Sudan, malnutrition levels are catastrophic in Zamzam camp in North Darfur

ROMA – In North Darfur, the women and men of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) continues to record severe rates of malnutrition in Zamzam camp, as fighting continues to intensify in the area. MSF remains almost the only international humanitarian organization responding to this enormous crisis and one of the very few capable of intervening in the event of mass incidents in El Fasher, despite its request from last February to send urgent support following the rapid assessment which revealed a serious nutritional crisis.

Approximately 63,000 children under the age of 5 were killed. Between March and April, MSF conducted mass screening of more than 63,000 children under five, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women. The findings confirmed a catastrophic and life-threatening malnutrition crisis in Zamzam camp. Of the over 46,000 children who were examined, 30% were found to be suffering from acute malnutrition, of which 8% were suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM).

Similar figures apply to pregnant women. Similar figures were found among the over 16,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women screened: 33% were found to suffer from acute malnutrition and 10% from SAM. The figures for both groups reveal a rate of more than double the emergency threshold of 15%, signaling an urgent and serious situation in the Zamzam camp.

The report of an MSF manager. “A disaster of catastrophic proportions is underway in Zamzam Cape. The situation is critical, the level of suffering is immense and although the situation has been known for almost three months, not enough is being done to help those who are struggling to survive” says Claire Nicolet, head of MSF’s emergency response in Sudan. “As the fighting intensifies, we are extremely concerned that it will be even more difficult to deliver the much-needed international aid we are asking for. Furthermore, with the lean season approaching, we fear that in the coming weeks the malnutrition crisis, already very serious, could worsen rapidly”.

Prioritize humanitarian response. “The lives of hundreds of thousands of people were already in danger and the risk continues to increase – added Claire Nicolet – it is an absolute priority that the humanitarian response is scaled up quickly, so that this crisis does not become a catastrophe. For this to happen, it is vital that parties to the conflict take action to enable safe humanitarian access and the protection of civilians.”

Second MSF clinic opened. Doctors Without Borders it has already increased aid by opening a second clinic, enrolling over 11,000 children in its nutrition program and opening a 35-bed field hospital to treat the most critical cases. Currently all beds are occupied and among the patients there are 19 children with severe acute malnutrition and suspected measles. MSF plans to launch a measles vaccination campaign and expand its activities to provide support to pregnant women. However, this is not enough to meet people’s needs. No additional healthcare is provided in the camp and it is vital that this is restored urgently.

The challenges are enormous, but they can be addressed. “There is no doubt that the challenges faced in providing humanitarian assistance in Sudan are enormous, but it is possible to do it,” says MSF’s Nicolet. “Restrictions on humanitarian access, including deliberate obstructions to aid delivery by parties to the conflict, coupled with insecurity, have significantly hampered the ability of humanitarian organizations to scale up the response. But the situation is too critical for these problems to continue to be used as excuses. The United Nations and the international community must do more to negotiate access for UN agencies and international NGOs to scale up assistance to Zamzam.”

The indecent conditions in Zamzam camp. The conditions in which the inhabitants of Zamzam live are deplorable. There have been no official food distributions in the camp since May 2023. Although a handful of UN trucks reached El Fasher a few weeks ago, nothing arrived in Zamzam until late April. However, even before the outbreak of the war, the camp population received very little support. Food rations were already drastically below international standards, clean water was insufficient and before the opening of the MSF clinic there were only two other health facilities in the camp, which are now barely functioning.

“The situation is terrible for all the residents of the camp.” And in the last year it has gotten significantly worse. For the thousands of people displaced from Nyala, Tawila and other conflict zones, the situation is particularly grave. Many arrived in Zamzam with nothing and live in overcrowded schools without access to food and water. Everyone in the camp needs help, but newcomers are particularly vulnerable. The latest escalation of the conflict has increased the number of displaced people, meaning there could be even more demand on the camp’s already scarce resources,” concludes MSF’s Nicolet.

Effective and sufficient food distribution must be made. Effective food distribution, which provides people with sufficient rations, is the only thing that will prevent the situation from worsening further. With the rainy season coming and the absence of asphalt roads, it will already be difficult for humanitarian aid trucks to reach Zamzam. This makes the delivery of aid even more urgent. Despite being aware of the gravity of the situation and despite the famine warnings issued by the UN agencies themselves, the latter are doing too little to prevent the malnutrition crisis in Zamzam from spiraling further into a catastrophe.

MSF’s appeal. Finally, the humanitarian organization, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, asks the parties to the conflict to guarantee the protection of civilians, health facilities and personnel, to provide assistance to the tens of thousands of people who risk their lives before it is too late late.