International Relief Agency Assesses Urgent Conditions in Darfur
After traveling to Sudan last week to assess humanitarian and security conditions in Darfur, Maryland-based CRS gives their evaluation and recommendations
The situation in West Darfur is now facing a second, slower evolving disaster with grace consequences resulting from insecurity of food and livelihood, and outbreaks of diseases, reported Catholic Relief Services (CRS). Last week, CRS President and CEO Ken Hackett and a delegation traveled to Sudan to assess humanitarian and security conditions in South and West Darfur. Hackett is the first president of a U.S. private voluntary organization to visit Darfur since the crisis began.
From August 1-5, Hackett traveled to Sudan with Bishop John Ricard and Father Mike Perry of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and visited with high-level Sudanese government and church officals, as well as with internally displaced Sudanese in Ummgosen and Tonkatir camps near Mershing, South Darfur.
Currently, over 1.2 million displaced Sudanese are facing insecurity, unprotected access to food, and potential outbreaks of disease after the fighting that broke out in Darfur in February 2003. After accessing humanitarian and security conditions in South Africa and West Darfur, CRS estimated that at least 200,000 have been displaced in South Darfur, and roughly 500,000 in West Darfur.
