As hundreds of new refugees arrive at the camps each day, health and sanitation conditions are worsening. Above, two girls stand next to their make-shift 'home' at the Otash camp.

With the construction of the Otash medical clinic, OBI and partners will be bringing medical care and relief to over 40,000 refugees in Darfur.

Trucks, above, transport as many as 300 refugees at a time, many of whom are women and children.

DARFUR, Sudan - As militia groups intensify their attacks on villages throughout Sudan, the crowded Otash refugee camp is undergoing a surge of new arrivals – and with it – a burgeoning health crisis.

Every day, trucks arrive with an average of 300 people crammed on board, mostly women and children, to the 15,000-person Otash camp on the outskirts of Nyala, South Darfur.

Upon arrival, the survivors are dependent upon the NGOs that run the camp to provide their basic needs of food, water, and shelter. However, with the current rate of influx, camps are falling short in resources, and health and hygiene standards are almost nonexistent.

"As more and more new arrivals enter the camps each day the health and sanitation conditions are being put under pressure and sickness is rife," said David Darg, assistant director of international programs for OBI. "Operation Blessing, however, has an opportunity to impact and save even more lives at this critical time."

Already, OBI and German partner, Humedica, have made a huge impact on the health conditions at the Al Salaam and El Sereif camps, stabilizing outbreaks of chronic diseases, wiping out birth mortality rates, and providing primary healthcare to over 25,000 refugees.

Now, they are extending their relief efforts to reach the 15,000-person Otash camp through the construction of a permanent medical clinic that will serve an anticipated 25,000 refugees.

Since early October, Humedica’s temporary mobile clinic has been serving an average of 400 patients a day at Otash, a figure much higher than normal, said Darg.

Construction on the permanent clinic is slated to begin December 1, and will reflect a joint partnership among Operation Blessing, Humedica and UNICEF, with OBI covering the construction costs, Humedica providing staffing and medicines, and UNICEF supplying additional medical supplies and vaccinations.

Following the successful operation of medical clinics at the Al Salaam and El El Sereif camps, medical staff at Otash will also provide primary healthcare, a 24-hour midwife delivery service, postnatal care, and vaccinations against polio, tuberculosis and measles.

"With our commitment to implementing the clinic in the Otash camp our medical coverage will increase to over 40,000 refugees on a regular basis," Darg said. "OBI is working on the 'front lines' of this disaster and we are increasing the number of lives that we are saving and impacting."

HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help by making an online donation toward OBI's disaster relief efforts. With your support, we can continue to provide emergency relief and recovery. Please make an on-line donation today.

 

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