Saving Darfur

April 21, 2006

Mercy Corps is helping mothers and children through difficult times in Darfur's displacement camps. Photo: Jeremy Barnicle/Mercy Corps

Since rebels took up arms against the government three years ago, 180,000 people have died through violence, hunger and disease in Darfur, a swath of land about the size of France. More than two million have been forced to flee their homes. These internally displaced persons, or IDPs, are spread across a huge, remote and barren territory.

Nearly 200 Mercy Corps staff members continue to assist roughly 106,000 Darfurians living in several displacement camps in what is known as the Zalingei Corridor. We are improving sanitation, providing clean water, distributing relief items, helping women build skills, and creating schools and safe places for children to play.

"We're trying to help people live with dignity and pick up knowledge and skills they can use when they return home," says Keny-Guyer.

Mercy Corps needs your voice and your financial assistance to make life better for the people of Darfur. Make a donation to our Darfur Crisis fund, and visit our advocacy page to learn how you can help persuade lawmakers to take steps to alleviate suffering in the region.