In the heart of Sudan’s Darfur region lies Zamzam, a camp that has become a symbol of the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the country. Originally established in the mid-2000s to shelter those fleeing the genocide perpetrated by the Janjaweed militias, Zamzam has since swelled with desperate newcomers fleeing the latest wave of violence between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The camp now hosts hundreds of thousands of displaced people, with conditions deteriorating daily.
A Daily Struggle for Survival
Zamzam camp is overwhelmed by the sheer number of people who now call it home. Resources are scarce, and the situation is dire. According to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), a child dies every two hours due to malnutrition and disease. The camp's residents are grappling with a lack of clean water, insufficient food supplies, and virtually no access to medical care. Diseases like dengue fever and malaria are rampant, further exacerbating the crisis.
Laila Ahmed, a mother of nine who has been living in the camp, speaks of the heartbreaking losses that have become all too common. “There have been many [deaths], I cannot remember them all. The latest died yesterday,” she says. Her words reflect the grim reality for many families in Zamzam, where hunger and illness have become the norm.
An Overwhelmed Humanitarian Response
Before the recent conflict erupted, international aid organisations provided some relief to the residents of Zamzam. However, the onset of violence has forced most of these organisations to pull out, leaving the camp without essential support. MSF and Relief International are among the few aid groups still operating in Zamzam, but they are struggling to meet the enormous needs of the camp's population.
“This is a vast, overpopulated camp that needs a large amount of support, but it has been completely left on its own,” says Emmanuel Berbain, an MSF doctor who recently visited the camp. The situation, he adds, is nothing short of catastrophic.
Kashif Shafique, Sudan country director for Relief International, echoes this sentiment: “We are overwhelmed. It’s too much for two organisations to cover.” The lack of resources and the scale of the crisis have left many in Zamzam without hope.
The Broader Crisis in Sudan
Zamzam is just one of many camps across Sudan, where nearly 8 million people have been displaced by conflict. The ongoing war has pushed the country to the brink of collapse, with half of the population now in need of food aid. The Clingendael Institute, a Dutch think tank, warns that famine could soon engulf much of Sudan, potentially killing up to a million people.
Despite the scale of the crisis, the international response has been woefully inadequate. In 2023, the United Nations received only 43% of the funds it needed to address the humanitarian needs in Sudan. The situation has been further compounded by logistical challenges, including bureaucratic obstacles imposed by the Sudanese authorities and the destruction of aid supplies by looting.
The Need for Immediate Action
The crisis at Zamzam camp is a stark reminder of the broader humanitarian emergency in Sudan. Without a massive intervention to provide food, medical care, and other essential services, the situation will only worsen. As William Carter of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) points out, the international community has not prioritised Sudan, and the consequences are devastating.
The people of Zamzam and other camps across Sudan are running out of time. They need more than just temporary relief—they need sustained, committed efforts to address the root causes of their suffering. Without this, the humanitarian crisis in Sudan will continue to claim lives at an alarming rate.