Tearfund has been operating in Darfur, in the west of Sudan, since June 2004, responding to emergency needs generated by the conflict that began in 2003.
Tearfund currently operates in several different project areas across West and South Darfur with support bases in Nyala (South Darfur), El Geneina (West Darfur) and Khartoum.
The initial response was launched in El Geneina with an emergency nutrition programme alongside water and sanitation and health promotion.
In November 2004, Tearfund deployed a team to Garsilla in Wadi Salih carrying out water and sanitation activities, health promotion and children’s activities, community development and food security work.
In April 2005, following a nutritional survey revealing high levels of malnutrition, Tearfund deployed an emergency team into Ed Daein province to work in nutrition, health promotion, children’s activities and water and sanitation.
Needs lacking
In July 2009, Tearfund conducted a needs assessment in an additional site in South Darfur and found that water and sanitation, in addition to other needs, was severely lacking. Consequently, Tearfund deployed a team to Kass, starting projects in October 2009.
In March 2011, Tearfund carried out an assessment in the Um Dukhun area of West Darfur and concluded that water and sanitation and health and hygiene needs were extremely high and so Tearfund began to respond in August 2011. Currently Tearfund is working in Ed Daein and Kass and Um Dukhun.
Through a programme of water, sanitation and hygiene promotion, nutrition activities, food security and livelihood work, supporting vulnerable children and responding to emergency needs as they arise, Tearfund aims to provide an integrated, participatory, conflict-sensitive and environment-sensitive approach in co-ordination with others.
The programme is currently assisting around 300,000 people, with an annual turnover of around £6 million and employs more than 200 staff.
Tearfund's work in Darfur is funded by donors including the governments of UK (DFID), Canada (CIDA-HAPS; through partner World Relief Canada), Australia (AusAId; through Partner TEAR Australia), the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) and the Development and Cooperation-Europe Aid Office, the United Nations, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, and Tearfund supporters.