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August 19, 2024 (El Fasher) – A group of young volunteers has launched the fight against famine in Sudan’s North Darfur state, providing life-saving aid such as food, water and medicine, helping the wounded and providing shelter for the homeless.
Working with limited resources, these young Sudanese volunteers have launched an initiative to help millions of people displaced by the ongoing fighting in war-torn Sudan.
“The emergency room was born out of suffering and became a link between the organization and those in need on the ground,” said Mubarak Mohamed Idris, a member of the UN’s youth-led initiative in Zam Zam camp.
Famine has been declared in the Zam Zam refugee camp, with an estimated half a million people affected.
Aid agencies have warned that famine could spread to Abu Shouk and Salam refugee camps, less than a month after an assessment confirmed famine in Zam Zam camp.
Idris said aid groups were unable to access the camps to deliver much-needed aid due to fighting and road blockades, so youth-led emergency rooms were stepping in to provide food to the hungry people.
The emergency clinics run by these young volunteers are seen as a sign of support from the United Nations and other aid agencies, and have become a lifeline for thousands of displaced people as aid groups scramble to find safe, unhindered access to them.
Additionally, some families reportedly went without food throughout the day, while the community kitchens set up ensured that volunteers prepared and served food within the camps.
“This helps us alleviate the suffering of displaced people in the camps due to lack of food and families’ inability to feed themselves,” Idris explained.
In addition to material assistance, the emergency unit provides shelter and clothing to the wounded in conflict zones and helps those affected by disasters such as floods.
There were reports of a shortage of water supply due to a lack of fuel as fighters of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) were present around the camp.
“Now, only two of the eight wells in the camp are in use,” Idris said.
He added: “Due to conflict, shelling and lack of funds, it is difficult to get water to the camps. We brought in 200 barrels of water in two water trucks and distributed it to people in 46 centres, but it is not enough.”
Mohammed Adam Abdul Latif, a representative of the media committee of the Community Services Emergency Room, said Abu Shuk camp was facing a similar situation.
“All the signs of famine are very clear,” Latif said, adding that camp residents, especially children, were “dying” from hunger.
Meanwhile, with recent floods destroying more than 700 homes in the camp, young volunteers are reportedly facing the same challenges, providing the same services and even expanding their work to include repairing affected shelters and providing everything from sanitary pads to women and girls.
Multiple challenges, including shortages of food and other life-saving supplies, are reported to persist. In addition, most health centres have been closed following shelling, and the only health centre providing primary health care faces severe shortages of medicines and medical supplies, especially for children under five years of age.
“We don’t have access to therapeutic nutrition,” Latif stressed.
He added: “We have two therapeutic feeding centres which were bombed by the Rapid Rescue Force.”
The situation has reportedly been exacerbated by rising food prices, forcing many to resort to animal fodder, while others have fallen into desperation and resorted to begging or prostitution in order to feed their children.
“We provide food to the shelters that are now completely dependent on us,” Latif explained, thanking non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for their support, including UN partner the Norwegian Refugee Council, which donated $5,000 to supply the community kitchen.
However, he said the camp kitchen was recently forced to close for 20 days due to a lack of stable support.
There are concerns that the road to the camp is currently closed and there are no basic medical supplies such as bandages and sterilizers to help the large number of injured people.
“We have called many times and will continue to call on international and UN organizations to serve us in any way,” Latif said, adding, “We call on UN authorities to coordinate with agencies in the camps to provide support to the displaced children and their families.”
(English stone)
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