The humanitarian crisis is worsening at Qoz al-Salam camp in Kosti, the capital of Sudan’s White Nile State, where thousands of displaced people from Kordofan and Darfur are facing acute shortages of food and medicine, alongside growing health and psychological needs and limited available relief assistance.
Displaced people describe shortages of treatment and food
Accounts from inside the camp reveal the scale of the burdens borne by displaced families. An elderly woman said her husband had been bedridden for 10 months after developing high blood pressure, diabetes and kidney problems, as well as a cataract in his left eye, while the family was unable to provide his medical and nutritional needs.
She added that she relied on communal kitchens and simple meals provided by local residents, including balila, to secure the bare minimum of food and cope with daily life in the camp. A young woman displaced from the Darfur city of Zalingei described another aspect of the health crisis.
She developed an abdominal tumour and paralysis before the war broke out, and fell into a coma that lasted four months. She then began a long course of treatment, relying on massage and physiotherapy to gradually regain her ability to walk. The young woman depends entirely on her mother for care and support, after her father died 13 years ago.
Chronic diseases put pressure on displaced women and children
Other displaced women meanwhile complain of worsening chronic diseases, thyroid disorders, cartilage problems and severe pain in their limbs, while being unable to afford treatment or medical tests. Their main concern at a time of crisis is securing daily food. The effects of the war also extend to the mental health of children and mothers.
Child-friendly spaces seek to keep children away from the effects of the war and identify cases requiring initial psychological support, before following up and managing them in coordination with the relevant authorities. Children in the camp show signs of fear and panic when they hear gunfire or vehicles.
Local organisations distribute aid and support protection
Plan Sudan and Gismar are providing support and distributing food baskets and household items, while also activating protection networks and carrying out awareness activities. As part of the response to basic needs, the Zumra Relief Organisation announced the distribution of 1250 hygiene kits to people arriving at Qoz al-Salam camp. The kits included essential items such as soap and nappies.
A representative of the organisation said displaced people urgently needed food, water and healthcare, and called on civil society organisations to intervene. He explained that shortages of aid and overcrowding had led to families being moved to new camps, including Tendelti camp, alongside interventions in other states, including Al-Afadh camp in Northern State.
The war in Sudan broke out on 15 April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, following disagreements over the integration of the Rapid Support Forces into the armed forces. Fighting began in the capital, Khartoum, before spreading to different parts of the country.
International and UN reports say Sudan is facing the world’s largest displacement crisis, as conditions for displaced people worsen across the states and the humanitarian situation in some areas reaches levels associated with famine and the food crisis.
