The numbers are staggering:

• 4.7 million people are affected by the conflict in Darfur

• 2.35 million are under 18 years old

• 695,000 are children under 5 who have never known peace in their lives

• Up to 400,000 people have lost their lives

• Unicef estimates that 1.35 million children are internally displaced, which means that they are (highly!) unlikely to go to school, to have access to medical care, clean water or sufficient food.

Even though the media have stopped reporting on the genocide, there is no such thing as normal life in Darfur. NGOs have been forced to leave, peace agreements have been broken, the United Nations peace-keeping force has still not been fully deployed, and no political solution appears likely in the near future. All this is leaving families and children struggling for their lives. Starvation, disease, violence and death are every day occurrences in Darfur.

AASHF has been working in Sudan for over 12 years, helping the people of Darfur since before the conflict was in the news. This has allowed us to develop strong relationships on the ground. Our strategy is to go into the areas that are forgotten by the larger NGOs, outside of the refugee camps and away from media attention. Tens of thousands of people are hiding in the mountains and rural areas; they are camped out under trees or along rivers without any means to feed, shelter and protect themselves and their children.

AASHF is now one the few aid groups remaining in this war-torn region. In spite of the recent price increases and the growing number of attacks on aid workers, we are able to bring in family survival packs for $35-$45 each. These packs contain plastic tarps to protect displaced families from the elements, food, cooking pots, jerry cans for collecting water, fishing line and hooks, and mosquito nets whenever possible. To many of us, this may not seem like much – but for displaced Darfuri families and children it can mean the difference between living and dying.

Please help us continue our life-saving work in Darfur!

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