In response to the increasing violence in North Darfur, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has provided treatment for more than 100 war injured patients, including 11 children with gunshot wounds, at South Hospital in El Fasher in the last two weeks. At the same time, MSF is expanding its response to the severe malnutrition crisis in Zamzam camp, where the situation is becoming increasingly critical. MSF is appealing to the warring factions to ensure the safety of civilians, healthcare facilities, and staff so that necessary assistance can be effectively delivered to the tens of thousands of people in need before it’s too late.
After conducting a rapid nutrition and mortality assessment in early January, MSF screened over 63,000 children under the age of five, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women, in March and April. The results confirm a catastrophic and life-threatening malnutrition crisis in Zamzam camp, North Darfur. Despite urgently requesting support in February, there has been minimal response from international aid agencies for nearly three months, leaving MSF as one of the primary responders to the crisis.
Among the screened children, 30% were found to have acute malnutrition, with 8% suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Similar rates were observed among pregnant and breastfeeding women, with 33% having acute malnutrition and 10% with SAM. These figures are double the emergency threshold of 15%, indicating an urgent and life-threatening situation in Zamzam camp.
Claire Nicolet, head of MSF’s emergency response in Sudan, describes the situation in Zamzam camp as a catastrophic disaster. Despite knowledge of the crisis for nearly three months, insufficient aid has been provided to those struggling to survive. With escalating violence and the lean season approaching, there are concerns of a rapid deterioration in the malnutrition crisis. Urgent humanitarian action is needed, and warring parties must ensure safe access for aid delivery and protection of civilians.
MSF has expanded its response by establishing a second health clinic, enrolling over 11,000 children in the nutrition program, and opening a 35-bed field hospital to treat critical cases. However, additional healthcare services are urgently required in the camp. Challenges in humanitarian aid delivery, including restrictions and insecurity, have hindered the response, but more efforts are needed to negotiate access for aid agencies.
The living conditions in Zamzam camp are dire, with no official food distributions since May 2023. Efforts to deliver aid have been delayed, exacerbating the crisis. People in the camp are facing severe food and water shortages, and healthcare facilities are limited. The situation is particularly dire for newly displaced individuals arriving from conflict-affected areas, further straining available resources in the camp.
Swift and adequate food distributions are crucial to preventing further catastrophe in Zamzam camp, especially with the impending rainy season. The UN and other aid agencies must step up efforts to address the malnutrition crisis and prevent further deterioration of the situation in Zamzam.
This content was distributed by APO Group on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).