Faith in action

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Darfur and Chad
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Background to conflict

• Darfur, in western Sudan, has been neglected for
  decades
• People in Darfur are not represented in
  Government, and are not benefiting from
  development.
• Meanwhile, worse and worse droughts replace
  fertile soil with desert.
• Tensions grow as there is less and less land or
  water for both settled farmers and wandering
  nomads.

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Background to conflict

• In 2003 rebels attacked the government.
• The government armed poor and landless militia to
  fight on its behalf. Government forces have also
  been directly involved in fighting.
• Civilians have been targeted by all sides of the
  conflict.
• So far more than two million people have lost
  their homes
• Some now have only the clothes they wore as they
  fled their burning village.

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Conflict in Chad

• Hungry people walk for days to reach camps in
  Darfur or in neighbouring Chad but here they
  find conflict too
• Armed men follow refugees across the border and
  attack them in camps or when they go out to find
  wood or water
• In Eastern Chad rebels are fighting the
  government
• There is also tension between refugees, the
  host community and those forced from their
  homes within Chad

Our attackers stole everything. We fled and hid
in the bush for a week without any proper
food Gadija Kharim.
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Providing aid

• There are 2 million displaced in Darfur and more
  than 225,000 refugees in Chad
• CAFOD is working through ACT/Caritas - a network
  of faith-based and Sudanese aid agencies
• It provides shelter, safe water, food,
  sanitation, healthcare and education
• CAFOD also promotes peace-building through its
  programmes.

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Real lives

• Khadija was driven from her home when militia
  attacked her village
• She has been living in a temporary camp run by
  CAFODs partner ACT/Caritas

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Real lives

• Khadija received an emergency kit including
  cooking and washing utensils
• ACT/Caritas installed a water pump near her
  shelter
• They also support a clinic where she has received
  healthcare.

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Real lives

• Bdria is 18 and lives in Dereig camp in south
  Darfur
• She has not been able to go to school because of
  the conflict but is now starting in the camp
  school, run by a volunteer who helps to run the
  community.

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Real lives

• She also attends a sewing class and hopes to earn
  extra money for her family by setting up a sewing
  business

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Real lives
I want to thank young people in England and
Wales for the work theyve done to help us. It is
good to help your brothers and sisters in
humanity Bdria, 18.
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Great need

• Bdria and Khadija have had terrible experiences
• Now they are receiving help
• But many others in Darfur and Chad are still in
  great need
• Even after the emergency is over, CAFOD will stay
  to help.

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Long-term commitment

• CAFODs partners talk to communities about their
  needs and help them to find new ways to support
  their families and improve their general standard
  of living
• In Darfur and Chad CAFOD will provide seeds and
  tools to help families replant crops and rebuild
  their lives.

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• Let us pray
• God of all humanity,
• In a world full of fear,
• Open our hearts to your love.
• When we walk in lonely places,
• Open our minds to your hope.
• As we seek paths in the darkness,
• Open our eyes to your light.
• May we turn away from hatred, towards love.
• May we turn away from intolerance,
  towards understanding.
• We commit ourselves in compassion and love,
• To our sisters and brothers in Darfur and Chad.
• Together, not alone, we pray for peace.
• We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Picture credits Amelia Bookstein, Annie
Bungeroth, Fiona Callister, Laura Storr, Paul
Jeffrey.