In a bid to promote peaceful coexistence among displaced individuals in Zamzam camp in El Fasher town of Sudan’s North Darfur State, a group known as the “Gender for Peace and Non-Violent Initiative” organized an impactful awareness campaign.
Under the theme, “Be a person with value,” hundreds of internally displaced persons (IDPs) were gathered, including women from Al Salam camp, to participate in this significant event which started on 12th October and ended on 14th October.
The campaign featured several informative sessions aimed at raising awareness on a variety of important topics. The first session, presented by Fatima Fadl Jasser, focused on the dangers of explosives and unexploded ordnance, highlighting the physical, psychological, and social harm they can cause.
The second session, led by mental health specialist Hanan Al-Khalifa, delved into the topic of post-traumatic stress disorder and strategies to overcome crises. Participants engaged in activities like singing, chatting, and enjoying coffee and tea, facilitated by Fatima Ismail Mustafa.
Aziza Adam Al-Jin conducted the third session, which addressed confronting gender-based violence and stressed the importance of early detection of breast cancer.
Following the sessions, the Genders Initiative shifted its focus to the challenges faced by displaced women in accessing humanitarian aid, particularly pregnant women. The event aimed to provide assistance to those in need and alleviate their suffering.
Fatima shared a distressing account of the dire situation, saying, “Some women had to leave their cell phones at the pharmacy as collateral in exchange for the medication they desperately needed.”
She went on to emphasize the harsh reality faced by pregnant women in shelters, highlighting their challenges by stating, “Pregnant women in these shelters are grappling with health and economic conditions that make it nearly impossible for them to access proper medical care and adequate nutrition for themselves and their unborn babies.”
She further revealed that the number of pregnant women seeking assistance at the three centers has significantly increased.
Mayor Adam Mahmoud expressed his gratitude to the women activists of the gender initiative and emphasized the importance of the awareness campaign. He urged for more workshops and awareness programs and called on the organizers to extend their efforts to reach the Zamzam camp as well.
Additionally, Mayor Adam Mahmoud appealed for psychological support, food, and medicine. He highlighted the substantial number of women who have benefited from the two centers created by the Genders for Peace and Non-Violence Initiative.
Professor Al-Noor Abdullah, the head of Al-Salam School 56, drew attention to the deteriorating health situation and the prevalence of diseases among both children and adults. He stressed that opportunities for free treatment from organizations like Doctors Without Borders were available, but regrettably, they had not yet received these vital medical resources.
Their plea to the Ministry of Health, submitted over forty days ago, had yielded promises of food and medication. However, the school still awaited the arrival of essential medications, including basic antibiotics like Amoxicillin and Penicillin.