Darfur Sudan - World Relief Canada Humanitarian Program 2009

In late 2009 the Darfur region is still home to the largest humanitarian crisis in Sudan. An estimated 4.2 million people (of a total regional population of 6 million) remain reliant on some form of international humanitarian assistance. Of these an estimated 2.7 million have been forced from their homes and 3 million rely on the World Food Programme (WFP) for their daily meals. Although the intensity of the conflict has subsided in the past year continued high levels of insecurity due to banditry and inter-ethnic fighting and the constant threat of resurgent conflict means that displaced populations are unable to safely return to their places of origin and must continue to rely on humanitarian agencies to meet their basic needs. CIDA's support of World Relief Canada (WRC) is helping it to assist an estimated 159 000 displaced persons in Darfur by providing access to safe water and adequate sanitation facilities; reducing the incidence and effects of malnutrition through 16 malnutrion treatment centres; providing psycho-social support to women and children affected by the conflict through the establishment of 8 "child friendly spaces"; and reducing the vulnerability of newly displaced populations through the distribution of non-food items (such as blankets jerry cans and mosquito nets).