By Zamzam camp in Sudan’s conflict-ridden Darfur region has been severely impacted by catastrophic floods, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. According to recent satellite imagery released by the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab, the floods have overwhelmed essential water and sanitation facilities at the camp, raising severe health concerns.
The floods have inundated nine out of thirteen water points and outdoor toilets at the Zamzam camp, significantly increasing the risk of cholera and other waterborne diseases. The camp, home to approximately 500,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), is already grappling with extreme levels of malnutrition due to ongoing conflict between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has intensified since April 2023.
The Yale Humanitarian Research Lab’s satellite images depict brown floodwaters covering areas where residents collect water and use toilets. Duria Abdelrahman, a resident, described the dire situation, saying, “We need water, food, healthcare, and for God to lift this curse from Sudan. Nothing more than that.” She reported receiving no aid since arriving at the camp, where women were seen foraging leaves for sustenance.
Zamzam, the largest IDP camp in Sudan, has been a refuge for some people for over two decades. The camp’s situation has worsened so significantly that global hunger monitors recently classified Zamzam as experiencing famine. This designation marks only the third such assessment since the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) was established two decades ago.
In response to the famine classification, the RSF expressed “full solidarity” with the victims and offered to collaborate with the United Nations to facilitate aid delivery. However, aid workers report that while the RSF has been involved in looting aid supplies, the army has obstructed humanitarian access, a claim both sides deny.
Nathaniel Raymond, executive director of the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab, highlighted the gravity of the situation: “Our worst-case scenario, what we train for as the sum of all fears, is unfolding. A population already vulnerable due to food and water deprivation, now surrounded by floodwaters contaminated with human and animal feces, faces extreme peril.”
Zamzam’s proximity to al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur and a significant RSF stronghold, has left it particularly isolated. The RSF’s siege of the city has resulted in at least 65 deaths this week, and the main hospital in al-Fashir is out of service following an RSF attack.
Residents of Zamzam, and other areas where more than 300,000 people have fled, face severe shortages of food and services. The army and RSF’s restrictions have hindered aid delivery, leaving many without access to essential supplies. Local sources report that RSF soldiers have surrounded farmland, limiting food production, and residents lack the funds to purchase the limited food available in markets.
The Yale Humanitarian Research Lab’s analysis revealed that standing floodwater at the camp could cover an area equivalent to 125 soccer pitches, with numerous toilets submerged at local schools. Eyewitnesses reported newcomers from al-Fashir sheltering in roofless schools with water levels reaching up to their knees. In al-Fashir, flooding has also affected hospitals, distribution sites, and markets, with the Mawashi Market, a critical livestock trading hub, being particularly affected.
As of early July, Sudan had reported 11,000 cholera cases nationwide, with no cases yet recorded in North Darfur. However, the dire conditions in Zamzam and similar camps, where famine conditions are prevalent, pose a significant risk of an outbreak. Adam Rojal, spokesperson for the Displacement Camps Coordinating Committee, emphasized that Zamzam is representative of the broader crisis affecting over 171 camps in Darfur, all suffering from similar extreme conditions and insufficient aid.
Reuters.com
