CRS Work in Sudan

Catholic Relief Services is one of the largest nongovernmental humanitarian agencies working in Sudan. In spite of significant challenges, CRS continues to implement emergency relief and development projects across the country.

Darfur

Since May 2004, CRS has been providing humanitarian aid in West Darfur, assisting more than 160,000 people affected by the ongoing conflict. Each month, CRS works with the World Food Program and locally organized food relief committees to distribute emergency food rations to about 150,000 people in 35 locations in El Geneina and up the 85-mile stretch called the northern corridor.

CRS is also providing other essential services, including shelter assistance for displaced families, distribution of basic household items, health and nutrition education, livestock health initiatives, agricultural support through seed and tool fairs, and extensive water and sanitation projects, including construction of water systems, latrines and hand-washing facilities. In addition, since early 2005, CRS has built more than 250 temporary and permanent classrooms and trained over 70 volunteer teachers, enabling more than 11,000 children in West Darfur to receive an education — in some cases, for the first time.

CRS serves all people in need without discrimination, including those living in camps, nomadic communities affected by the conflict and communities hosting displaced people. While insecurity at times restricts service delivery, particularly in the northern corridor, CRS staff reaches thousands affected by the ongoing conflict in Darfur each month.

South Sudan

In South Sudan, CRS is helping thousands of people rebuild their lives after the 22-year war between the north and the south. In January 2005, the two sides signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, known as the CPA. Since then, more and more people have felt safe enough to return to their original homes, both from areas they fled to within Sudan and from neighboring countries.

Residents who stayed and new returnees face many challenges. The long war destroyed almost everything in the region. Dirt roads also turn to mud each rainy season — starting in March — making it extremely difficult for people to travel to market and for organizations to transport the supplies needed to rebuild schools, clinics and more.

CRS' primary activities in South Sudan are water and sanitation projects, school and market construction, agriculture, peacebuilding activities, and initiatives to help people earn a living. In the first months of 2008, CRS drilled and rehabilitated 23 boreholes to provide people with critical access to water. The livelihoods team also began a project that will pay cash to villagers who help repair basic cement bridges along a main road in the east — critical money that will help families get back on their feet. Food distributions, delayed in January and February 2008 due to logistics issues related to the Kenya election crisis, also resumed at clinics and schools in the region.

In addition, the peacebuilding team held the fourth of five workshops to train 35 community leaders, local members of parliament, and government officials in conflict mediation and resolution skills. These skills are essential for maintaining peace in the region, particularly in light of CPA implementation delays, ongoing border disputes and traditional cattle raiding among communities. Of primary concern is the delayed census, now planned for April 2008, which must be completed for scheduled elections to be held in 2009 and a referendum on self-determination for South Sudan in 2011.

Khartoum

CRS continues to assist people living in the Jebel Awlia camp outside of Khartoum. Most of these people were displaced a decade or more ago by the war between the north and south. Some are planning to return to their original homes as peace returns to the south; others now consider Khartoum their home. CRS supports a clinic in the camp and recently built new toilets and repaired 25 water pumps to improve sanitation for 1,100 families.