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SCS staff in Sudan relocated
After Sudan’s President has been indicted yesterday by the ICC prosecutor for war crimes the UN and humanitarian agencies fear increased tensions in the country in general and Darfur in particular. Staff members of Save the Children Sweden deployed to Tawila and Kutum are being relocated to El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. |
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Save the Children Sweden’s programme in Northern Darfur is however continuing providing psychosocial and educational support in 6 IDP camps and 15 rural communities through its community-based structures (Parents-teachers Associations, community animators and supervisors - all trained and supported by SCS over the past 4 years).
The community-based approach has worked well in the past and it guarantees continuity during fragile security situations experienced in Darfur. The activities are not adversely affected as a result of staff pull out due to security reasons.
This community based approach has also been instrumental in creating ownership of the programme by the community, hence its long-term sustainability. In all, over 400 community volunteer animators and supervisors are actively involved in our education and child protection programme with women forming the majority of this number. Our local staff, based in El Fasher will be in touch with them to monitor the work in the various IDP camps and rural communities.
Save the children Sweden in North Darfur and in Khartoum complies with all necessary precautionary security measures in coordination with other humanitarian organizations and the UN. In Khartoum this is done mainly with collaboration with SC Alliance. Please note that SCS is only SC Alliance agency operational in North Darfur.
The activities that will continue in SCS staff absence include;
Psychosocial and pre-school activities supporting over 10,000 war affected children in 68 child friendly spaces across the 6 IDP camps and 15 rural communities, construction and rehabilitation of classrooms in 36 basic schools ( many of these in IDP camps), Teacher training in alternative forms of disciplines and child rights concepts, through a local civil society organization, distribution of school supplies to pupils in basic schools (text books, exercise books, school bags and uniforms) in Kutum as we have a program assistant who lives there and distribution of recreational materials and equipments to SCS supported basic schools.