[allAfrica.com] [celtel.com] Oxfam to Launch Sudan/Chad Appeal Sunday Oxfam International (Boston) PRESS RELEASE May 28, 2004 Posted to the web May 28, 2004 Oxfam will launch a £1 million public appeal on Sunday to raise funds for people who have fled their homes because of the conflict in Darfur in Western Sudan. An estimated one million people have been made homeless in the vast desert region; between 150,000 and 200,000 have crossed the border into neighbouring Chad. Their needs are immense. Drinking water, shelter, food, toilets, washing facilities, cooking equipment, clothes and soap are all urgently needed. Oxfam is scaling up its life-saving relief work, providing clean drinking water, toilets and bathing facilities as well as hygiene kits for people who have lost everything. "The scale of the challenge facing us in Darfur and Chad is immense," said Oxfam Regional Director Caroline Nursey. "The rainy season is now starting which is making the risk of epidemics much higher. It's a race against time for our water engineers to get to remote communities where people need urgent help. We're appealing to the British public to help us by giving money to support this vital operation." Oxfam's teams are currently working with 33,000 displaced people in Abu Shouk camp, near the main town of El Fasher in North Darfur. Oxfam has constructed 1500 pit latrines and more than 450 bathing units in the camp. In the Kebkabiya area, Oxfam is concentrating on urgent improvements in water and sanitation and hygiene promotion for 45,000 people. The team is building new wells, cleaning up old ones and protecting them to prevent contamination. Oxfam is also working to build 1500 toilets there. Across the border in Chad, Oxfam is working with a national partner organisation in three refugee camps - Farchana, Touloum, Kounoungo - to improve water and sanitation facilities. For more information and interviews: Helen Palmer, Oxfam Press Officer, Oxford UK (Mobile) +44 7876 476403 Notes for Editors Members of the public who would like to make a donation can call 0845 3007070 or donate online at www.oxfam.org.uk Oxfam's emergency work in Darfur is supported by the British Government's Department for International Development (DFID) and the European Commission's Humanitarian Office. Oxfam works with others to find lasting solutions to poverty and suffering. Oxfam GB is a member of Oxfam International, a company limited by guarantee and registered in England No. 612172. Registered office: 274 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7DZ. Registered charity No. 202918. Visit the web site at http://www.oxfam.org.uk The Irish Government is taking a positive approach to arms export controls. They now need to take the next step and pledge their support for an Arms Trade Treaty. Encourage them to pledging support and show responsibility for global security and human rights.   =============================================================================   Copyright © 2004 Oxfam International. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). =============================================================================