Update on Sudan

To date, Catholic Relief Services has pledged $6 million to the crisis for its relief efforts in Sudan and Chad. CRS has worked in Sudan since 1972 and recently opened offices in Khartoum and El Geniena, West Darfur to expand its operations. In West Darfur, CRS is providing water sanitation, shelter and psychosocial support for 125,000 internally displaced persons; constructing temporary schools and providing materials for 16,000 primary school children; relocating displaced persons who have volunteered to move; and assessing other vulnerabilities and needs in the region.

In Chad, CRS and its local partner, SECADEV, have establishes three refugee camps along the border, and assist with camp management for the housing and relief of more than 37,000 Sudanese refugees.

In late July, 2004, CRS conducted four humanitarian assessments in South and West Darfur, specifically in and around the Nyala and El Geneina townships, and identified three major threats to the uprooted population: outbreaks of disease; food insecurity from both failure to produce crops this year and insufficient food aid; and as yet inadequate levels of donor support to begin a comprehensive emergency response.

“This situation in West Darfur is now facing a second, slower evolving disaster with grave consequences resulting from insecurity of food and livelihood, and outbreaks of diseases,” said CRS Program Advisor Mary Hennigan, who conducted assessments in Darfur in early August. “Dysentery, malaria and hepatitis could wipe out the gains made in the past months to reduce malnutrition and mortality.”

In early August, President Ken Hackett and members of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) also visited South and West Darfur to assess humanitarian and security conditions, as well as visit with high-level Sudanese government and church officials. During their visit, Hackett and the delegation shared their concerns with the Sudanese Minister of Endowment, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Governor of South Darfur, U.S. Charge d’ affairs, and Gabriel Zubeir Cardinal Wako in Kartoum. Hackett met with internally displaced Sudanese in desolate camps in Darfur to hear firsthand their experiences and concerns.

Initially, CRS operations will include an emergency food distribution program conducted with the World Food Programme, (WFP), the official agency of the United Nations established to fight global hunger.

In addition to the agency’s own programming, CRS continues to contribute to a consortium lead by Caritas Internationalis (CI) and Action By Churches Together (ACT), who together represent Catholic and Protestant humanitarian aid agencies worldwide.

Hackett has led CRS on major advocacy initiatives through meetings with leaders within the U.S. administration, Senate and Congress, and sponsored public initiatives to generate awareness of the crisis in the local community.

To contribute to CRS, send donations to:

Catholic Relief Services

155 E. Superior

Chicago, IL 60611

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