{"id":187259,"date":"2013-07-18T23:48:00","date_gmt":"2013-07-18T23:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dabangasudan.preview.websight.nl\/quarterly-death-toll-of-47-children-and-18-pregnant-women-in-kalma-camp-south-darfur\/"},"modified":"2013-07-18T23:48:00","modified_gmt":"2013-07-18T23:48:00","slug":"quarterly-death-toll-of-47-children-and-18-pregnant-women-in-kalma-camp-south-darfur","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/quarterly-death-toll-of-47-children-and-18-pregnant-women-in-kalma-camp-south-darfur","title":{"rendered":"Quarterly death toll of 47 children and 18 pregnant women in Kalma camp, South Darfur"},"content":{"rendered":"

During the second quarter of 2013, the spread of diarrhoea, vomiting and malnutrition among the displaced of Kalma camp near Nyala, capital of South Darfur, has claimed the lives of at least 47 children and 18 pregnant women.<\/p>\n

Sheikh Bakhit Hamid, speaking to Radio Dabanga from Centre Eight of the camp, said that \u201cthe general situation of the newly displaced in terms of health and nutrition as very bad\u201d.<\/p>\n

The sheikh explained that the situation is worse during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan: \u201cAbdullah Abdulrahman died because of his insistence on fasting, even though he did not have anything to eat for breakfast. The problem of food has become worse, especially after relief organisations suspended their activities following the recent violence in South Darfur.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamid also explained that the displaced who are fasting due to Ramadan break their fast with water and porridge, without oils, salt or onions. \u201cThe people are praying to Allah instead eating.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamid also highlighted the emergence of 15 cases of swelling in the legs and in the spinal cord among the elderly. \u201cThey have had not been examined by doctors to find the cause of the disease, but we are sure it\u2019s due to the breeding of flies,\u201d he said. \u201c10,000 displaced people have to share just 100 family latrines, so the children often relieve themselves in the open, which does not help.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamid expressed the hope that relief organisations will resume their work as soon as possible to relieve the pressure on the displaced.<\/p>\n

NGO meeting<\/strong><\/p>\n

An emergency meeting was held on Thursday with representatives of \u201call the humanitarian agencies operating in the Darfur camps\u201d, according to Hussein Abu Sharati, spokesman for the Association of Displaced Persons and Refugees of Darfur.<\/p>\n

“We notified them of the situation of the displaced \u2013 that there is insufficient food to be distributed to them and that our stores are empty,\u201d he said. \u201cThey assured us that they are aware of the situation, but asked us to be patient,\u201d he reported.<\/p>\n

Abu Sharati said that the NGOs \u201cdo not currently have the aid available,\u201d but vow that they will distribute food to the displaced as soon as it arrives.<\/p>\n

File photo<\/em><\/p>\n

Related:<\/em> Emergency meeting planned between NGOs and Darfur displaced<\/a> (17 July 2013)<\/p>\n

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