The U.N.’s World Food Program and Doctors Without Borders, also known by its French acronym MSF, have announced suspension of their operations in Sudan’s famine-stricken Zamzam refugee camp, located in the country’s North Darfur region.
The two organizations cited escalation of attacks as reasons for their decision. "Intense fighting" in the camp "has forced" the humanitarian organizations "to temporarily pause the distribution of life-saving food and nutrition assistance in the famine-hit camp for displaced people," the WFP said Wednesday in a statement.
"All the roads around Zamzam are blocked because of the conflict," said Marion Ramstein, project coordinator for MSF’s North Darfur region on Monday. "The security was unbearable for our team. We are not able to work anymore, they didn't have enough capacity," Ramstein said, describing the decision as "heartbreaking."
