The joint Action by Churches Together/Caritas programme has, over the last 18 months, become one of the largest NGO emergency programmes in Darfur, where it has helped thousands forced to flee from the ongoing conflict.
The ACT/Caritas programme has constructed or rehabilitated 22 clinics and two rural hospitals, as well as establishing 120 water points and rehabilitating more than 70.The programme has also provided simple shelter materials and kitchen sets to 65,000 households, rehabilitated 34 schools, and distributed supplementary food to 36,000 children and pregnant/lactating mothers.
ACT/Caritas now plan to consolidate these existing activities from January onwards, especially in the areas of health care, as well as increase its focus on peace-building.
With the African Union (AU) peacekeeping force possessing no mandate to intervene, villages are still being attacked and people continue to be displaced or killed.
The situation also remains too dangerous for people to return to their villages, leaving the people of Darfur largely unable to plant crops and making them hugely dependent on humanitarian aid.“In the short term we have to provide the shelter, water and health care services, which protect vulnerable lives, but in the long term we must use our position to foster peace and reconciliation”, said Anthony Mahony, Humanitarian Officer for the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD).
ACT/Caritas are also providing psychosocial activities such as crafts to help take the minds of the people who have fled from their homes off the conflicts and sometimes their traumatic experiences.
With the situation remaining so precarious, the ACT/Caritas programme is stockpiling essential materials in order to support newly-displaced people and to allow them to fit their response according to the changing circumstances.
“It is crucial for CAFOD to stand by the people of Darfur as long as they are in need,” said Mahony.It is crucial for CAFOD to stand by the people of Darfur as long as they are in need.
Anthony Mahony, CAFOD Humanitarian Officer
