Kalmando/Tawila, February 16 (Darfur24)
Displaced communities in North Darfur are facing escalating hardship after a series of fires tore through gathering sites southeast and west of El Fasher, destroying homes and deepening an already fragile humanitarian situation.
In the town of Kalmando, southeast of El Fasher, eyewitnesses reported that a fire broke out on Friday in the Sani Kuru area, rapidly spreading through shelters constructed from flammable materials. Residents reported that dozens of homes belonging largely to displaced families were destroyed before the blaze could be controlled.
Al-Tayeb Adam Abkar, a resident, told Darfur24 the cause of the fire remains unclear, but strong winds and fragile shelter construction accelerated its spread. Many of the affected families had fled El Fasher during last year’s fighting. They are now exposed to harsh weather conditions without adequate shelter or humanitarian support.
Local emergency volunteers confirmed that the fire struck a densely populated displacement site, destroying or damaging dozens of makeshift homes and leaving hundreds without housing, food, or basic supplies. Volunteers have begun collecting building materials to help families erect temporary shelters.
Emergency responders warned that displaced residents — particularly children, women, and older people — now face heightened risks linked to exposure, food insecurity, and disease due to the sudden loss of shelter, clean water, and health services. Appeals have been made to humanitarian agencies and donors to provide urgent relief, including food assistance, emergency shelter materials, bedding, health supplies, hygiene kits, and sanitation support.
Separate incidents were reported in the Tawila area west of El Fasher, where a series of fires over recent days damaged displacement camps already strained by overcrowding and limited services. Local sources reported repeated outbreaks that resulted in significant property damage and forced some families to relocate in search of safer ground.
Eyewitnesses said the Dali camp south of Tawila experienced multiple fires in a short span, worsened by the absence of firefighting equipment and weak safety infrastructure. Camps in the area are struggling with shortages of water, food, and shelter despite hosting large numbers of people displaced by conflict.
Civil society activists called for an urgent investigation by the civilian authority affiliated with the Sudan Liberation Movement, led by Abdul Wahid al Nur, to determine the causes of the recurring fires and strengthen protective measures for displaced communities.
Seasonal fires remain a recurring hazard across Darfur and Kordofan, where strong winds and the widespread use of straw and other flammable materials in temporary housing increase vulnerability, compounding the risks faced by families already displaced by conflict.