Malnutrition rife in Shendi camp as displaced flee RSF attacks

December 9, 2024 (SHENDI) – A medical source in Sudan’s River Nile state reported a surge in malnutrition cases on Monday at a camp in Shendi housing people who fled violence in eastern Al Jazirah state. The camp struggles with acute shortages of medicine and vitamins, particularly for children.

Tens of thousands fled to Shendi in October following retaliatory attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on villages in eastern Al Jazirah. The attacks came after RSF commander Abu Aqla Kikl defected to the army.

“The malnutrition rate has reached 70% among children, pregnant women, and the elderly,” the medical source at the Shendi camp told Sudan Tribune. “We are working to register all cases and will release statistics in the coming days.”

The source cited a critical lack of medicines for children under five, especially vitamins and drugs to treat chronic diseases. The price of insulin on the black market has skyrocketed to between 12,000 and 15,000 Sudanese pounds (about $6). Adding to the crisis, the camp faces a severe shortage of medical personnel, relying heavily on volunteers.

The number of displaced people in Shendi alone is estimated at around 83,000.

Respiratory infections are widespread among the displaced, exacerbated by the onset of winter. Malaria, diarrhoea, dysentery, and urinary tract infections, particularly among pregnant women, are also rampant.

The source called on international and local organizations to urgently provide medicines and medical supplies. They also urged the Sudanese government to ensure the availability of essential medicines and improve conditions at the camp.