The World Food Programme (WFP) has cut food rations by half to millions of displaced people in Darfur, Sudan, further aggravating the already desperate conditions.
The UN organization cited insufficient funding as the reason for its decision to reduce food rations to 1,050 calories per day per person, down from 2,100 calories, in order to keep distributions going. (The average North American consumes roughly 2,500 to 3,000 calories a day.)
World Vision partners with the WFP in Darfur to supply food to more than 220,000 displaced people in 20 settlements.
The number of people needing assistance continues to grow because of ongoing conflict between government-backed militia and rebel groups. At least 200,000 people have been killed, and more than 2.3 million have been forced to leave their homes since the conflict began in 2003.
World Vision is There
World Vision has been active in Sudan since 1972. For the past two years, staff members have been in Darfur
- distributing food and operating supplementary feeding centres
- providing clean water and sanitation services, such as boreholes, hand pumps, drainage, and latrines
- running Child-Friendly Spaces
- operating primary health care clinics and providing information on health and nutrition
- supporting temporary schools
- operating women's support services
In the last year, World Vision has helped reduced malnutrition rates in Darfur by 11 per cent through its supplementary feeding centres. But staff members fear the WFP's ration cuts might mean these gains will be lost. Consequently, World Vision is expanding its nutrition and health programs. The focus will be on treating severely malnourished children.
What You Can Do
World Vision is asking Canadians to raise $1 million to help save the lives of severely malnourished children. Click here to donate.
