The roads leading to Zamzam camp in North Darfur, a region deeply afflicted by famine, have been obstructed, severely compromising the safety of humanitarian aid workers in the area. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), better known in English as Doctors Without Borders, has ceased its operations in the camp due to escalating violence resulting from intense clashes between Sudan’s military and the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Marion Ramstein, MSF’s project coordinator for North Darfur, shared insights about the grim situation in Zamzam with the press on Tuesday. She highlighted the impossibility of traveling from Zamzam to El Fasher, as the access roads have been sealed off due to ongoing hostilities.
The country has been embroiled in civil war since April 2023, following the eruption of hostilities between government forces and the RSF. This conflict has resulted in over 20,000 deaths, displaced more than 14 million individuals, and led to widespread famine across several regions.
In a recent statement, MSF cited the perilous proximity to violence and logistical challenges in procuring supplies and skilled personnel as factors that forced the organization to halt its services. According to Ramstein, the security conditions have rendered it impossible for MSF teams to continue their vital work, as they are overwhelmed and inadequately equipped to operate safely.
Concerning incidents include two attacks on MSF ambulances in December and January, during which vehicles were fired upon while ferrying patients from the camp to El Fasher. In one tragic instance, a woman accompanying her sister in an ambulance lost her life.
While MSF intends to resume its operations in Zamzam eventually, the current risk-laden environment prohibits their return. Ramstein lamented the decision to suspend activities, acknowledging the void left in terms of support for the local population, as very few organizations remain operational there.
A report released by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) previously identified Zamzam Camp, along with areas in North Darfur, as facing “the worst kind of hunger,” categorized as IPC Phase 5.
Amid these challenges, MSF has observed numerous cases of young children in the camp affected by anemia. In a September vaccination initiative, the organization screened 29,300 children in Zamzam and discovered that 34% suffered from acute malnutrition.
Zamzam camp currently shelters around 500,000 people, including families displaced from regions such as Abu Zerega, Shagra, and Saluma. These families have recounted incidents of violence, sexual assaults, lootings, and beatings encountered en route to El Fasher and within their home villages.
