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The UK’s leading international aid charities have joined forces to launch an emergency appeal to save lives in Darfur and Chad, as potentially devastating rains approach the region.
The Appeal
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) launched an appeal on 24 May on behalf of the aid agencies. They are trying to save lives in Darfur, Chad and the Central African Republic, in what has been called one of the world’s greatest humanitarian crises. Watch the ITV video appeal to find out why the money is needed.
You Can Donate:
 Darfur appeal
Phone the Disasters Emergency Committee on 0870 60 60 900
Visit http://www.dec.org.uk/
You can go into any high street post office or bank.
The Background
With more than 4.5 million people affected by the ongoing conflict, the looming rainy season has the potential to cause further loss of life, with children, pregnant mothers and the elderly most at risk from deadly conditions like diarrhoea and malaria.
With malnutrition levels already rising, aid agencies are appealing for vital help in a bid to bolster life-saving food and medicine stocks before the downpours hit.
Everything from plastic sheeting, blankets, mosquito nets, fresh water containers and cooking pots are urgently needed before torrential and relentless downpours sweep into the region any time within the next 4 weeks – with up to 600mm of water due to fall.
The gathering storms will also make the delivery of aid a much more difficult task, with vehicle tracks disappearing and swollen rivers becoming all but impossible to cross – meaning help needs to arrive as soon as possible.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 02 November 2008 )
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