An infection believed to be night blindness has been recorded at Wad al-Bashir camp for South Sudanese refugees in the western part of Omdurman City in Sudan, according to residents of the camp.

Night blindness is a condition in which a person cannot see at night or in dim light and is the earliest clinical manifestation of vitamin A deficiency.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, Manal Abdullah Akol, head of Our Family Association in the camp said that cases of night blindness are on the rise at the camp, especially among little children.

Akol further said she has observed from her joint work with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) that there are many cases of malnutrition in the camp, pointing out that night blindness cases might have been caused by a lack of a balanced diet.

Meanwhile, Deng Yel Wol, a spokesperson for the South Sudanese refugees at Wad al-Bashir camp, says they are currently living in harsh conditions due to the lack of food.

“Night blindness and diarrhoea cases are common, especially among children and the elderly in the camp. The situation is very bad, we need help,” he said.

Deng pointed out that MSF is exerting efforts to support the refugees, but the assistance is not enough as the organization works for only two days a week.

Deng called on humanitarian organizations and philanthropists to urgently intervene to provide relief to the refugees in the camp before their situation deteriorates further.

Source: Radio Tamazuj