CAIRO – The escalating conflict in Sudan’s North Darfur has led to a chaotic situation at the Zamzam camp, home to numerous famine-stricken families. All access routes to this camp have been sealed off due to the ongoing violence, which has now reached a level where the security of humanitarian workers is under severe threat.
The crisis compelled Doctors Without Borders, internationally known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), to temporarily halt all its services in the camp. The decision arose from the heightened danger following intensified clashes between Sudan’s national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Marion Ramstein, who oversees MSF’s projects within North Darfur, shared insights into the deteriorating conditions in Zamzam Camp. On Tuesday, she revealed that travel between the camp and El Fasher city is impossible due to blockades stemming from the conflict.
The roots of this turmoil trace back to April 2023 when violent conflict broke out between the Sudanese military forces and the RSF, thrusting the nation into civil war. The ensuing violence has taken a toll, claiming over 20,000 lives, displacing more than 14 million people, and leading to widespread famine.
A statement from MSF indicated that their decision to suspend activities was driven by the inability to ensure the safety of their workers, compounded by the lack of necessary supplies and experienced personnel. As of now, MSF operations have ceased for several days.
Adding to the crisis, MSF reported an alarming incident where their ambulances were targeted twice in recent months while transferring patients from Zamzam to El Fasher. Tragically, one attack resulted in the death of a woman accompanying her sister in one of the ambulances.
Although MSF aims to resume efforts in Zamzam, the current perilous environment makes the return of its teams unattainable at this time. Ramstein acknowledged the forced pause as a devastating choice, emphasizing the void in aid that now exists for the residents.
A report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) identified the camp and parts of North Darfur as experiencing severe hunger, categorized at IPC Phase 5. Ramstein noted a significant health crisis among young children in Zamzam, with a startling 34 percent of the 29,300 children screened during a recent vaccination drive suffering from acute malnutrition.
Zamzam Camp, which is a refuge for around half a million people, continues to see an influx of displaced families from areas like Abu Zerega, Shagra, and Saluma. Those arriving share harrowing accounts of violence, including killings, sexual assault, looting, and violence, both in their villages and along roads leading to El Fasher.
