MSF has been present in Darfur since September 2003, and launched activities in December 2003. Currently, more than 160 international volunteers and 2,000 Sudanese provide assistance to more than 550,000 displaced people in 24 locations in West, South, and North Darfur. Assessments are conducted as needed.

West Darfur

El Geneina
Displaced people began arriving in El Geneina in November 2003, with new arrivals continuing through May 2004. Aside from food distributions based on a single registration in March 2004, little humanitarian assistance had been provided as of June 2004. An estimate 80,000 displaced people now live in twelve camps in and around El Geneina. In June, MSF opened a therapeutic feeding centre (TFC) within El Geneina hospital and opened a pediatric ward. In July, the organization established health centers in three of the four largest IDP camps (Abu Zahr, Riad, Ardamata). Global acute malnutrition reached 20% in July, with severe acute malnutrition affecting 4% of the people.

Kerenik
In Kerenik, MSF treats severely and moderately malnourished children in a population of 20,000, while also providing out-patient and in-patient services.

Garsilla, Deleij, Mukjar, Bindisi, Um Kher
In Garsilla, MSF runs an out-patient department (OPD) and in-patient department (IPD), as well as therapeutic and supplementary feedings centers. From the base in Garsilla, outreach teams go to Deleij, Um Kher, Mukjar and Bindisi for consultations and feeding programs. Drinking wells are also being rehabilitated and latrines are being installed.

Habillah
MSF has started work in Habillah in mid-July and now supports an OPD and IPD. Severe cases of malnutrition are treated in a TFC, and a blanket feeding operation is under way. A measles vaccination campaign has just been conducted.

Mornay
During the first evaluation mission conducted in late December, the MSF team observed that nearly 7,000 people had taken refuge beneath trees. Today, some 75,000 displaced people are living in makeshift shelters. All the villages along the road to Mornay have been destroyed. MSF set up an 80-bed IPD (to be expanded to 150) and an OPD. MSF provides nearly 16,000 food rations every ten days through a blanket feeding program. Mortality rates have increased recently, with the main cause being diarrhea.

In Zalinge, a child is weighed and measured for nutritional assessment.

Zalinge
MSF started relief activities in January 2004. MSF has opened two health centers, Halamedia and Assaissa, both of which include an OPD, ambulatory TFC, and a supplementary feeding center (SFC). In Zalinge hospital, MSF has extended the pediatric unit to 40 beds and created a TFC unit to treat the most severe cases malnutrition. Doctors and nurses conduct 2,500 - 2,700 consultations each week, with acute diarrhea representing more than 20% of all consultations in. The TFC admitted more than 300 children since February, and the SFC more than 1,000. An outbreak of measles started in February 2004 and is still evolving.

35,000 displaced are living in 11 camps inside and outside the town. The sanitary conditions of the 5 camps inside town are very precarious, but most of those living in these camps refuse to move to the camps outside the town, mainly out of fears for their security. A June 2004 survey found persistent problems with regard to the access to food and non-food items. An MSF blanket feeding provides 15,000 rations every ten days to families with children under 5 years of age.

Nyertiti
Nearly 25,000 displaced people reside in two camps. An Epicentre survey found mortality rates of 3 deaths/10,000 people/day for children under 5 from May 14-June 24, and 19.6% global acute malnutrition and 2.5% for severe acute malnutrition rates.

Golo
MSF started the emergency rehabilitation of Golo hospital, which serves as a referral hospital for 60,000 people in the Jebel Marra region. The hospital was closed since the start of the conflict 18 months ago. MSF will supply drugs and basic equipment, as well as start medical activities in internal medicine, pediatrics, maternity, and possibly surgery.

South Darfur

Nyala, Kalma Camp
Kalma camp hosts 60,000 displaced people, with 35,000 arriving in the past two months. MSF treats nearly 400 severely malnourished children in a TFC, and 1,000 in an SFC. MSF also provides blanket feeding for families with children under 5 and distributes non-food items like plastic sheeting, jerry cans, mosquito nets, and soap. More displaced arrive from Nyala everyday, as they feel it is safer in the camp.

Kass
Nearly 40,000 displaced people live at Kass camp, where MSF is running supplementary and therapeutic feeding programs, blanket feeding, and water and sanitation activities.

Shaeriya and Muhajariha
Shaeriya town is held by government forces while much of the surrounding area is held by the SLA/JEM. Continuing violence in the area leads to frequent war-related injuries. Nearly 20,000 displaced people in both towns have been almost completely integrated into the communities. MSF provides primary health care services, with the main morbidity being diarrhea.

North Darfur

Zam Zam Camp
MSF has been providing primary health care services since early July, and has established therapeutic and supplementary feeding programs serving 12,000 displaced people located a few miles outside North Darfur's capital El Fasher.

Shadad Camp
Since July 2004, MSF has been running therapeutic and supplementary feeding programs in this settlement of 7,000. MSF also supplies non-food items like jerry cans, soap, and shelter materials.

MSF nurse looking for vulnerable patients in the crowd waiting outside the health clinic in Kebkabiya.

Kebkabiya
MSF is working in Kebkabiya hospital and in two outpatient departments.

Assessments

MSF is currently assessing the situation in the Jebel Marra region (west Darfur), Sarif Omra (North Darfur), Birkaseira, Tawillah (North Darfur), Forro Burranga (West Darfur)

MSF ACTIVITIES IN CHAD

In September 2003, MSF started providing health care for refugees from Darfur who had crossed into Chad. Today, 40 international volunteers assist people in 12 locations (including mobile clinics) in the border towns of Iriba, Abeche, Hadjer Hadid, Tine and Adre.

Adre
MSF has set up clinics in Forchana camp (12,000 refugees) and is also supporting the 40-bed hospital, including surgical activities (50 to 60 surgical intervention a month). In Forchana camp, MSF see an average of 350 patients per week. The feeding program includes therapeutic and supplementary programs. MSF also supply water. From Adre, MSF operates mobile clinics in Mahamata, Nakalouta andf Gonkour.

Iriba, Touloum, Iridimi
MSF supports Iriba hospital and has set up a new surgical ward. There is also a TFC where malnourished children from Touloum and Iridimi are transferred. In these two camps, MSF is in charge of providing health care and runs supplementary feeding centres.

Hadjer Hadid (Breijing camp)
MSF provides health cares to the 30,000 refugees in Breijing camp. The clinic is associated with a SFC and malnourished children are referred to Adre hospital. MSF has conducted a measles vaccination campaign, rasing the total number of vaccinations in the camp over 13,000.

Tine
In Tine, MSF support the activities in the SFC and the TFC. The organization provides supplies to the health center and is responsible for the referral of patients to Iriba hospital.