Tawila, February 18 (Darfur24)
For the tenth time in just two weeks, fires have torn through gatherings of displaced families in the Tawila area west of El Fasher, North Darfur State, causing loss of life and property and worsening the already dire conditions facing civilians who fled the war.
Displaced communities across Tawila camps are grappling with severe shortages of drinking water, food, and shelter materials, even as new waves of families continue to arrive.
Eyewitnesses told Darfur 24 that the Dali camp south of Tawila witnessed repeated fires beginning in the early morning hours and continuing into the afternoon, destroying property in the absence of firefighting equipment and with minimal safety measures in place. Witnesses said the camp has experienced near-daily fires since last week, pausing only briefly before flames again spread for several consecutive hours.
At the same time, families have continued to move toward the newly established Dabba Nayra camp, despite extremely difficult living conditions.
In a related development, a senior figure in the local administration accused unidentified actors of being behind the fires. He said an alternative relocation site east of Tawila had been designated, but many displaced families chose to remain in overcrowded camps, contributing to the rapid spread of fires.
Field teams from humanitarian organizations warned that continued fires could significantly worsen the humanitarian situation, placing already vulnerable families at greater risk.
Local activists renewed calls for the civilian authority of the Sudan Liberation Movement, led by Abdul Wahid al-Nur, to launch an urgent and transparent investigation into the causes of the fires and to strengthen protection measures for civilians.