{"id":20114603,"date":"2025-02-28T11:03:43","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T10:03:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/?p=20114603"},"modified":"2025-03-01T00:21:15","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T23:21:15","slug":"sudan-war-un-official-extremely-concerned-about-displaced-unable-to-leave-zamzam-camp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/sudan-war-un-official-extremely-concerned-about-displaced-unable-to-leave-zamzam-camp","title":{"rendered":"Sudan war: UN official \u2018extremely concerned\u2019 about displaced unable to leave Zamzam camp"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami<\/strong> yesterday expressed her deep concerns about recent reports of Sudanese unable to leave the beleaguered Zamzam camp for displaced in North Darfur.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Referring to the large Zamzam camp south of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan stated yesterday<\/a> that \u201cI am extremely concerned about recent reports of civilians unable \u2013 and in some cases actively prevented \u2013 from leaving areas of conflict, basically being held hostage in areas of active fighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe passage of civilians fleeing to safety must be ensured, as called for under International Humanitarian Law,\u201d she stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn Zamzam camp in Al Fasher, North Darfur, tens of thousands of people \u2013 the majority of whom are women, children and elderly \u2013 have been facing intermittent conditions of siege, shelling and ground attacks. They are hungry and children are malnourished.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This largest camp in Darfur is now home to an estimated one million people<\/a>, as the number of residents doubled<\/a> since the current SAF-RSF war erupted in April 2023. The displaced have been suffering from a lack of food since the\u00a0early days of the war<\/a>. In June 2024, \u201cfamine thresholds were exceeded<\/a>\u201d in\u00a0the camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nkweta-Salami also pointed to international aid organisations being forced by the ongoing violence to suspend their work in the camp, which since December last year<\/a> has been prone to repeated attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), reportedly reacting to the presence of Darfur Joint Force<\/a> rebel combatants in the camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRelief workers have not been spared from the horrendous acts of violence and abuse, and critical humanitarian response efforts have had to be halted<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cArmed actors operating near or within populated areas are posing direct threats to civilians and blocking the delivery of lifesaving humanitarian assistance,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRecently<\/a>, M\u00e9decins Sans Fronti\u00e8res (MSF) announced the suspension of all activities in Zamzam camp due to the escalation of fighting in the area that has put their staff at risk. The World Food Programme has stopped the distribution of life-saving food and nutrition assistance in Zamzam<\/a> camp.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UN humanitarian coordinator urged \u201call those engaged in this conflict to de-escalate and abide by their obligations under the International Humanitarian Law to safeguard civilians and civilian infrastructure, and uphold their responsibilities by using every possible measure to protect civilians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cConflict has rules that must be respected by all, no matter what,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n