Background
Since early 2003, fighting between armed groups in the Darfur region of western Sudan has forced 2.5 million people from their homes. Fleeing the violence, they have sought safety in overcrowded camps and towns where aid groups continue to provide them with food, water, and medical care. But because of growing violence, parts of Darfur are completely inaccessible to humanitarian agencies, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without the assistance they need.
While peace has come to south Sudan, where a conflict with the north dragged on for 21 years, the people of Darfur continue to be the targets of militias and other armed groups. About 250,000 people have crossed the border into Chad looking for safety. More than 4.5 million people in Darfur and eastern Chad now rely on humanitarian aid.
Even when they have fled from their villages into teeming towns and temporary camps, people are not safe. There are regular reports of civilians being attacked and harassed throughout Darfur. Women who venture beyond the camps and towns to collect firewood risk harassment, sexual assault, and even death. Living in flimsy shelters and unhygienic conditions, many people lack the most basic items such as buckets for carrying water and soap for washing. The situation is even worse for new camp arrivals who often have no shelter at all and little access to food and water. With so many people living in such cramped quarters, the threat of disease is enormous.