Tawila, February 11 (Darfur24)
A fire that tore through a gathering of displaced people in Tawila, North Darfur State, killed a child and an elderly woman and injured several others on Monday, while destroying dozens of shelters and leaving many families without homes.
Eyewitnesses told Darfur24 that the blaze erupted in a camp for displaced people in Tawila Al-Umda village, south of Tawila city. They said two people died in the incident, while about six others sustained varying injuries. The fire also consumed dozens of tents, causing extensive property losses among already vulnerable families.
Witnesses said the fire began in a kitchen inside the compound before rapidly spreading due to overcrowding and the widespread use of highly flammable building materials.
They added that similar fire incidents have occurred in the Tawila Al-Umda area in the past, though previous cases did not result in fatalities.
One displaced resident affected by the fire said dozens of families have been left out in the open since the incident, forced to sleep outdoors after their shelters were destroyed.
Those affected appealed to humanitarian organizations and local philanthropists to intervene urgently and provide relief assistance.
Meanwhile, the General Coordination of Camps for Displaced Persons and Refugees reported that the fire claimed the life of a five-year-old child and left hundreds of children, women, and elderly people without shelter, food, or protection from harsh nighttime conditions.
The coordination body warned that the incident underscores the fragile humanitarian situation facing displaced communities in Darfur. It said the loss of shelter under such conditions increases exposure to hunger, illness, and cold, deepening the suffering of populations already strained by years of conflict and displacement.
In an urgent appeal, the organization called on the international community and humanitarian agencies to provide immediate emergency shelter, food, water, and medical care, as well as support reconstruction efforts and strengthen disaster preparedness in the camp.
Adam Rijal, spokesperson for the General Coordination of Displaced Persons and Refugees, stressed that rapid intervention is critical to saving lives in the camp.