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MRDF provides aid for Darfur

The violence and destruction in the Darfur region of Sudan is rarely out of the news.  The scale of this disaster is hard to take in: an estimated 200,000 people killed, more than 2 million driven from their homes to live in camps, and more than 3 million directly affected by the conflict. The violence has now spread across the border into Chad.

 

The Methodist Relief and Development Fund is a member of the Action by Churches Together network which is providing vital aid to displaced people in Darfur and the surrounding area.  ACT partners, supported by MRDF, are working hard to improve health, education and living conditions for people who have sought refuge in temporary camps. They provide household essentials, like bedding and cooking sets, to families who have fled leaving everything behind. They also help people in the camps to improve their living environment through hygiene training and clean-up campaigns.

 

Specially trained teachers ensure that children don't miss out on their education and help them cope with the trauma they have experienced. 'If this school wasn't here, and these children could not learn, then they would purely be victims of the conflict,' says the Headmaster of one of the camp schools, showing how important education is in helping people to look to the future.

 

While some communities have been able to return to their villages, the need for a humanitarian response in Darfur is ongoing. Alongside this, MRDF is also building a long-term development programme in areas of Sudan where it is safe to work to improve people's livelihoods and security.

 

As a member of Action by Churches Together, MRDF welcomes donations for emergency aid for Darfur, as well as for long-term development in Sudan.  Cheques should be made payable to MRDF with a covering note stating that they are for Darfur and sent to: MRDF, 25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR.

 

Find out more about ACT's work in Darfur.

Background to the Darfur conflict and timeline of events from the Aegis Trust