Humanitarian crisis fears as 175,000 Blue Nile IDPs go hungry

More than 175,000 displaced people and others stranded in camps along the border with Ethiopia in Sudan’s Blue Nile region are facing what has been described as dire and worsening humanitarian conditions, amid acute shortages of food and shelter ahead of the rainy season.

Ali Hajo, secretary-general of the Blue Nile Civil Society Initiative, told Radio Tamazuj that the situation was “miserable and tragic” following the displacement and encirclement of more than 175,000 people in shelters and along border areas. He said those affected were facing severe shortages of food and a lack of adequate shelter to protect them from the heavy seasonal rains.

“More than 100,000 displaced people are now in Damazin and surrounding areas, including Al-Roseires, Ganees East and Ganees West,” he said. “They are spread across more than 10 displacement camps, as well as schools and areas surrounding the local administrative center, where they are facing acute shortages of food and other essential supplies.”

The secretary-general said displacement had also spread to other parts of the region. The eastern part of Wad Al-Mahi locality, he said, had received more than 15,000 people who fled fighting in Geissan locality and surrounding villages, including Fazughli, Adasi A and Adasi B.

Regarding conditions along the border, Hajo warned of a humanitarian tragedy facing families who have become stranded. He said more than 60,000 people from Al-Kurmuk and Geissan localities were trapped in ravines and valleys and in camps near the Ethiopian border.

He also reported that many people remained missing or stranded in areas that relief and other responders had so far been unable to reach.

Hajo concluded by warning that the large number of displaced and stranded people were facing exceptionally harsh conditions as the rainy season begins in Blue Nile, a period known for heavy rainfall. He said the absence of adequate shelter and shortages of food and water risk further worsening the humanitarian crisis.

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