Sudan
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› Nearly 20,000 displaced people received emergency supplies |
Background
UMCOR began working in Sudan in February 2005 after assessment teams determined that UMCOR's experience could add to the humanitarian effort to alleviate suffering in South Darfur. Initial programs focused on providing essential non-food items to displaced people living in camps. UMCOR Sudan has since expanded its programs to include education, agriculture, and health projects. A second office was opened in South Sudan, a region with low levels of infrastructure and high levels of need. Programs in South Sudan focus on repatriation and reintegration of people returning to the region after years of war.
AGRICULTURE
The South Darfur agriculture program focuses on assisting internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities (HCs) to regain livelihood security by providing them with seeds and tools. The program seeks to provide an effective strategy to regain livelihood security for the IDPs and HC farmers. The program objectives are to provide additional sources of food and cash income and to restore the livelihoods from agriculture. The program benefited a total of 2,000 families (11,400 individuals) as of the end of 2007.
UMCOR Sudan is also providing training for 3,600 farmers to help them improve their agricultural techniques and increase crop production. This program also helps organize farmers into farmer groups that provide support one another in their fields and at the market. In all, 18,000 people will be impacted by this program that promises to increase crop production, provide better food security, and an increased income for displaced people.
EDUCATION
UMCOR Sudan is providing training to teacher associations in South Sudan with funding from the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration. In Darfur, Sudan, UMCOR partners with UNICEF to distribute girls' uniforms and school materials for 11,400 students. Additionally, school kits from UMCOR Sager Brown, the United Methodist Relief Supply Center, are also distributed to support students in Darfur and South Sudan. The School feeding program feeds 4,598 pupils in 12 primary schools in two localities of Al Daein and Adilla.
Since March 2006, UMCOR Sudan has implemented the Child Protection and Development program. It brings much-needed services to internally displaced women and children in the Al Deain area. A youth center was rehabilitated by using local material and women's training center was constructed in Khor Omer. Young boys also receive training in shoe making, carpentry, building and electricity at the center. In another community, UMCOR will construct a shelter focused on providing activities for young girls.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND INTERVENTION
UMCOR Sudan's program interventions in southern Darfur are focused on distributing non-food items, small-scale livelihoods activities, camp coordination, water projects, and agriculture. As of early 2008, UMCOR supported approximately 55,749 individuals in IDP camps. Through UMCOR's flood response project in Khartoum, classrooms in nine target schools are being rehabilitated and non-food items such as blankets, sleeping mats, and plastic water jerry cans are distributed. The construction of latrines and restoration of water points are also being completed.
RECONSTRUCTION
Through a USAID/OFDA-funded program, UMCOR is helping 250,000 people to have better access to water and sanitation. UMCOR Sudan is working with communities to reestablish and expand existing water systems. New latrines improve the sanitation in areas that have an ever-increasing population of people seeking safety in the camps. To ensure this work will continue UMCOR Sudan is training community caretakers and committees to maintain the improved water and sanitation systems so they will be in place for years to come.
PARTNERS IN OUR WORK
UMCOR Sudan works with a variety of partners to make our work possible. In addition to the private funds we receive through the United Methodist Church we also receive support from the following:
US Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration
Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance
Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church, Tipp City, OH
