The study covers two displaced camps: Mayo farm in Khartoum, and El Salam in Omdurman. Different methods were used to generate the necessary required information. To draw the general profile of the two camps, the researchers relied heavily on reviewing the available secondary data as well as interviewing HAC officials at the level of Khartoum State headquarters and field offices.
Analysing the situation of children is based on observations at the camps’ level, interviews with NGOs working with children in the two camps, adults, and a resource person at El Rashad Centre as well as interviews with children. Drawing the different scenarios and future options for the displaced have been concluded mainly through individual and group discussions with different population sectors in the two camps (men, women, youth, adults, children, chiefs and elders from different tribes/residential areas.
The general living conditions in these camps are poor in terms of low average income, heavy involvement in the informal sector (casual activities), poor nutritional status, inadequate housing conditions, poor sanitation and environmental health, vulnerability to epidemic diseases, high illiteracy rates, and poor infrastructure, as evidenced by lack of paved roads, electrical power, safe drinking water and means of transportation.
The situation of children in both camps is appalling. Children are denied the opportunities to live and behave as normal children and to enjoy childhood. The rate of school enrolment is low; drop out rates are high, Main factors behind the high prevalence of dropout include poverty, child labour and passive attitudes towards education. Child labor is widespread. Many of the working children are often rounded up in police clean up campaigns that target hawkers.
Almost all of the 36,000 street and working children estimated to be found in the main market areas of Khartoum, come from peripheral poverty-stricken parts of Khartoum, that include Mayo camp.
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