Barnabas Fund Aids Christian Minority in Darfur, Sudan

Among the displaced people who have fled the ongoing violence in Darfur, western Sudan is a small minority of Christians. As Christians are so often excluded from aid distribution in contexts where other faiths are a majority, Barnabas Fund has been providing food aid for 100 Christian families since December 2004. Sudanese Christians organise the food distribution programme, which provides sorghum, beans, lentils, rice and oil to the families. Food is usually bought in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State, and the cost per family per month is £67 (plus transport and administration). With an average family size of seven people, this is about 30p per person per day. This feeding programme has enabled families to stay together, when otherwise children might have had to roam around as “street children” seeking their own support.

Background to the need

The conflict in Darfur escalated in spring 2003 as attacks from groups seeking independence drew a brutal response from the government-backed militia, known as the Janjaweed, and from the Sudanese army. These attacks frequently involved the mass slaughter of defenceless civilians, with the death toll estimated at over 400,000. Despite repeated attempts to enact a ceasefire in the region, the fighting has shown little sign of abating.

Huge numbers of displaced people are living in make-shift refugee camps, without proper shelter, healthcare or proper provision of food. They live in constant fear of attacks from the army and militia, who steal, rape and kill with impunity. The land cannot be cultivated because of the war situation.

Donate today

Barnabas Fund has now used all the donations previously received for this purpose, but the needs are continuing.

If you can help, please click this [Link] to donate online using our secure server. (Please quote project reference 48-511 for the Darfur Crisis Relief Fund)

If you prefer to telephone, dial: 0800 587 4006 from within the UK or +44 1672 565031 from outside the UK. (Please quote project reference 48-511 for the Darfur Crisis Relief Fund)

If you prefer to send a cheque by post or would like to find out other ways to donate to Barnabas Fund, click this [Link] . (Please quote project reference 48-511 for the Darfur Crisis Relief Fund)