South Darfur’s El Radoom lacks security, health services: citizens

The residents of El Radoom locality in South Darfur state have complained of a lack of security, as armed herders keep attacking farms, and of services, especially in the fields of health and education. A farmer in El Radoom locality told Radio Dabanga that the herdsmen, “armed by the government”, in the region enter their livestock on the farms by force of arms. “Whoever objects will be punished. Several farmers have been beaten and whipped.” He stressed that although the commissioner of the locality issued many orders prohibiting the herders from trespassing their farms, the herders do not recognise these. ‘One hospital, one school’ A citizen of El Radoom reported to Radio Dabanga that the locality has one hospital with four medical assistants, without any doctor, amid a shortage of medicines. “This worsens the suffering of patients who now require treatment at hospitals in Buram or Nyala localities.” Listeners also complained about the poor roads, complicating transportation. “The locality is completely isolated during the rainy season because of the poor quality of the roads.” Furthermore, the locality has one single secondary school “with more than 500 students”, according to a citizen. There are three teachers appointed by the ministry, and the rest are volunteers. Finally, citizens face very high prices in the markets in El Radoom. File photo: Goat herders in South Darfur (InsightOnConflict.org)

The residents of El Radoom locality in South Darfur state have complained of a lack of security, as armed herders keep attacking farms, and of services, especially in the fields of health and education.

A farmer in El Radoom locality told Radio Dabanga that the herdsmen, “armed by the government”, in the region enter their livestock on the farms by force of arms. “Whoever objects will be punished. Several farmers have been beaten and whipped.”

He stressed that although the commissioner of the locality issued many orders prohibiting the herders from trespassing their farms, the herders do not recognise these.

‘One hospital, one school’

A citizen of El Radoom reported to Radio Dabanga that the locality has one hospital with four medical assistants, without any doctor, amid a shortage of medicines. “This worsens the suffering of patients who now require treatment at hospitals in Buram or Nyala localities.” Listeners also complained about the poor roads, complicating transportation. “The locality is completely isolated during the rainy season because of the poor quality of the roads.”

Furthermore, the locality has one single secondary school “with more than 500 students”, according to a citizen. There are three teachers appointed by the ministry, and the rest are volunteers. Finally, citizens face very high prices in the markets in El Radoom.

File photo: Goat herders in South Darfur (InsightOnConflict.org)