The Darfur conflict is said to have forced more than two million people to flee their homes, but those who stayed behind are also seriously affected. The need for protection and assistance is enormous – but the worsening security situation has often disrupted humanitarian work and deprived victims of vital aid.
National Red Cross and Red Crescent societies from around the world – many of them active in Sudan even before the conflict - continue to provide assistance to victims of violence, despite severe logistical and security difficulties.
The Spanish Red Cross coordinates assistance in four camps for displaced people (Kassab, Al Fata Bono, Abushok and Zam-Zam), covering around 120,000 beneficiaries. Also in Northern Darfur, the German Red Cross runs a primary health care clinic at another displaced people's camp, at Al Fasher.
The British Red Cross and Australian Red Cross, working with the ICRC, run a feeding programme for malnourished children in Gereida camp, home to over 100,000 displaced people.
The Spanish Red Cross is also present in Southern Darfur, where it runs two primary health care clinics, in cooperation with the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS). It provides support for six rural clinics and works with local communities on water and sanitation projects, as well as giving operational and institutional support to the Red Crescent.
The Finnish Red Cross has been supporting the Nyala Teaching Hospital by improving facilities, such as the water supply and sewage systems, waste management, power supply and hospital maintenance. It also provides health services to both displaced people and the local population and trains medical and paramedical staff.
The Turkish Red Crescent Society runs a field hospital for displaced people in Nyala, with 28 medical staff from the society and from the Turkish health ministry.
Western Darfur
The Red Cross societies of Germany, Austria and Switzerland help the Sudanese Red Crescent run a primary health care centre in Bindisi and a mobile clinic. As well as providing basic medical care for nomads, the project ensures the training of medical staff and volunteers, including midwives and community health volunteers, in cooperation with the Sudanese Ministry of Health.
The Netherlands Red Cross gives support to run two primary health care units for the internally displaced camps in Al Geneina.
The Iranian Red Crescent Society runs a health clinic in Al Geneina and does laboratory testing. It serves both residents and the displaced population.
Read also Sudan: beyond Darfur, humanitarian needs stretch to the horizon
