The number of people newly displaced to Tawila camp in Sudan's North Darfur state has risen to 6,191 due to poor rainfall, crop failures, and worsening food shortages in their areas of origin. Tawila is located about 50 km west of El Fasher, the state capital. The displaced individuals are fleeing deteriorating security, loss of livelihoods, food shortages, drought, and crop failures in search of humanitarian assistance.
According to Adam Rijal, spokesperson for the Coordination of Displaced Persons and Refugees, 260 households comprising 1,394 people arrived at the camp between September 28 and October 3. Most of the new arrivals were women, children, and older people. Rijal warned that the continued influx of displaced people was putting additional pressure on host communities and called on humanitarian organizations to provide essential assistance.
Rijal emphasized the need for humanitarian organizations to provide food, medicines, clean drinking water, shelter, sanitation, and hygiene services to the displaced people in Tawila. He warned that continued arrivals and shortages of humanitarian assistance could further worsen conditions for displaced people in the camp.
Kaltouma Fadul, a displaced resident, shared her experience of fleeing her village in El Fasher due to the war and worsening economic conditions. She stated that soaring prices and a lack of income for families made it increasingly difficult for them to remain in their villages. Fadul mentioned that they came to Tawila after hearing that humanitarian assistance was available there.
Fadul highlighted the sharp rise in food prices in the areas they left, citing examples such as a bowl of sorghum costing 10,000 Sudanese pounds, while a bowl of dried okra powder and a bowl of onions each cost 8,000 pounds. She also mentioned that high transport costs were forcing some families to separate, with some members traveling to Tawila while others remained behind.
The conflict in Sudan began in April 2023 when fighting erupted in Khartoum between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The conflict has since spread to several parts of the country, including Darfur, displacing millions of people and worsening food insecurity and humanitarian needs.
The situation in Tawila camp is becoming increasingly challenging due to the large influx of displaced people and the shortage of humanitarian assistance. The camp is in dire need of essential services, including food, shelter, and medical care, to support the displaced individuals fleeing the conflict and environmental challenges in their areas of origin.
Key points
- Over 6,000 people displaced to Tawila camp due to drought, crop failures, and food shortages.
- Displaced individuals face soaring food prices, high transport costs, and separation of families.
- Humanitarian organizations are urged to provide essential assistance to support the displaced people in Tawila camp.
