Kalma, November 03 (Darfur24)
Kalma camp in Sudan’s South Darfur State recorded 2,750 malnutrition cases in October, with about 20 children hospitalised daily for acute malnutrition, Adam Rijal, spokesperson for the Coordination of Displaced Persons and Refugees, said on Monday.
In a statement, Rijal said health centres in the camp were also receiving between 200 and 300 patients daily for illnesses including malaria, acute diarrhoea, typhoid and anaemia.
He attributed the worsening health conditions to declining humanitarian aid, rising food prices and poor rainfall linked to the El Niño phenomenon, which has contributed to crop failure and increased the vulnerability of displaced families.
Rijal warned that the situation could deteriorate further over the next three to six months if humanitarian funding continues to decline and food prices rise.
He called for urgent food assistance, expanded nutrition programmes, medical supplies and additional health workers, as well as improved access to clean water and sanitation.
He also urged the warring parties to agree to a 90-day humanitarian truce to protect civilians and allow aid deliveries across Sudan.
Rijal warned that without urgent intervention, conditions in Kalma and other displacement camps in Darfur could develop into a wider humanitarian disaster, particularly for children, women and older people.
