Darfur IDPs Flee from Shelling into Deadly Epidemics and Famine

As violence escalates in the Darfur region, the humanitarian and living conditions of stranded civilians and displaced people have worsened to an unprecedented degree. Death now surrounds them once again—this time through hunger, malnutrition, and the spread of deadly diseases such as cholera.

The humanitarian catastrophe is expanding further in the Tawila area of North Darfur, which shelters more than one million displaced people who fled their homes in El-Fasher, as well as others from the Zamzam and Kalma camps, following intensified artillery and air bombardments and violations committed by armed groups.

Hunger and Disease

Mutaz Al-Alam, a Sudanese citizen living in the Tawila camp, told Mashawir platform:

“The displaced are living in dire humanitarian conditions, facing all forms of human rights violations. Cases of malnutrition are rising among children and pregnant women, while nursing mothers and people with chronic diseases suffer greatly in the absence of healthcare services.”

He added:

“Cholera is claiming lives daily, with no medicines available and no medical staff present. This has led to fatalities and the deteriorating health of hundreds of displaced people.”

Al-Alam pointed out that “the current assistance comes from international and national organizations, emergency response groups, and local authorities. Despite their significant efforts, the ever-growing needs are placing immense pressure on these organizations, and available resources are no longer sufficient to meet the demands.”

Cholera Ravages the Displaced

The General Coordination for Displaced Persons and Refugees in Darfur has warned of the alarming and fast-spreading cholera outbreak in Darfur, especially in Tawila, which currently hosts one million displaced people.

It reported that “the cumulative number of cases in the area has reached 1,074 as of Wednesday, including nine deaths and 190 patients in isolation centers.”

Coordination spokesperson Adam Rijal attributed the main causes of the cholera outbreak to the lack of clean drinking water and sanitation services, which facilitate the rapid spread of the disease, in addition to the deteriorating living conditions of residents in Tawila and Darfur as a whole.

The Coordination warned that any delay in addressing this catastrophic situation would increase the death toll in this heavily affected area, which represents the largest center of displacement in Darfur.

In South Darfur, under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), authorities have declared a public health emergency in the Kalma IDP camp following rising cholera-related deaths and acute shortages of medicines and emergency supplies.

Urgent Plea for Help

Alaa Eldin Fadl, a displaced person in Kalma camp, condemned both parties to the conflict for targeting civilians in IDP camps despite their suffering and their lack of basic necessities, including shelter, water, food, healthcare, mosquito nets, cooking utensils, clothing, soap, sanitation materials, and psychological support.

Speaking to Mashawir, he added:

“Tawila, located about 68 kilometers from El-Fasher, has become a gathering point for more than 700,000 people who fled the city and the Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps, in addition to those displaced since the outbreak of war in April 2023. The situation is sliding toward catastrophe, particularly with humanitarian aid access obstructed. National organizations’ interventions cannot meet the overwhelming needs of the population.”

Fadl explained that “many residents live without tents, with some still exposed to the open air due to the lack of shelter materials, making them especially vulnerable to diseases, particularly the rapidly spreading cholera.”

He stressed that “the situation calls for urgent solutions and international efforts—it cannot tolerate further delay.”