Oxfam workers this week distributed vital relief to thousands of families devastated by recent floods in one of Darfur's largest camps. More than 20,000 people in Kalma camp, in South Darfur, received aid including blankets, women's clothing, sleeping mats, jerry cans for carrying clean water, and plastic sheeting for temporary shelters. The humanitarian response to the flooding had been delayed due to the insecurity that continues to plague Darfur.

Kalma camp - where at least 80,000 people have taken shelter from the ongoing conflict - has been beset by tragedy over the past month. First, exceptionally heavy rainfall in August led to severe flooding, which destroyed shelters, latrines and food supplies in half of the camp. In one area, nearly 80% of latrines were destroyed, and some families lost an entire month's food ration. Then, as families were trying to recover, at least 32 people were killed and dozens wounded after police and military surrounded the camp, according to UNAMID, the UN-AU peacekeeping mission in Darfur.

In coordination with other agencies, Oxfam has been responding to the growing humanitarian needs in the camp - in particular, the risk of disease spread by contaminated water such as malaria, cholera, ringworm and diarrhoea.

"In some parts of the camp, the water was almost waist high," said Karen Smith, Oxfam's Programme Manager in Kalma. "Overnight, people's homes and everything they owned were swept away. Latrines were completely destroyed, and thousands of people have had no alternative but to defecate in the open. The potential health risks are enormous."

Over the past two weeks, Oxfam health teams have also distributed soap to over 18,500 households and carried out extensive public campaigns, using donkey carts to travel around the camp and alert people to the dangers of potential outbreaks of disease.

Some of the destroyed latrines have now been repaired, and those beyond repair have been filled in to prevent mosquitoes breeding in the stagnant water in empty pits. As well as repairing latrines, Oxfam's engineers are testing a new and stronger latrine design made from tin and better able to withstand flooding. 1,000 of the new designs will initially be constructed and dug with the help of the local community.

"We have had fantastic cooperation from the community," said Smith. "We gave them tools and 6,000 sacks to help dig earth away and build a new embankment to protect against future floods. The embankment is now over three metres high. The community has also helped dig many of the new latrines - they just need the materials. We give them the tools, and off they go."

Water pumps have been chlorinated and disinfected to combat the potential contamination of the water supply. Oxfam provides 63,000 people in Kalma camp with their only source of clean and safe water.

3,500 families have also received emergency shelter kits, consisting of grass mats and bamboo poles, to help them construct temporary homes.

"The need in Kalma is enormous," said Auriol Miller, Oxfam's Director in Sudan. "But, as is the case throughout Darfur, it has been incredibly difficult to respond while the violence goes on. If Oxfam is to continue being able to provide aid in Darfur, then we urgently need the parties to the conflict to cease hostilities and allow full humanitarian access to people in need."

*** *** Oxfam's response to the Kalma floods is being funded by the European Commission Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO).

Oxfam is currently assisting over 400,000 conflict-affected people across Darfur. Oxfam's response in South Darfur is funded by the UK Department for International Development (DfID), the Embassy of the Netherlands, and Oxfam International affiliates in Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and the USA.