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Zalingei, Central Darfur state, Sudan

For nearly a year, brutal war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has ravaged Sudan, forcing millions of people to leave their homes to escape the fighting and leaving countless civilians dead and severely injured. Consequently, more than 6.5 million people have been displaced within the country. Despite Sudan being one of the world’s largest displacement crises, organizations have not returned to Sudan since evacuating at the war’s onset.

As the fighting erupted in Zalingei city, capital of Central Darfur state, Sudan, displaced people living in Al-Hasahisa camp faced extreme violence, bombings of their homes and looting of their belongings. According to the United Nations, by November the camp had been besieged by RSF for months, blocking the entry of food and water. Eventually, the camp emptied, and people fled across the city to set up makeshift shelters in abandoned and looted banks, schools, fire stations and other camps. Still today, displaced people are living in horrific conditions and are not receiving humanitarian assistance.

The war has caused a spike in prices of food and basic needs, including medicine. At the same time, people have lost their livelihood. Those who previously relied on humanitarian assistance, like people in Al-Hasahisa camp, are now left without any assistance, as Sudan faces a humanitarian void. People are relying on odd jobs, able to only provide extremely limited amounts of food and water to sustain their families. Others living in makeshift camps are having to depend on each other to buy medication.

At the same time, access to health care has collapsed. In Zalingei the referral system has collapsed, and the sole hospital providing secondary care has been looted and attacked multiple times. To ensure specialized care MSF teams are providing secondary care and rehabilitating the emergency, pediatric and maternity department of the Zalingei Teaching Hospital to meet the most pressing medical needs of the approximately 300,000 remaining in the city. People don´t have proper access to food and water, as Zalingei is experiencing a humanitarian void of actors on the ground, and food prices are soaring.

Like in most of Sudan, Zalingei is experiencing a humanitarian void of actors on the ground. Apart from MSF and other actors, the humanitarian response is far from adequate in Zalingei and Central Darfur state, and in Sudan in general.

As of April 2024, the United Nations is not present in Zalingei city, although the humanitarian needs are immense, including access to food, water, health services and protection services. The lack of humanitarian assistance is further exacerbating the health needs of people, as well as looting and attacks on health care facilities. Furthermore, at the end of February 2024, ten unidentified armed men entered MSF base in Zalingei, stealing two cars.

MSBSTO43522

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B-roll Zalingei, Central Darfur with Avril Benoit

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B-roll, Zalingei, Central Darfur state, Sudan

Aissa, displaced in Zalingei, Central Darfur state, Sudan (ES)

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SM video, Najwa, displaced, Zalingei, Sudan (ES)

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ZIP

Zalingei map ENG

Aissa, displaced in Zalingei, Central Darfur state, Sudan (AR)

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SM video, Najwa, displaced, Zalingei, Sudan (AR)

Subt. Arab

Aissa, displaced in Zalingei, Central Darfur state, Sudan (EN)

Subt. English

Aissa, displaced in Zalingei, Central Darfur state, Sudan (INT)

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SM video, Najwa, displaced, Zalingei, Sudan (EN)

Subt. English

SM video, Najwa, displaced, Zalingei, Sudan (INT)

No Subtitles (international)

Map Zalingei, Central Darfur state, Sudan

Central Darfur state, Sudan

Looted and damaged homes in Central Darfur state, Sudan.

Al-Hasahisa camp, Zalingei, Central Darfur state, Sudan.

Ministry of Health nurse Assma at the Zalingei teaching hospital, Centra Darfur state, Sudan.

Zalingei teaching hospital emergency department, Zalingei, Central Darfur state, Sudan.

Entrance of the emergency department of the Zalingei teaching hospital, Central Darfur state, Sudan.

Zalingei teaching hospital emergency department, Zalingei, Central Darfur state, Sudan.

Surgical department before rehabilitation by MSF teams in Zalingei teaching hospital, Zalingei, Central Darfur state, Sudan.

Bullet hole caused by shooting in the operating room of the Zalingei teaching hospital, Central Darfur state, Sudan.

Patient waiting area of the Zalingei teaching hospital, ,Central Darfur state, Sudan.

Zalingei teaching hospital entrance, Zalingei, Central Darfur state, Sudan.

Makeshift shelter of displaced people in the University of Zalingei, Central Darfur state, Sudan.

Entrance of the University of Zalingei campus, Central Darfur state, Sudan.

Displaced children playing in the campus of the University of Zalingei, Central Darfur state, Sudan.

Mohammed in his makeshift shelter the University of Zalingei, Central Darfur state, Sudan.

Displaced people living in the University of Zalingei campus, Central Darfur state, Sudan.

Office room occupied by displaced people in the University of Zalingei, Central Darfur state, Sudan.

Office at the University of Zalingei turned into a kitchen for displaced people sheltering on campus.

Looted and damaged University of Zalingei, Central Darfur state, Sudan.

Child carrying jerry cans to collect water in Al-Hasahisa camp, Zalingei, Central Darfur state, Sudan.

Destroyed and looted school in Al-Hasahisa camp, Zalingei, Central Darfur state, Sudan.

Container turned into a makeshift shelter for a displaced family in Zalingei, Central Darfur state, Sudan.

Aissa, 50, and her family sheltering in the Zalingei fire station, Central Darfur state, Sudan.

Container turned into a makeshift shelter for a displaced family in Zalingei, Central Darfur state, Sudan.

Aissa, 50, with her family sheltering in an abandoned and looted fire station, Zalingei, Sudan.

Displaced from Al-Hasahisa camp, Zalingei, Sudan to an abandoned and looted bank.

Looted bank housing over 30 displaced people, Zalingei, Central Darfur state, Sudan.

Displaced from Al-Hasahisa camp, Zalingei, Sudan to an abandoned and looted bank.

Displacement in Zalingei city, capital of Central Darfur state, Sudan.

Displaced people sheltering in a looted bank in Zalingei, Central Darfur state, Sudan.

2024

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Title Zalingei, Central Darfur state, Sudan

Unique Identifier Code / URN MSBSTO43522

Editor's rating ★★★★★ (C)

Date taken / Date Recorded 05/04/2024 12:00 AM

Sub type Standard Folder

Date taken / Date Recorded 05/04/2024 12:00 AM