Humanitarian conditions are worsening at Al-Karama 3 displacement camp in El-Damazin, Sudan’s Blue Nile state, where around 24,000 people are reportedly struggling with food shortages, poor sanitation and limited healthcare. Camp manager Babiker Othman Ibrahim says residents have gone four months without food assistance, leaving many families dependent on corn and other limited food supplies to survive. The crisis comes as Sudan’s war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continues. The conflict erupted in April 2023 and has killed tens of thousands of people while forcing millions from their homes.
Displaced residents say repeated attacks, including drone strikes, have forced them to flee from one location to another in search of safety. “There is no food provided for us in the camp,” resident Adam Ahmed said, describing how families have been left with few alternatives. He called for better nutrition and special care for people with specific dietary needs. The camp is also struggling with inadequate toilets, poor sanitation and limited medical services. Residents and officials report illnesses including malaria and schistosomiasis, while the lack of proper hygiene facilities increases the risk of further disease outbreaks.
Children and other vulnerable people face particular risks from hunger and malnutrition as humanitarian agencies struggle to meet needs across Sudan. Conflict, difficult access to affected communities and reductions in international aid have compounded the emergency. The crisis has prompted renewed international calls for action. More than 30 Western countries recently urged the warring parties to remove barriers to humanitarian assistance and called on donors to increase funding. They warned that at least five million people across Sudan face emergency levels of hunger. Camp officials are appealing to government authorities and humanitarian organizations to deliver urgent food, clean water, sanitation supplies and medical assistance to prevent conditions from deteriorating further.
