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Sudan/Darfur Crisis Fact Sheet #3 A Massive Humanitarian Effort Underway The fighting in Darfur has created a massive refugee situation. As of April 2005, the total population in Darfur directly impacted by the fighting was estimated at 2.62 million, according to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. Of these, 1.96 million have sought refuge in displacement camps within the country; another 200,000 refugees have fled across the border to neighboring Chad. According to U.N. records, more than 75 humanitarian nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and Red Cross/Red Crescent Missions have staff on the ground in Darfur providing food, water, shelter, sanitation, healthcare and other relief services. United Nations staff in Darfur report that aid workers are reaching an increasing number of suffering Darfur residents, even those in remote areas. On the other hand, reportedly bandits are more frequently attacking NGO convoys transporting food and supplies. Aid organizations are also reporting an increase in travel permit and visa restrictions and harrassment of humanitarian workers. For example, two staff of Medecins Sans Frontieres, were recently arrested (and later released) for reporting the rapes of nearly 500 women. World Vision, one of the largest and best known faith-based NGOs, reports they are feeding more than 200,000 people in 22 camps in Darfur with rations provided by the World Food Programme. World Vision is also providing a nutrition program, health care, health education and immunizations for children and pregnant women in seven primary health care clinics in six camps. World Vision has constructed 3,250 latrines, 280 bathing cabins and 330 community laundry facilities. Borehole wells and hand pumps have been set up to provide clean water. Eleven temporary schools are providing basic education to more than 8,000 children. Humanitarian organizations are also active in neighboring Chad. Women and children form the majority of Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad's camps. Many have been physically injured and emotionally traumatized by rape and require medical assistance and support. Many seek comfort in community centers set up by the NGOs where they can tell their stories. Camps housing Sudanese refugees who fled to eastern Chad to escape the fighting in Darfur are running critically short of water. A spokesman for Oxfam, Frederick Fedida, says they can now only provide a third of the internationally recognized standard of water supplies. In a major logistical operation over the last 18 months, the UN refugee agency has transferred over 200,000 refugees from the volatile border area of Darfur to camps further inside Chad, and recently working closely with its NGO partners, opened its 12th camp for refugees from Sudan's Darfur region. Tensions in some of the camps have been reported lately as a sense of hopelessness sets in. Partnering with Tearfund UK and the Evangelical Alliance of Chadian churches, World Relief has helped provide wells and latrines and set up tents at the Bredjing refugee camp in Chad. With increasing numbers of Darfurians displaced, relief organizations are hard pressed to meet basic needs for food, water, shelter, and health needs in the refugee camps. To view refugee photos, visit World Relief's Web site at http://www.wr.org/photojournal/sudan/ |
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