As many as 300,000 are estimated dead and over 1.8 milion continue are at risk in the Darfur province of Sudan. The United Nations has described this situation as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with “catastrophic levels” of suffering. The tragedy began over 3 years ago, when black Sudanese rebels in Darfur revolted. The Government of Sudan armed Arab militias, known as the Janjaweed, to crush the rebellion. Many innocent civilians have been killed, raped and terrorized by the Janjaweed, who continue even now to attack their villages. 1.2 million people have fled for their lives to makeshift refugee camps in the Darfur region and across the border in Chad. We also continue to work in Southern Sudan.

GAiN In Sudan (2005) (2008 Update)

The looming crisis is so threatening that two of our key staff members went to Sudan to see how GAiN could help. They returned from Darfur. They witnessed, first-hand, the incredible suffering and hopelessness of the refugees there. Their hearts were touched by the lack of safety, food, shelter, water and sanitation—everything to sustain life. They report that the situation is monumental:

"Upon arrival at the Kalma Camp on the outskirts of Nyala in Southern Darfur, we were witness to a large sea of people, every one of them was urgently needing food and water. “One woman approached us with a single, five-pound bag of grain. With desperation she told us that this was all she received to feed her four children for one month. “We met another woman who was crying because her baby was very sick. The baby just lay still in her arms - not moving, too weak even to cry. A pediatrician in the camp said he daily saw children he was treating die because their little bodies could not fight off disease. Malnutrition not only weakens the immune system’s ability to fight disease, a starving child’s organs eventually stop functioning leading to complex illness and death."

"What also caught our attention was the number of women and children and few men. Where were the men?!! The UN estimates that 65% of the men have been killed in the fighting, leaving widows and children to fend for themselves. A physician we met there told us that many of the women are suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome. They have witnessed the loss of their homes and the death of husbands and some of their children."

"Lack of sanitation and hygiene is evident. The camp is a breeding ground for diseases like cholera, meningitis, measles and acute diarrhea."

The team reported that these desperate scenes are repeated again and again all around this camp of over 75,000 people. This is but one of over 100 refugee camps in Darfur. And as bad as the situation is inside the camps, there are still thousands of people who are left outside and not being helped by any other agencies. The World Health Organization estimates that refugees are now dying at the rate of 10,000 every month from starvation and disease.

Our Response

Our efforts will specifically target families who are without any assistance and those also who voluntarily decide to go home to their villages. Many of them are being forced to return, and are facing long trips by foot, returning to their villages. How many will survive without help? We don’t know.

Through providing food on the journey home (which could take a week or more on foot), as well as when they begin to resettle into their devastated villages, you can offer hope and compassion to these desperate families. The logistics of purchasing and delivering food and aid in this area of the world is complex and challenging. But all things considered, in addition to transportation costs, it only takes $51 to feed a family of seven for a week with highly nutritious food packages containing sorghum flour, rice, chic peas and lentils. That is only $1.04 per day, per person.

Would you consider responding to this need, through a gift of $51 or $102? A gift of $1,000 or more would literally save hundreds from starvation. Or as you are able, a gift of $25, $50 or $75 would be a great help to a struggling family on the journey home. Time is of the essence.

GIVE A GIFT NOW

June 2006 Update
Locals and refugees alike in Darfur, Sudan are rejoicing in the first harvest of their crops grown through the implementation of agricultural projects. The vibrant green of the harvest fields
in Labodo, Darfur belies its violent history. This is the same area that was bombed by the GoS in December 04 and subsequently raided and burnt down by the Janjaweed. Upon the arrival of the AU peacekeeping force, people began to return to this region.

In 2005, GAiN provided highly nutritious dura seed for sorghum which was planted and this is now ready to be harvested. The water project to redirect and capture the flow of rainwater has proved highly successful. The people here are using this rainwater to irrigate the fields. Our local partner said, “Humanitarian aid is working! - it is helping transform lives!” Harvests are also ready in the agriculture project outside the squatter camps that GAiN is supporting, on 125 acres of GAiN-leased land. Two hundred fifty families participated in the farming project. The families using the farm ground are being encouraged to give back 1/10 of their harvest. At the present time, they have planted okra, dura (sorghum), peanuts, corn; later they will plant eggplant, melons, tomatoes, and a few other vegetables. None of these hope-giving results would have happened without you. Through your support, relief aid and development
efforts are making a noticeable difference in both word and deed to the people of Darfur, Sudan. While funding is in place to continue certain feeding programs for the next few months, it looks as though these camps will not be dismantled before the end of 2006.

March 2008 Update

GAiN’s in-country partners are currently feeding over 10 000 people in Darfur, giving them rations of cooking oil, sorghum, lentils, and beans that will last for 3 months, supplementing food from other sources.

There are still many widows and children whose present survival depends on these programs. Would you consider responding to this need, through a gift of $51 or $102? A gift of $1,000 or more would literally save hundreds from starvation. Or as you are able, a gift of $25, $50 or $75 would be a great help to a struggling family on the journey home. Time is of the essence. If you would like to give to this project, please contact us.

GIVE A GIFT

Contact us by e-mail if you have any question at info@globalaid.net