Wednesday, 20th September 2006

Darfur urgently needs aid

CWS urges New Zealanders to support its emergency appeal for the people of Darfur. CWS continues to receive reports of the desperate situation facing them on a daily basis.

“The Day for Darfur highlighted the dire situation facing the millions of people uprooted by the fighting.” says CWS director Jonathon Fletcher. “Millions are dependant on food aid. The total insecurity of their situation means they are reliant on our help.”
Since 2004 CWS has supported the work of partner agencies in Darfur and southern Sudan.

Darfur - CWS has been supporting ACT International (Action by Churches Together) and Caritas relief efforts in Darfur - an unprecedented grouping of Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox relief agencies.

More than two million people have been forced to flee their homes in fear. The effects of the violence will be long term. Thousands of people have been killed, there has been mass rape of women and girls, whole villages destroyed, crops burnt, and livestock, food stores, water sources, blankets and clothing looted or destroyed. Human rights groups fear widespread genocide against the local Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa ethnic groups.

ACT/Caritas working with local partners have helped more than 470,000 displaced people, who mainly live in camps to which they have been forced to flee because of ethnic violence in the region through the Darfur Emergency Response Operation (DERO). The programme is also reaching out to vulnerable communities who remain in their villages.

Southern Sudan - while Darfur is now getting more international attention, CWS is still concerned about the situation in South Sudan. “The South also needs the support of the international community,” says John Gould CWS projects team member. “It is a poor undeveloped region coping with the displacement of millions of people. Disease is rife, health and education services are minimal and there is limited access to safe water.”

CWS funds for Sudan will be used to support ongoing emergency relief in southern regions through CWS’s long-standing partner organisations as well as helping in Darfur.

CWS is asking New Zealanders to give generously for the people suffering in the world’s forgotten war zone. Support the CWS Sudan/Darfur emergency relief appeal. Funds raised will help meet the needs the people of Sudan by providing: food, shelter, clean water & sanitation, medical supplies, schooling, agricultural training, and centres for trauma counselling. Donations can be made on 0800 74 73 72 or visit the CWS website www.cws.org.nz and Sudan Hot Topic published by the Churches Agency on International Issues www.cws.org.nz/Files/Sudan-Hot-Topic.pdf

ENDS

© Scoop Media