaced Darfuri woman must walk many kilometres a day to find clean drinking water (by Albert González Farran/Unamid)

Related:

UN Chief: ‘Situation in Darfur continues to regress’ (22 July 2013)

Short rations, rising Ramadan prices plague Darfur displaced (12 July 2013)