Plan's Darfur work continues as 13 NGOs forced to suspend operations

Plan's programs in Sudan have not been affected by the recent government ruling asking a number of aid agencies to cease operations. Plan continues to provide humanitarian assistance to more than 160,000 internally displaced people living in three camps in North Darfur.

North Darfur is the most seriously affected area among the three states of Darfur and has the largest number of Internally Displaced People.  Plan’s activities are centred on three camps: Abushouk, ZamZam and Al Salam around Elfasher town.

Escalating violence

In the past two weeks alone as fighting has escalated in the South, more than 23,000 people have moved into one of the camps where Plan is working, making the need for assistance even more critical.

Camp leaders are deeply concerned about the health and sanitation in the camp, and in the coming days and weeks there will be desperate need for water, medical care and public latrines.

Situation in Darfur

Since the eruption of the armed conflict in 2003, the Darfur region has been witnessing a massive humanitarian disaster. An estimated 3 million people remain affected by the conflict which had driven almost 2 million people away from their homes and villages to the urban areas seeking refuge. Since then, they have been temporarily housed in internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps throughout the three States of Darfur (North, South and West). Having lost their land, homes, cattle and property, these families have been at the verge of collapse in terms of their social and economic security, their future remaining unpredicted.

Plan's role

Plan’s interventions are in North Darfur State where the conflict started. This is the most affected area among the three states of Darfur and has the largest number of IDPs.  Plan’s humanitarian assistance covers a population of about 160,000 internally displaced people living in three camps: Abushouk, ZamZam and Al Salam around Elfasher town. About 25% of them are children.

Plan’s interventions have been in the area of education, water, sanitation and health care. Plan is one of the major INGOs working in Zamzam Camp and we have been the primary provider of health, sanitation and education services.

Plan International has launched an emergency appeal for US$90,000 to deal with the sudden flow of people in Zamzam camp which has placed additional strain on the existing infrastructure. If not assisted immediately, the situation may worsen the condition for the existing population and the incoming people.  The following are seen as the priority immediate interventions in the coming weeks:

•    Water Supply
•    Medical Care
•    Sanitation & Hygiene Education in the camps
•    Public latrines in the camps

Plan in Australia is not seeking public funds to support the emergency response at this time as it is expected that sufficient funds will be raised from other sources to meet Plan’s commitments.