Shelterless Camps: Daily Crises Facing Displaced People from West Kordofan in El Obeid

Thousands of displaced people fleeing West Kordofan State are facing extremely poor living and health conditions in El Obeid, as dozens of families continue to arrive daily from the towns of Al-Nuhud, Al-Fula, and Abu Zabad to the capital of North Kordofan State.

Several displaced persons told Mashawir that the conditions endured by hundreds of families are catastrophic, especially with the onset of the rainy season.

Abbas Haroun, a displaced resident from the Khamas area, explained that families are living in camps lacking food supplies, clean drinking water, healthcare services, education, and proper sanitation.

He added that women, children, and elderly people sleep on the ground inside worn-out shelters made from local materials and plastic sheets, offering little privacy. Some families are also living in unfinished buildings still under construction.

Haroun noted that local authorities in El Obeid have become unable to provide adequate assistance, as the large number of displaced people exceeds the state’s capacity and available resources.

Meanwhile, Manal Al-Fateh, who was displaced from Al-Nuhud, expressed sorrow over the humanitarian conditions faced by thousands of people fleeing West Kordofan.

She told Mashawir that the situation of displaced people is currently extremely dire and continues to worsen as more families arrive in the city every day, causing the population to grow beyond more than twice the city’s intended capacity.

She pointed out that all these people are forced to share scarce resources, including drinking water and medical care, amid a severe shortage of food supplies.