Panafrican News Agency

ICRC distributes household items to civilians affected by recent violence in Darfur

 Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says thousands of civilians affected by the recent inter-communal conflict are now receiving essential household items including blankets and tents.

The ICRC said it has started distributing the items to those affected by the violence which began on 28 December 2019 around Genaina, West Darfur, causing several deaths and injuries, and displacement of thousands of persons within the area and into Chad.

The families we are assisting at this time were displaced from IDP (internally-displaced persons) camps in Krending, Bab Al Jennan, Dar Al Salam and Dar Al-Naiem and other outlying areas who had their houses destroyed during the violence with no host family or anyone to help them get through this critical period. It is important that they have shelter, and basic items for their daily needs. We are also providing urgent medical supplies to enhance the capacity of the Al Genaina Teaching Hospital to care for injured persons,” Pascal Cuttat, Head of the ICRC Delegation in Sudan, said in a press release on Wednesday.

It said that in the current ICRC response, 1,300 tarpaulins, 2,600 mosquito nets, 3,900 blankets and 1,300 mats are being distributed as a matter of priority. Furthermore, 1,300 buckets are also being provided for displaced persons to enable them to carry out basic household chores.

The dressing materials and infusion set provided by the ICRC will ensure the treatment of up to 250 injured persons, while, concurrent with our present intervention, we have deployed a multidisciplinary team which is undertaking more assessment of the situation on the ground to enable us to determine further needs of those affected and respond accordingly,” Cuttat said.

ICRC said that in 2019 it delivered safe drinking water to 326,407 persons and vaccinated over 325,810 animals in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile. It also provided seeds and farming tools to 138,000 persons in North and Central Darfur and supported 7 health facilities in Khartoum to care for those injured during the Sudanese protests.  

-0- PANA MO/MA 8Jan2020