UN fears disease outbreak as result of Darfur camp blockade

The United Nations has warned that food supplies are almost exhausted and that outbreaks of infectious disease could soon erupt in Darfur’s largest camp for displaced people, the scene of recent deadly clashes, which has been closed off to humanitarian workers for almost two weeks.

The joint African Union and UN peacekeeping mission reported on 12 August that aid groups are still awaiting authorisation to enter Kalma camp, home to more than 100 000 people displaced as a result of the continuing conflict in Darfur in western Sudan.

It says that humanitarian access has been denied because the mission refused to surrender to government forces a group of Darfuris who had sought …