Darfur
Concern Worldwide is attempting to get essential supplies to vulnerable families in western Darfur before the rainy season begins in July or August. An estimated 2.5 million people have been displaced by the conflict in Darfur, and the numbers are growing, with new families arriving in the camps for internally displaced people every day.
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The rainy season is approaching, and thousands of families are still living under plastic sheets in camps in western Darfur.
Conditions on the ground
The delivery of basic supplies to the camps before the onset of the torrential rains is vital. According to Dominic MacSorley, Director of Operations of Concern US, "These camps were not designed to last this long: they are supposed to be temporary. No one envisioned that 2.5 million people would be living under plastic sheets for four years and counting." Providing and delivering supplies to these families will cost €1,600,000. Concern is appealing to the public for immediate funds to ensure that supplies are delivered on time.
Priorities
Concern's immediate priority is to provide 182,000 people with plastic sheeting, blankets, mosquito nets, cooking pots and water containers. Concern needs help to get these supplies on the ground in the camps as soon as possible. Speaking about the situation, Anne O'Mahony, Regional Director for Concern's programmes in Sudan and the Horn of Africa, said: "Four years on [from the outbreak of major unrest], and we are still struggling to provide these people with the basics. The truth is we hoped these people would be back rebuilding their homes by now."
Darfur and Concern
Concern has been working in Darfur since 2002, and is now addressing the basic survival needs of over 300,000 displaced people. This is the organisation's largest current humanitarian operation.
- Concern's Anne O'Mahony speaks from Darfur
The rainy season is approaching in Darfur, and thousands of vulnerable people are unprepared. Anne O'Mahony talks to Concern from the region. (01 May 2007)
- Supplies needed to help families before rainy season
The rainy season is approaching, and thousands of families are still living under plastic sheets in camps in western Darfur. (29 Mar 2007)
- Darfur Demands Urgent Repsonse
Tom Arnold, CEO of Concern, says the humanitarian crisis in Darfur is worsening and unless security improves, we could be faced with a long-term human tragedy. (30 Jan 2007)
- Aid agencies call for more money for Darfur as donors fail to deliver
Concern has joined forces with a group of seven other leading international aid agencies to urge donors to find more money to fund the African Union Mission in Darfur. In response to the $200 million pledged to the African Union force at the donor conference in July, the group of agencies who all work in Darfur (CAFOD, CARE International, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Islamic Relief, IRC, Oxfam and Tearfund) issued a joint statement. (25 Jul 2006)
- Listen to Jacinta Barrins, Country Director for Darfur
Listen to Jacinta Barrins, Country Director for Darfur (05 Jul 2006)
- Concern Chief travels to Darfur with UN Secretary General
Concern Chief travels to Darfur with UN Secretary General (28 May 2005)
- Sudan
Concern has taken a varied approach to working in Sudan and where possible it works in partnership with the local administration and local NGOs. ()
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