New Grants Help CARE Save Lives in Darfur

ATLANTA (December 7, 2006) - Three highly respected American philanthropies have committed a total of $2.5 million to CARE to meet the urgent needs of people who have been harmed by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Darfur. In separate pledges, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Howard G. Buffett Foundation have each contributed $1 million towards CARE's work in Darfur, and Pam Omidyar's Humanity United has pledged $500,000.

"Thousands of displaced people continue to suffer in Darfur from violent attacks and lack of life-saving resources. These generous grants will allow us to reduce the number of child deaths, replenish depleted food supplies, and improve access to water and sanitation in Darfur," said Paul Barker, CARE's country director in Sudan. "You can imagine how grateful we are to be able to offer more mothers supplemental feeding for their babies; dispense essential medication; train health workers in emergency obstetrics to reduce the numbers of mothers dying in child birth; and provide the food, water and basic hygiene services that keep children and their parents alive."

CARE has been providing life-saving support to hundreds of thousands of people displaced or otherwise affected by the conflict in Darfur since 2003. CARE's activities in Darfur include emergency food aid, health care, and water and sanitation services. At least 68 percent of the population in Darfur lacks access to health services. Estimates for maternal mortality stand at 590 deaths per 100,000 live births, and possibly higher due to insecurity and violence in the region. The situation in Darfur has often been called the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today.

The newest commitments of funding will be used in health care, water and sanitation and food security, as well as projects to help families gain livelihoods to support themselves.

"The humanitarian crisis in Darfur cannot be ignored. CARE's efforts will help save lives in danger today and also improve the health of the people of Darfur over the long term," said David Fleming, director of global health strategies at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "We are pleased to join with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and Humanity United to support CARE's work in Darfur."

Approximately 35,000 people, primarily women and children, in the Kass and Edd El Furson localities of South Darfur will have access to health care services for an 18-month period through funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The funding is especially critical for Darfuris in Edd El Furson who have no reproductive health or emergency obstetric care services.

Funding from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation will be used towards a 15-month project to help 66,000 people in Darfur with water infrastructure, hygiene education, and livelihood development. CARE will hire local staff to help rehabilitate existing and drill new boreholes, install and establish a maintenance system for hand pumps, and construct new latrines. Livelihood security assistance will include distribution of seeds and tools; training in agricultural technologies and business skills; as well as community rotational savings and credits and income-generating activities. This type of assistance allows Darfuris affected by the crisis to create sustainable means of providing for themselves and their families.

While the main focus of CARE's current activities in Darfur is emergency relief, CARE also seeks to provide assistance to Darfuris who want to return to their homes to replant and rebuild. Funds from Humanity United will support health initiatives for women and children and also enhance the communities' own ability to produce food. This funding will not only assist returning refugees and populations displaced by the crisis, but will also help communities that host displaced persons.

CARE has worked in Sudan since 1979, implementing projects in health, livelihoods, food security, water and sanitation, relief operations around Khartoum and other parts of the country, and peace advocacy. CARE was among the first agencies to respond to the Darfur emergency when it began in 2003. The agency remains deeply concerned about violence against vulnerable people in the region.