Inside Al-Affad IDPs Camp: The Hidden Health and Humanitarian Gaps Facing Displaced Sudanese Families

In northern Sudan, just 20 kilometers from Al-Dabbah town, Al-Affad Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp has rapidly transformed from an emergency reception site into one of the fastest-growing displacement settlements in the country. Established in October 2025 to accommodate families fleeing escalating violence in El Fasher and Tawila, the camp now hosts approximately 24,000 displaced people across 3,375 families, and continues to receive 35–40 new families every single day.

Behind the rows of emergency tents lies a mounting humanitarian emergency. Severe shortages in healthcare, water, sanitation, and protection services are creating conditions that place thousands of lives at immediate risk. Mothers are giving birth without ultrasound access. Children remain unscreened for malnutrition. Preventable diseases are spreading in an environment with just 13 functional latrines for the entire camp, far below minimum humanitarian standards.

>> Related Post: Three Lives, One Struggle: Stories of Survival and Strength from Displaced Sudanese Families

A Health System Under Strain: Preventable Deaths and Collapsing Care

Health services inside Al-Affad Camp are critically overstretched. According to SAPA’s December 2025 assessment, seven deaths were reported within just a two-week period, a warning sign of escalating preventable mortality.

While seven primary healthcare clinics operate in and around the camp, three fixed and four mobile, their capacity is extremely limited. Most clinics provide consultation-only services, with little diagnostic or treatment capability. There are no medical specialists available inside the camp, and referral options are dangerously constrained.

The nearest referral facility, Al-Dabbah Teaching Hospital, is located 20 kilometers away and operates with only one small functioning operating theater, severely limiting emergency and surgical referrals.

Maternal, Child, and Nutrition Gaps

Among Al-Affad’s population are an estimated 350 pregnant women and 200 lactating mothers, many of whom lack access to basic antenatal care. Ultrasound services are unavailable, immunizations are offered at only two clinics, and no camp-wide nutrition screening (MUAC) has been conducted to identify acutely malnourished children.

Diseases reported in recent weeks include malaria, acute respiratory infections, typhoid, dysentery, food poisoning, and acute watery diarrhea, conditions that thrive in overcrowded environments with limited sanitation and weak surveillance.

Without immediate scale-up of emergency health services, SAPA warns that disease outbreaks and preventable maternal and child deaths will rise sharply.

Water, Sanitation, and Protection: Daily Risks to Dignity and Life

The WASH situation in Al-Affad Camp is one of the most alarming findings of the assessment. Only two solar-powered boreholes serve the entire population, supported by approximately 20 functional tap points. Storage and distribution capacity remain insufficient for the camp’s size.

Sanitation conditions are even more severe. With only 13 functional latrines, three of which lack superstructures, open defecation is widespread, especially at night. Poor lighting around sanitation areas significantly increases protection risks, particularly for women and girls.

There are no handwashing stations near latrines or clinics, no designated waste disposal site, and medical waste is sometimes mixed with household trash. The presence of flies and insects indicates an urgent need for vector control to prevent outbreaks of cholera and other waterborne diseases.

These conditions mirror broader displacement trends across Sudan, where satellite imagery has confirmed the rapid expansion of camps amid ongoing conflict in Darfur, far outpacing humanitarian response capacity.

>> Related Post: Standing With Sudan: How SAPA and Imam Khalid Latif Are Mobilizing Emergency Relief

Stories from Al-Affad

Kalthoum, a displaced woman from El Fasher, fled prolonged shelling to reach Al-Affad Camp with her family. With little external support, she established a small informal shop inside the camp, traveling nearly 30 kilometers to Al-Dabbah to purchase basic household goods and cooking tools to sell to other displaced families. Her efforts provide a fragile livelihood, but also highlight the absence of structured livelihoods support and safe mobility options for displaced women.

Another story echoes through SAPA’s field visits: mothers waiting hours at clinics only to be told essential medicines are unavailable, or families relying on community kitchens as their sole source of daily meals. A recent SAPA field reel documents these realities directly from the camp, showing the scale of need and the resilience of families facing impossible choices.

What SAPA Is Doing at Al-Affad Camp

SAPA is actively responding to the crisis in Al-Affad through on-ground assessments, emergency health support, and coordinated humanitarian interventions. Working alongside local authorities, volunteers, and community leaders, SAPA is prioritizing:

• Strengthening primary healthcare services and emergency referrals
• Supporting community kitchens and food access for displaced families
• Advocating for urgent WASH scale-up, including latrines, handwashing stations, and water distribution
• Expanding maternal, newborn, and child health services
• Addressing protection risks through community-based mechanisms and psychosocial support

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FAQs

1. Where is Al-Affad IDPs Camp located?

Al-Affad Camp is located approximately 20 km from Al-Dabbah locality in Sudan’s Northern State.

2. How many people live in Al-Affad Camp?

The camp hosts around 24,000 displaced individuals across approximately 3,375 families.

3. Why are families arriving at Al-Affad Camp?

Most families fled violence and insecurity in Darfur and North Kordofan, particularly from El Fasher and Tawila.

4. What are the main health challenges in the camp?

Limited healthcare access, lack of specialist care, weak referrals, disease outbreaks, and maternal and child health gaps.

5. How many latrines serve the camp?

Only 13 functional latrines currently serve the entire population.

6. Are children being screened for malnutrition?

No camp-wide nutrition screening has been conducted, leaving many cases undetected.

7. Is clean water available in Al-Affad Camp?

Water is supplied through two solar-powered boreholes, but storage and distribution are insufficient.

8. What protection risks exist in the camp?

Poor lighting, open defecation, and overcrowding increase risks of gender-based violence and exploitation.

9. How is SAPA responding to the crisis?

SAPA is supporting health services, food assistance, protection initiatives, and emergency assessments.

10. How can I help displaced families in Al-Affad Camp?

You can support SAPA’s emergency responses by Donating