There are fears of the emergence of a new epidemic in Kandobi camp, Sudan‘s West Darfur, following the recent surge in mortality rates within the camp.
Development Diaries reports that people are experiencing a new flu-like illness that has resulted in difficulty speaking and a severe loss of appetite.
According to testimonies from within the camp, vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and pregnant women, have majorly succumbed to the illness as it rapidly spreads across the camp.
We also understand that there has been a notable increase in miscarriages among expectant mothers due to the illness, even as medical facilities and services remain out of reach for many.
Escalating security concerns and persistent militant attacks are cited as the primary drivers of displacement, which has resulted in overcrowded camps in Sudan.
More than eight million people have been forced from their homes in Sudan so far since the war started in April 2023.
There continues to be a steady stream of families fleeing the Kandobi camp and seeking refuge in the city of Adré in eastern Chad.
The authorities in Sudan need to collaborate with development partners to provide urgent health emergency services and facilities in the Kandobi camp to prevent the disease from spreading beyond the camp.
Source: Dabanga
Photo source: Albert González Farran/UNAMID
