Many families are fleeing El Fasher to Tawila. The displaced people live in the most difficult conditions. Sudan: fighting continues, resources for humanitarian operations are insufficient Humanitarian assistance
UN humanitarian agencies and their partners continue to provide assistance to people who have fled El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, but their needs far exceed available resources.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that more than 106,000 people have fled El Fasher and surrounding villages since the city was captured by the Rapid Reaction Force a month ago.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher, who recently visited Tawilah, stressed the need to ensure unimpeded access for humanitarian organizations access to civilians wherever they are. Tawila is a town 60 kilometers from El Fasher where many of the displaced people arrive.
“Our humanitarian partners in the city report they are facing significant challenges to their work, including funding shortfalls and insecurity along key access routes,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told a briefing in New York.
“Our humanitarian colleagues report that health facilities are overwhelmed and mobile clinics are struggling to cope with the growing influx patients with trauma, acute malnutrition and respiratory infections,” he added.
Dujarric also reported ongoing violence in other parts of Darfur. Médecins Sans Frontières said today it has been forced to cut back operations supporting a hospital in the central Darfur town of Zalingei for the second time this year to ensure the safety of its staff.
A week ago, a Sudanese Ministry of Health official was shot dead outside the hospital and four other staff members were wounded.
Militation continues to threaten civilians in the region Kordofan and forcing families to leave their homes. IOM said more than 600 people fled two villages in South Kordofan state on Saturday.
“We reiterate our calls for the protection of civilians across Sudan and for safe and unhindered access to deliver life-saving aid, and we call on donors to increase funding to meet growing needs in Darfur, Kordofan and other parts of Sudan,” it said Dujarric.