Community Kitchens Struggle to Help Darfur’s Needy | Politics

Al Fasher- In Zamzam camp for displaced people, 15 kilometers south of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State in western Sudan, local communities face many challenges, most notably food shortages and access to other supplies. As the humanitarian crisis in the region worsens, some young volunteers and local charities have come up with solutions to help the needy population.

These solutions come in the form of “collective kitchens” that provide daily meals to dozens of the neediest families. These initiatives show how these communities can cooperate and come together to confront difficulties and problems without waiting for external intervention and support.

The head of the Wadi Hour Charity Organization says: Anwar Khater -To Al Jazeera Net- that in light of the ongoing war and the siege imposed on the residents of Al Fasher, many national initiatives have been active to help the needy, including his organization, which works to provide fast meals that meet the needs of hundreds of families in the camp, “in light of the failure of international relief organizations to address the humanitarian crisis and deliver aid to those who deserve it.”

Displaced Sudanese children eat food provided by collective kitchens (Al Jazeera)

vital role

Khater said that these kitchens also provide free drinking water and some supplies, as well as social and psychological support, and that the youth of his neighborhood volunteer to bring food from benefactors inside and outside the country. He pointed out the importance of cooperation, as local communities play a vital role in these initiatives, calling on everyone to participate and volunteer “because every effort, no matter how small, can make a big difference in the lives of others.”

He explained that they face difficulties in obtaining resources, but they are determined to continue their work. He stressed that they need greater support from all parties to achieve their goals and meet the needs of the community.

According to him, these kitchens have greatly contributed to alleviating the burdens on the majority of the needy population, especially those who do not have enough to support their daily needs, stressing that they are working harder to ensure that everyone can access what they need despite the difficult circumstances.

After more than 5 months of the Rapid Support Forces’ siege of El Fasher, the living conditions of the residents and the Zamzam IDP camp have deteriorated dramatically. The humanitarian situation has reached catastrophic levels, and hunger threatens their lives. People’s daily lives have become an unbearable hell.

Code below are pictures of the prepared meals, showing the dishes being prepared for distribution and others showing the young volunteers working together to provide assistance. Source - Social Media
Sudanese displaced people waiting to receive food from a collective kitchen (social media)

hard work

For his part, volunteer Mubarak Mukhtar from the Al Fasher City Kitchen said that the siege imposed on the city created a bitter reality, and despite the weak funding, the collective kitchens are working hard to confront the food crisis and difficult living conditions.

He added to Al Jazeera Net that these efforts are not enough to address the crisis in light of the lack of cash liquidity, but the majority of the population has come to rely on kitchen meals on a daily basis. He said, “We are working hard and with faith to obtain food, and we are striving to provide everything we can in light of this situation.”

Regarding the importance of teamwork, Mukhtar stressed that cooperation between volunteers and the local community is what gives them the strength to continue their work, and that every helping hand contributes to changing their reality for the better. He said that this team spirit makes them feel that they are not alone in facing these challenges.

He also spoke about the impact of the crisis on children, stressing that they are the most affected, and therefore they are keen to provide them with nutritious meals, “We believe that good food is the right of every child, and we must work hard to ensure that they obtain it.”

Mukhtar hopes that these efforts will contribute to building a strong generation capable of overcoming difficulties, saying, “We believe that hope exists, and that teamwork can make a difference. We invite everyone to join us, as every contribution, no matter how small, has a great impact on the lives of others.”

A source of hope

In this context, Iman Haroun, a displaced person from Al Fasher who lives in Zamzam camp for displaced persons, says that what forced her to leave her home was the war, as “life was very difficult and we lost everything, and we did not know how we would provide food for our children.”

She told Al Jazeera Net that she initially felt hopeless, but after a while she learned about the existence of shared kitchens that provide free meals, so she decided to go to them, and that step was a turning point in her life. She mentioned how the kitchens became a source of hope, and that when she entered one of them, the young volunteers welcomed her with a smile. The meals were not just food, but rather humanitarian support through which she felt that she was not alone in this suffering.

Thanks to these kitchens, Iman says she was able to feed her six children daily and the meals were nutritious, helping them maintain their health. “The community kitchens not only provided us with food, but also gave us hope in life,” she said.

For his part, displaced person Mohammed Abdullah, a father of three children, says that before arriving at these kitchens, he had difficulty providing food for his family, but now he can go to one of them every day and get a hot meal, which has helped him a lot in getting through the difficult times.

He explained to Al Jazeera Net that at first he was hesitant, but when he saw how things were organised and the number of people participating, he felt relieved, especially since the volunteers were very kind and explained to him how to obtain meals.

“The kitchens not only provided us with food, but were also a place to meet and connect with others,” Abdullah said. “Through these meals, I got to know my neighbors and other people in the same situation. We exchanged stories and support, which helped me feel hopeful and that I was not alone in this struggle.”

Thanks to the collective kitchens, he adds, he has been able to focus on what is most important and pay more attention to his children and help them overcome difficulties. He concludes, “I feel that there is still hope, and I believe that we will be able to overcome these difficult times together.”

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