Charity launches £120,000 fundraising appeal
Sudan sees more than 12 million people face ongoing displacement as the civil war rages on in the north east African country. More than 150,000 people have died since the conflict began in 2023.
Cornish charity, ShelterBox, is announcing a fundraising appeal to raise £120,000 to try to alleviate the suffering being experienced across the country.
‘Sudan is the worst humanitarian crisis globally, yet it’s critically underfunded with the world’s attention on conflict in Europe and the Middle East,’ says Sarah Robinson, ShelterBox Programme Manager for Sudan.
‘The lives of millions of people, including millions of children, have been upended in an instant and they have no homes to return to. They have been displaced again and again, enduring long journeys, in their search for refuge.’
The charity says that more funding is desperately needed to try to meet the demands of the local population – at a time when governments are cutting humanitarian and development aid.
The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are fighting for control of the military after long-simmering tensions erupted into widespread violence.
The conflict means people are quickly uprooted and find themselves seeking shelter in open areas with little protection from the conflict – or the elements.
Hawa and Zara were both driven out of Sudan with their families because of mass killings across the Darfur region.
‘We hid in the trees during the escape’
‘We went out at night from our home to the border,’ explains Hawa. ‘I am very afraid for my husband and my eldest son, because I told them that if they go out during the day, they will be dead. We hid in the trees during the escape.’
‘Before the crisis, life was good in Sudan,’ says Zara. ‘There was peace, water, and the children’s school lives were good. We fled because of the war.’
‘They went from house to house to kill people in my community, which caused us to flee for refuge. During the flight (escape), many other people died, and their belongings were taken. We left our belongings to save our lives.’
As the SAF regains control of large areas of Khartoum, it’s hoped aid will be able to move more freely.
ShelterBox is working with INTERSOS, Airlink, Action Medeor, and HOPE Sudan to support thousands of displaced people in North Darfur, with kitchen sets, blankets, mosquito nets and water carriers.
‘Water is scarce, and people must collect it from central water stations, so carriers are essential to collect and store water safely,’ says Sarah.
‘It may not seem much, but items like these can ease the strain and uncertainty people face. With a kitchen set, often shared among community members, families can prepare food.’
Zara and her family are among millions of people who have been uprooted from their homes by the instense civil war in Sudan. Image provided by ShelterBox.
‘Every bit of support matters’
‘People can keep themselves and their families warm with blankets during the cool Sudanese nights and protect themselves against life-threatening illnesses like malaria with mosquito nets.’
Despite supporting tens of thousands of people affected by the Sudan crisis since 2023, ShelterBox warns of a huge unmet need for shelter.
Should funding be secured for a second project, ShelterBox will be able to support more people in Sudan with emergency shelter and cash support.
Since 2023, ShelterBox has been working with INTERSOS Tchad and Help Tchad to support people seeking refuge across the border (in Chad).
Teams have been focused on providing emergency shelter for the refugees along with key items, such as solar lights, mosquito nets and blankets.
The aid groups are currently upgrading temporary shelters with materials that will better withstand heavy rainy seasons.
‘The need for shelter and other essential items in Sudan and Chad remains urgent,’ says Alice Byron, Deputy Director of Fundraising at ShelterBox.
‘We know we can’t meet that need alone and we know the international effort right now is not enough, but every bit of support matters.’
‘It can be the difference to one life or one family’
‘With so many people still living out in the open, without access to clean water or other essential services, it can be the difference to one life or one family.’
‘That’s why we’re launching our Spring fundraising appeal so we can help more people around the world who have lost their homes to disaster, conflict, or the climate crisis.’ ShelterBox has supported more than three million people across the world with emergency shelter, essential household items, training, and cash assistance.
As well as Sudan and Chad, the charity is currently supporting people displaced by conflict in places like Yemen, Syria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Mozambique.
