Sheltering from the blistering heat, around 200 people sit patiently under a large acacia tree while they wait to be seen at Merlin’s clinic in Hijer, South Darfur. There are more than 10,000 people in this community who have been displaced by the Darfur conflict and are currently living in makeshift shelters in desperate conditions.
Among those waiting is Amuna Mohammed Juma, who has brought her seven-month-old son, Mubarak, for vaccinations. Three years ago, 22-year-old Amuna was forced to flee her home when the village of Marla was bombed. “All the houses were completely destroyed and many people were killed,” she explains.
Amuna and her familiy fled immediately on foot and spent a week on the move before eventually arriving in Hijer. In the current sweltering temperatures, Amuna says that living in their overcrowded shelters has become unbearable, so they are temporarily sleeping in the open air under a tree.
“Living in such difficult conditions with inadequate access to clean water and sanitation facilities means that people are particularly vulnerable to diseases,” explains Linda Edwards, Merlin’s Country Director in Sudan. “This is why it is vital that young children like Mubarak receive routine vaccinations to protect them against diseases like measles, meningitis and polio.”
At Hijer, Merlin has recently completed construction of a permanent clinic to replace a semi-permanent structure made of wood and straw. The new building, funded by The Aqualung Trust, provides more spacious consultation rooms and more secure storage for medicines and other supplies.
Hijer is one of 12 sites in South Darfur where Merlin is providing vital health care for a combined population of around 300,000 people. In addition to increasing vaccination coverage, these clinics ensure that people receive treatment for common diseases like malaria, and that pregnant women have access to maternal care and safe deliveries.
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