Water and Sanitation in Darfur - Save the Children 2008

Despite the signing of the 2006 Darfur Peace Agreement the western Sudanese region continues to face a severe humanitarian crisis due to conflict. Fighting between government forces and various rebel groups has resulted in an estimated 4.2 million people (of a total regional population of six million) being reliant on some form of international aid. Of these an estimated 2.5 million have been displaced from their homes and 3 million or more rely on international aid for their daily meals. With CIDA support Save the Children is implementing water sanitation and nutrition activities in West Darfur Sudan with the aim of reducing mortality and morbidity in conflict-affected children. Save the Children is providing access to safe water through the operation and maintenance of water yards the repair of hand pumps and the installation of six new water sources. The organization is also installing 500 household latrines. Beneficiaries are receiving hygiene and sanitation information and Water and Environmental Sanitation committees are being trained to ensure the effectiveness of the physical interventions. Nutrition activities include the operation of five Outpatient Therapeutic Program centres for malnourished children active case-finding and training of Ministry of Health nutrition staff.