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Stamford, CT, August 26 2004 – As the crisis in Sudan continues, AmeriCares is again airlifting desperately needed relief supplies to the refugees in Chad. This latest shipment, worth $1.5 million, is scheduled to arrive in Chad on Friday, August 27.
With the certainty that relief efforts will continue for months, if not years to come, AmeriCares is announcing a targeted effort, AmeriCares Fund for Sudan, to raise $1 million to further the response to this humanitarian disaster. Launched with two generous challenge gifts totaling $250,000, AmeriCares is seeking to surpass $500,000 and bring the total to $1 million in donations by October 30, 2004. Contributions will be used to finance additional airlifts carrying essential medicines and equipment for the refugees in Chad and those displaced within Sudan, as well as to equip hospitals in the region so that they can provide basic services to all of those in need.
“AmeriCares will continue to send aid to the Sudanese refugees who have fled their homeland as well as to those still in Darfur where there are more than one million internally displaced persons,” said Curtis R. Welling, president and chief executive officer of AmeriCares. “We remain focused on saving as many lives as possible. We also believe that the more awareness we can bring to this crisis, the more effective we can be.”
This is the third time in four months AmeriCares has sent an airlift to Chad, with a total of 60 tons of relief supplies sent since early May. This latest delivery comes at a critical time, with the rainy season bringing the onset of malaria and an increased need for water purification treatments. AmeriCares has been working in the area for months, and had previously delivered medications to treat malaria and enough water purification packets to treat 10,000,000 liters of water. The latest relief shipment contains 30,000 pounds of medicines and supplies including more water purification treatments, antibiotics, trauma and wound care material, IV equipment, bandages and sutures. These will be distributed in Chad through AmeriCares partner, the International Rescue Committee.
In addition to the IRC, AmeriCares is working with other relief agencies in the area. At the request of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), AmeriCares recently arranged for 70,000 water purification treatments already in country to be sent to an area south of Bahai to combat an outbreak of disease.