Darfur Refugee Wells

For over 25 years, Sudan has been embroiled in civil war between the Muslim government of northern Sudan and the primarily Christian southern Sudan. More than two million people have died as a result of this civil war, and over four million more have been displaced. A peace treaty was signed in 2005 between the north and the south, but peace has been tenuous at best.

One of the greatest threats to peace in Sudan is in Darfur. The United Nations estimates that some 300,000 people have been killed there, and three million more have been forced to flee their homes. A militia known as the Janjaweed (meaning "devils on horseback") has been destroying entire villages in Darfur. The International Criminal Court has indicted and issued an arrest warrant for Sudan's president, Omar al-Bashir, for the government's role in the Darfur genocide.

In Jach, massive numbers of people who survived the attacks by the Janjaweed have been forced to find places to live and survive. Often, they are forced to wilderness areas such as Jach, where they struggle to obtain the basic necessities of life - food, water, shelter, and clothing. They have to drink muddy water, if they are able to find water at all. Due to the lack of clean water, nutritious food, and protection from the elements (i.e. rain, heat, mosquitoes), diseases run rampant. This area has grown from 5,000 to OVER 90,000 people in a little over three years, thus creating the necessity for more wells to be drilled this year.

The issue of clean water and its dramatic impact on human life is greatly underappreciated. One recent estimate states that in 2004, diarrhea killed 1.8 million children around the world, but only $1.5 billion were spent on sanitation in the two years between 2004 and 2006. In the same period, $10.8 billion were spent on HIV/AIDS, which was responsible for the deaths of just over 300,000 children.

Proposal

African Leadership, in conjunction with our national director in Sudan and our delivery partner, Persecution Project Foundation, has been providing clean water to the people of Jach. Where three years ago there was virtually no access to clean water, there are now 36 wells providing fresh water to this community of 90,000 spread over nearly 100 kilometers. Each well is designed to provide water for 500 people, so many more wells are needed. We would like to help drill 10 more wells next dry season.

Total Need

$190,000