Every day, hundreds of weary and frightened people arrive at the Kalma IDP (internally displaced persons) camp in South Darfur, Sudan. And every day, the makeshift cemetery outside of the camp grows as young and old die in the harsh conditions.

The Kalma camp is barely functioning right now, according to an emergency health specialist with World Vision; clean water is scarce, sanitation is almost non-existent, and many of the children in the camp are suffering from malaria, diarrhea and acute respiratory tract infections. The threat of outbreaks of dysentery and cholera is very real now that the rainy season has begun and will lead to more deaths.

Adding to the situation is the growing population - it has more than doubled in the past three weeks to over 70,000, putting an even greater strain on the dwindling resources.

Dirk Booy, World Vision Canada's vice-president of International and Canadian Programs, flew into the region on World Vision's July 20 airlift.  The flight carried thousands of blankets, water containers, and plastic tarps.

"Airlifts are the fastest way to deliver the large quantities of goods so desperately needed right now, especially since that the rains have made many roads impassable," said Booy.  "But airlifts are expensive and we need the support of Canadians to continue to provide these people with the basics they need to survive."

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian relief and development organization active in more than 90 countries around the world, providing help to more than 85 million people each year.