It took Nafeesa Nafar and her children two days to walk from the embattled city of El Fasher in Darfur to Zamzam, a famine-stricken camp where about 500,000 displaced people have taken refuge.
“We survived on dates, biscuits and little water. My children were crying all the way because they were hungry and thirsty. I was crying too, but from the uncertainty that awaited us,” said Ms Nafar, whose husband died in the early days of the war between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. “God has willed it that we survived the fighting in El Fasher, but we may perish here in Zamzam.”
Speaking to The National by phone, Ms Nafar complained of the scarcity of food and the often contaminated water available to her and her sons, aged eight and 13.
“All we can do is pray to God that the war ends and we have a stable and quiet life again,” she said. “Now we are here in Zamzam, we need so much. Firstly, we need to feel safe, and secondly, we need medical care. My main worry is if the children are sick and I cannot find anyone to treat them.”
Sudan has endured strife since independence 68 years ago. Although resource rich and with great agricultural potential, food has often been weaponised in Sudan's civil wars, leading to pockets of famine, as experienced through the 1980s in the now-independent south of Sudan.
Sudan is also home to the world's single biggest displacement crisis, with more than seven million people forced to flee their homes since the latest war began 17 months ago. They joined another three million displaced during previous bouts of strife, mostly civil wars in Darfur and South Sudan.
Fighting between the army and the RSF for control of El Fasher has forced tens of thousands to seek refuge in Zamzam, long viewed as a symbol of the tragedy that has for decades beset the Darfur region. The camp was created in the 2000s to accommodate those who fled fighting between government troops and ethnic African rebels seeking equality in a country long dominated by an Arabised elite in Khartoum. About 300,000 people perished in that civil war and 2.5 million were displaced, the UN said.
Fast-forward to this year, and Darfur is living a replay of the grim and tragic practices that defined the earlier bout of strife, from ethnic cleansing and hunger to displacement and the weaponisation of rape. Neither side in the war between the army and the RSF is doing enough to alleviate the suffering of civilians across Sudan, where more than half the population, about 25 million people, are facing hunger. Both are suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
In Zamzam, where a famine was declared in August, a child dies of malnutrition-related causes every two hours, the international medical charity Doctors Without Borders has said. Darfur as a whole has the unenviable distinction of being the most hunger-hit region of Sudan.
“About 34 per cent of the children [in Zamzam] are malnourished, including 10 per cent who are severely malnourished,” the UN's undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs, Joyce Msuya, said on Wednesday.
Almost 1.7 million people face acute food insecurity in northern Darfur region alone, she said. Besides Zamzam, 13 other sites across Sudan are at risk of famine, she added.
“Be in no doubt, without safe and predictable access and a steady supply of food and humanitarian supplies, we will see a dramatic spike in mortality – including children – in Zamzam and in other areas around El Fasher. The same goes for the situation across Sudan,” Ms Msuya added, especially Khartoum and the states of Sennar and Al Jazira south of the capital.
The RSF, which controls most of Darfur, has in recent weeks allowed some humanitarian assistance into the region from neighbouring Chad, but the rainy season was reducing the flow to a trickle. The paramilitary force has fought its way into El Fasher, pushing back army troops and their allies from the city's south-eastern districts. But the group has been unable to overrun the heavily fortified local garrison that continues to be resupplied from the air.
Fighting in El Fasher has significantly intensified in recent days, with the RSF apparently determined to capture the rest of the city – the only one of five provincial capitals in Darfur it does not control – threatening to worsen the situation in both El Fasher and Zamzam. Senior UN officials have warned that hundreds of thousands of lives are at risk in El Fasher.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is “gravely alarmed” by reports of a full-scale assault on El Fasher by the RSF, and has called on its leader, Gen Mohamed Dagalo, to immediately halt the attack. Mr Guterres warned that any further escalation threatens to spread the conflict throughout Darfur, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Saturday.
Already, little food or medicine is reaching Zamzam due to the fighting and the rainy season, which has flooded roads or washed them out altogether. An escalation of the fighting would inevitably send thousands, if not tens of thousands, rushing out of El Fasher to seek refuge in Zamzam, 15km from the city, stretching to breaking point the already thin food and medical care available in the camp.
It is a nightmare scenario for the residents of Zamzam surviving on a minimum of calories and little water.
Moamer Ibrahim, a camp resident, paints a grim picture of life in Zamzam. New arrivals, he said, survive on a handful of peanuts and sweet black tea as their main intake of the day. Others sleep outdoors because there are no tents available. Representatives of NGOs or UN agencies are making fewer and fewer visits to the camp as the RSF blocks most supplies from reaching Zamzam, he said.
“The army must start dropping food for us from the air, much like what was done in Gaza,” he told The National. “There are committees on the ground with volunteers who can collect and distribute the supplies.”
Like most adults living in Zamzam with their children, Alam Eldeen Hassan, a 34-year-old father of two, is mostly concerned about the health and education of his children. Hailing from a small village in north Darfur that was engulfed in fighting, they came to Zamzam seeking safety and food. They found very little of both, but plenty of diseases and a dangerously polluted environment.
“We live in a UN-provided tent, but we don't have enough water and food. My children have been deprived of education and the environment here is poor and diseases are widespread. I fear for my children because there is no medical care here,” Mr Hassan said.
“We eat a single meal every day. We get wheat-flour, lentil, cooking oil and some cereals, but my children need dairy products and clean water. We have nowhere else to go. We want to return to our home although it has been looted, but home is where we feel safe.”
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic
Power: 169bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh54,500
On sale: now
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
More from Neighbourhood Watch
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
If you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Chicago from Dh5,215 return including taxes.
The hotels
Recommended hotels include the Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, located in an iconic skyscraper complete with a 1929 Olympic-size swimming pool from US$299 (Dh1,100) per night including taxes, and the Omni Chicago Hotel, an excellent value downtown address with elegant art deco furnishings and an excellent in-house restaurant. Rooms from US$239 (Dh877) per night including taxes.
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENadeera%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERabih%20El%20Chaar%20and%20Reem%20Khattar%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECleanTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20About%20%241%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHope%20Ventures%2C%20Rasameel%20Investments%20and%20support%20from%20accelerator%20programmes%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Honeymoonish
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elie%20El%20Samaan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENour%20Al%20Ghandour%2C%20Mahmoud%20Boushahri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: BorrowMe (BorrowMe.com)
Date started: August 2021
Founder: Nour Sabri
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce / Marketplace
Size: Two employees
Funding stage: Seed investment
Initial investment: $200,000
Investors: Amr Manaa (director, PwC Middle East)
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKinetic%207%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rick%20Parish%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Clean%20cooking%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self-funded%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Other must-tries
Tomato and walnut salad
A lesson in simple, seasonal eating. Wedges of tomato, chunks of cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, coriander or parsley leaves, and perhaps some fresh dill are drizzled with a crushed walnut and garlic dressing. Do consider yourself warned: if you eat this salad in Georgia during the summer months, the tomatoes will be so ripe and flavourful that every tomato you eat from that day forth will taste lacklustre in comparison.
Badrijani nigvzit
A delicious vegetarian snack or starter. It consists of thinly sliced, fried then cooled aubergine smothered with a thick and creamy walnut sauce and folded or rolled. Take note, even though it seems like you should be able to pick these morsels up with your hands, they’re not as durable as they look. A knife and fork is the way to go.
Pkhali
This healthy little dish (a nice antidote to the khachapuri) is usually made with steamed then chopped cabbage, spinach, beetroot or green beans, combined with walnuts, garlic and herbs to make a vegetable pâté or paste. The mix is then often formed into rounds, chilled in the fridge and topped with pomegranate seeds before being served.
'The Ice Road'
Director: Jonathan Hensleigh
Stars: Liam Neeson, Amber Midthunder, Laurence Fishburne
2/5
