Plan to expand its work in Darfur

Sudan: 'the most dangerous place in the world for a child to live'

Despite the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Darfur,Western Sudan, Plan is going to continue its vital work to help the people who have fled their homes due to the fighting.

The humanitarian agency AlertNet has named Sudan the most dangerous place in the world for a child to live.  But Plan’s latest security assessment has concluded that, although there are immense challenges, it is still possible to continue our work in and near the northern town of Al Fasher, albeit within a restricted zone of operation.

Having worked in Sudan for 30 years, Plan moved into Darfur in February 2005 to respond to the humanitarian crisis. Our work has centered on Al Fasher and the surrounding area, which has some of the largest camps of displaced people in the region – some holding more than 50,000 people.

Plan’s focus has been on education, water and sanitation in the camps – whilst helping other agencies with food distribution. We have already constructed classrooms and provided more than 19,000 children with quality basic education, safe water and solar cookers for their families. 

We will continue our work in education and water and sanitation whilst developing our health program, including vaccination and malaria prevention and treatment.

Security conscious

Don McPhee, Plan’s Resident Representative for Sudan, said:

“The situation in Darfur is unstable. We need to be security conscious and very flexible and responsive to the changing needs of children and their families.

“We have started with the urgent humanitarian response - but once the humanitarian crisis is over and people are ready to leave the camps and rebuild their lives, we will accompany them back to their villages and work with them there.”

Peace plans

In 2005 Africa’s longest-running civil war – which left some 1.5 million people dead – officially came to an end when the government and rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army signed a peace deal. But just as the country was edging towards peace, fighting broke out in Darfur.

Although an agreement signed in May 2006 has provided a first step towards peace, Darfur is still a very difficult place to work.

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