Famine Declared in Zamzam Camp

moatinoon
The General Coordination of Displaced Persons and Refugee Camps welcomed the report by the United Nations Committee of Experts and its agencies, classifying Zamzam Camp as a famine area and called for the declaration of famine in all displacement camps.

Zamzam Camp, located about 12 kilometers south of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, is one of the largest internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Sudan. The camps population has rapidly increased in recent weeks to at least 500,000 people.

Adam Rogal explained that the camp is one of 171 displacement camps in Darfur.

The United Nations Committee of Experts reported that approximately 150,000 to 200,000 out of about 320,000 people displaced since mid-April in El Fasher have moved to Zamzam Camp in search of security, basic services, and food since mid-May.

The Famine Review Committee of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) announced on Thursday the outbreak of famine in parts of Sudans North Darfur State, particularly in the Zamzam camp for IDPs. This situation is expected to continue for the next two months.

This global initiative, which includes United Nations agencies, regional partners, and relief organizations, categorizes food insecurity into five phases. Famine is the fifth phase of the classification, meaning that at least one in five people or families suffer from severe food shortages and face the risk of starvation.

The committee stated that the ongoing conflict, which has persisted for 15 months between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, has severely hindered humanitarian aid access and driven the Zamzam IDP camp into famine.

In a statement to "moatinoon" Adam Rogal, the official spokesperson for the General Coordination of Displaced Persons and Refugee Camps, said that an average of 20 to 25 people die daily in Darfurs displacement camps due to severe malnutrition, food shortages, agricultural failures, and closed routes for humanitarian aid. He urged the United Nations, its agencies, and humanitarian organizations to strengthen their presence in Darfur and Sudan to combat famine and food insecurity, open all corridors for humanitarian aid, and quickly expand efforts to effectively respond and save millions of lives in Sudan and Darfur.