Eastern Sudan: Gedaref IDPs concerned over worsening conditions

At the Gedaref Displacement Center in the Deim Al Noor neighbourhood of Gedaref State in eastern Sudan, several displaced individuals have voiced grievances about deteriorating humanitarian conditions, citing shortages of food and shelter materials.

At the Gedaref Displacement Center in the Deim Al Noor neighbourhood of Gedaref State in eastern Sudan, several displaced individuals have voiced grievances about deteriorating humanitarian conditions, citing shortages of food and shelter materials.

Gedaref State is home to over two million displaced persons, with more than 100 makeshift shelters established in schools and various government facilities.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, several displaced complained about the harsh conditions they were living in due to the lack of necessities and cited severe shortages of food, drinking water, and lack of healthcare.

Husna Abdullah, a displaced individual, highlighted significant shortages in essential necessities like food and shelter materials. She disclosed that people are sleeping on the ground due to the lack of beds and emphasized, “We have no gas or charcoal, and life is extremely difficult for us.”

Fatima Abbakar emphasized that the center faces a critical shortage of essential items like shelter materials and food. She expressed gratitude to the residents of Deim Al Noor neighbourhood for their unwavering support despite the shortages.

Nadia Al Zein, another displaced individual, lamented, “We have nothing. We used to sleep on mattresses on the ground, and now even those mattresses are unavailable.” She added, “We now live in a tent that is open from all sides.”

Since conflict erupted across Sudan in mid-April last year, the country has become one of the world’s most dangerous and difficult places for humanitarians to work.

The war has resulted in 15,000 deaths and more than 8.7 million people displaced, including 4.6 million children, according to the UN.

A staggering 4.9 million children under five years and pregnant and nursing women are estimated to be acutely malnourished this year.