South Darfur governor vows to transform IPDs camps into urban areas

September 28, 2015 (NYALA) – South Darfur governor Adam al-Faki Monday vowed to transform all the camps of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state into urban areas and to provide them with the basic services.

Al-Faki is touring the IDPs camps outside the state capital Nyala where he is welcomed by the residents to discuss their needs and to inspect the difficult condition where they are living since 12 years ago.

In his remarks; during a visit he paid to the residents of Bielel and El-Seref camps where he was received without protests, he pledged that the 2016 will be the year for the development and provision of services to all the people of South Darfur state.

“There will be no displaced persons in any camp after the scheduled (urban) planning, as they (the IDPs) will be inhabitants of urban villages, having equal access to the basic public services like in other villages and towns,” Adam said.

In August 2010, the then governor of south Darfur state thought to relocate some the residents of some camps into smaller camps supplied with basic services .

At the time, the state government said they intend to break the fabric of camps like Kalma which was considered as “a den” of rebels and their partisans.

The governor al-Faki reassured the IDPs that the government has taken a number of measures to ensure security and to eliminate criminals and outlaws

He assured the governor citizens on security and stability, pointing out taking several measures to eliminate crimes and bring criminals to justice.

COMPLAINTS OVER HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

The residents of El-Seref camp told the governor they experience a severe food crisis saying that the World Food Programme (WFP) reduced its rations. They also pointed to lack of potable water and deterioration of heath service.

El-Seref camp leader Hassan Mohamed Mahmoud briefed the governor about the situation of the residents and told him that over 13125 IDPs face tough humanitarian situation. He urged him to exert the needed efforts to alleviate their suffering adding that 90% of the displaced are children, widows and the elderly.

He said there is one heath centre with a capacity to treat up to 40 patients per day for the whole camp. Further he said there is acute shortage of teachers affecting negatively the education of the kids and requested the establishment of a high secondary school.

The traditional chief underlined that the police force in the camp has one vehicle and called to reinforces their means to enable them to arrest criminal and looters.

(ST)