Q&A on the Darfur conflict

What is happening in western Sudan, what CAFOD is doing there, and how you can help

Last updated 14/09/07

What is happening?

More than two million people have been displaced from their homes since 2004 and are living in makeshift shelters in temporary camps.

The lack of security means they are unable to return to their homes or even temporarily return to work on their land, which prevents them from being self-sufficient and forces them to be dependent upon emergency aid.

Women and young girls who leave the camps to collect fire wood are often vulnerable to attack. The presence of huge camps, some hosting as many as 100,000 people, located near other settlements has an impact on the availability of resources and the environment and can cause conflict with the local population.

The Darfur Peace Agreement of May 2006 has failed to bring peace to the region and has even led to the outbreak of violence in areas of Darfur which had previously been relatively stable.

The level of violence has increased in recent months involving all the players of the conflict, and large areas of Darfur are simply inaccessible to humanitarian workers because of insecurity.

The Darfur rebel groups have splintered, with new factions demonstrating their objections to the peace agreement and their “strength” by undertaking attacks.

Vehicles belonging to humanitarian organisations have been hi-jacked and some compounds robbed.

The African Union forces have been mandated to monitor the so-called ‘ceasefire’ and ‘peace agreement’ have come under direct attack and pays the hard price for their involvement.

The AU is under-funded and with limited resources is unable to provide protection to the civilian population, who are vulnerable to attack by all sides of the conflict.

Addressing the protection crisis in Darfur requires an effective ceasefire agreement and ‘arms control’, achievable only through an inclusive peace process. The announcement by the United Nations Security Council to deploy an African Union/United Nations hybrid force of 26,000 peacekeepers, to protect civilians is a welcomed decision.

However, CAFOD urges the international community not to see the AU-UN force as the sole solution to the dire humanitarian crisis, it also supports an inclusive peace process and for the international community to build confidence in peace.

The planned peace talks scheduled to take place in October in Tripoli, Libya must be inclusive – previous peace negotiations saw some factions excluded from discussions and there subsequent rejection of any agreements. It is essential peace talks also include those that have not participated in the violence but are suffering because of the situation. Civil society groups, respected leaders, and women must be heard. Giving a voice to the peoples of

What is CAFOD doing?

CAFOD has more than 20 years’ experience in Sudan, and we can’t just walk away from the vulnerable people as the situation deteriorates with continued fighting and insecurity that has led hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes to temporary camps both in Darfur and in neighbouring Chad. People are still too afraid to return to their villages and now for many even if they did want to return, they would be going back to nothing.

In spite of the insecurity in some areas, we are able run our programme without major hindrance. CAFOD is working as part of the ACT/Caritas programme, a joint coordinated response by 60 church-based organisations. This pools our resources and ensures they are used most efficiently. It also means that the ACT/Caritas programme is effectively one of the largest programmes in Darfur

Boreholes, shallow wells and latrines are being constructed to ensure that people have access to clean water and remain healthy.

Temporary clinics have been set up in camps to provide essential health care, especially to young children, mothers and the elderly who are the most vulnerable.

An immunisation programme for children has been implemented and treatment for malaria and diarrhea is undertaken. Emergency nutrition has been provided to malnourished children.

Shelter materials have been provided to enable families to construct makeshift shelters, and household kits containing cooking equipment and hygiene items distributed.

Schooling has been provided in the large camps. Seeds have been distributed to those people who still had access to some land.

Activities are organized to enable people to practise their craft skills, such as weaving, spinning, leatherwork, woodwork. And people who have been traumatised have been offered counselling.

How much has CAFOD pledged, and where?

In 2007, CAFOD has given £500,000 to the programme. These funds were raised from our supporters in our previous appeal, but we need to raise more to enable us to maintain our current commitments to the people of Darfur.

Our programme is operational (within the ACT/Caritas Programme) with five field offices in south and west Darfur.

CAFOD is also supporting its Chad partner SECADEV in 2007 with a grant of £100,000.

What is the long-term plan, and why?

In the long-term the plan is to ensure that CAFOD’s Sudanese partners have all the necessary management skills to take on the leadership of the programme, whilst still receiving the support they will need from CAFOD and our donor partners.

Under the terms of the strategic plan, we are pledged to building up the capacity of our Sudanese partner organisations to the required level.

How much money did CAFOD raise from its Darfur and Chad Appeal

To date the CAFOD Darfur and Chad appeal has raised over £1.5 million pounds in 2007. A significant amount of the donations came from parishes, schools and individual supporters in the Catholic communities of England and Wales. The money raised means that CAFOD’s partners are able to sustain the programme which is already up and running and continue to save lives in Darfur and Chad.

Who are CAFOD's partners?

CAFOD is one of the main members of the joint ACT/Caritas response which has been able to successfully harness and channel the resources of some 60 Catholic and Protestant organisations into one of the largest humanitarian programmes in South and West Darfur.

CAFOD continues to be the lead agency for the Caritas network of agencies involved in this programme.

Our three national partner organisations are SUDO (Sudan People’s Development Organisation), Sudan Council of Churches (SCC) and Sudanaid (Caritas in the Sudan; CAFOD’s long-term partner).

How does CAFOD work with other aid agencies?

The United Nations programme in Darfur provides the main coordinating framework for the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as CAFOD and collaborates closely with the local office of the Sudanese Government’s Humanitarian Aid Commission.

It is through this coordinating mechanism that the agencies ensure that they do not duplicate efforts.

take action

Give to the Darfur & Chad Appeal

related resources

Prayer: Darfur five years on (25.50 kB) A prayer and reflection written by The Catholic Bishop of El Obeid, Antonio Menegazzo - whose diocese includes Darfur - to mark the fifth anniversary of the conflict in the region (Word doc)

DAR0803 Donor Liaison Officer, Darfur - Application Form  (165.50 kB)