Kator, May 08 (Darfur24)
A series of fires that swept through displacement sites in eastern Jebel Marra and Tawila locality this week have intensified the suffering of thousands of people displaced by the war in El Fasher, destroying homes and leaving dozens of families without shelter.
Eyewitnesses told Darfur24 that a massive fire erupted Thursday in the Kator area east of Jebel Marra, engulfing crowded displacement shelters and destroying dozens of homes. Residents reported extensive material losses, although no deaths were recorded.
Ibrahim Yaqoub, a displaced community elder in Kator, said the fire began inside one of the shelters before rapidly spreading through nearby homes built from highly flammable materials.
“The disaster will further worsen the suffering of displaced families, especially women, children, and the elderly,” he said.
The Kator blaze came only hours after another fire tore through the “Tawila Al-Umda” camp, affecting more than 60 families. Local reports said around 50 homes were destroyed, while 11 others suffered partial damage.
Earlier this week, another fire broke out in the Murtal area northwest of Tawila, causing widespread destruction and forcing dozens of displaced families to spend the night in the open.
Abdul Jabbar Suleiman, a community leader, said those affected are facing catastrophic humanitarian conditions amid severe shortages of shelter and basic supplies.
He called on humanitarian organizations to urgently intervene and provide emergency assistance to displaced families who lost their homes and belongings.
Displacement sites across Central and North Darfur have witnessed repeated fires in recent months, causing mounting human and material losses. Residents say overcrowded camps, fragile shelters made of straw and plastic, and the absence of firefighting equipment have turned many camps into disaster zones.
The fires come as hundreds of thousands of people continue to flee fighting linked to the war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, which erupted in April 2023.