Panafrican News Agency

Ethiopian refugees in Sudan facing increasingly difficult conditions - ICRC

Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Ethiopian refugees in camps in South-East Sudan are facing dire living conditions as fighting continues in Tigray region, a humanitarian organization said on Monday.

The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), said in a press statement that food, clean water, sanitation and shelter are desperately inefficient.

''An increased number of people suffer from malnutrition and diseases like malaria and hepatitis,'' ICRC said.

The onset of the rainy season worsened the situation and some refugees are choosing to undertake dangerous migration.

"Everyone is just trying to make their life better, but youth are in a bad situation and they're turning to drugs and alcohol.

The youth, some turning to drugs, are starting to have psychological problems. 

Besides the harsh living conditions, thousands of refugees are unable to contact their family members on phone.

Many people suffer trauma and emotional distress.

The ICRC says since the beginning of the Tigray crisis, the Committee  has  facilitated nearly 22,200 successful phone calls between refugees and their families.

However, it registered over 20,000 unsuccessful phone calls in the same period, meaning that thousands of people could not receive news from home.

"Months go by without any news from family members for far too many people," said Maria Carolina Aissa, the head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Kassala, Sudan.

The humanitarian organization outlined the work it is doing for refugees in Sudan.

Among others, it helps refugees maintain contact with their families in Gedaref and Kassala.

It supports the Sudan Red Crescent Society (SRCS), helping Ethiopian and Eritrean refugees.

The humanitarian organizations have trained 38 host community and refugee community volunteers.

The ICRC  says it has collected 228 tracing requests for family members inside the camps.

It resolved 6 cases and registered 58 unaccompanied minors.

In total, approximately 60 – 70% of the total Tigrayan refugee population in eastern Sudan has benefitted from phone calls or tracing services.

It has been supporting Doka Rural Hospital, rehabilitating infrastructure, providing medical supplies, personal protection equipment and training for the staff.

-0- PANA DJ/VAO 9Aug2021