In a harrowing revelation, the head of youth at Al-Sareef camp for displaced persons, located west of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, announced that between 5 to 6 children die each month due to severe malnutrition.
The camp leader, Mutasim Abdel Karim Hajro, disclosed this information during an interview with Radio Dabanga, highlighting the dire lack of food resources.
Hajro indicated that nearly 70% of the camp’s children are suffering from malnutrition, with no effective interventions to save their lives.
He mentioned that last month, a humanitarian organization distributed “biscuits” to about forty children, but this aid did not cover all the children in the camp.
The Al-Sareef camp, housing over 42,000 families, faces famine as residents struggle to generate enough income to buy food. Food prices have skyrocketed, making it impossible for the displaced families to afford basic necessities.
Hajro reported that the price of a measure of millet has reached 6,500 Sudanese pounds, while the same amount of sorghum costs 6,000 pounds. He added that many families are forced to beg in markets to obtain food.
The health situation is equally dire. Since the outbreak of the conflict, the two functioning health centers in the camp have ceased operations. Displaced persons now have to rely on private clinics and hospitals in the city, which require substantial financial resources.
Hajro called on humanitarian organizations to intervene and provide essential health and food aid to the displaced persons at Al-Sareef camp, which has been lacking since the conflict erupted on April 15.
He noted that the security situation in the camp has stabilized after Rapid Support Forces responded to complaints from the displaced about previous incidents of lawlessness within the camp.
