CHF Launches De-Mining and Livelihoods Project in South Sudan

Sudan suffered the longest civil war in the world, a conflict that raged on and off for 40 years and caused vast numbers of people to flee their homes. An estimated four million people are internally displaced within the country, while 350,000 are refugees in neighbouring countries.

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in 2005 has resulted in multitudes returning to their ancestral lands. However, the deadly use of landmines during the conflict has left a lethal legacy.

Landmines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and caches of munitions continue to kill and maim. They also restrict access to the land and basic resources the South Sudanese so desperately need to rebuild their lives and their livelihoods.

Beginning May 1, 2009, CHF is working in partnership with the UK’s Mines Advisory Group (MAG) and Sudan’s Operation Save Innocent Lives (OSIL) to combine mine-clearing with agricultural development and sustainable livelihoods in communities suffering the ravages of war. The project, called Sustainable Livelihoods and Mines Action (SLAM) aims to reach 100,000 people in Central and Western Equatoria States.

According to Chris Liebich, CHF’s Director for Africa, “In order to sustain peace, it’s essential that the South Sudanese rebuild their lives. Together, we are replacing deadly landmines with the food and incomes so essential to life.”

Ethiopian Community Names Road, Market After Donor Eric Sprott

Bati — home to 120,000 people and victim of recurring drought. In fact, the town of Bati was the site of one of the main refugee camps of the devastating 1984 famine.

Today, thanks in part to CHF’s Partnership for Food Security project, the picture of Bati looks a whole lot different. More than 47,000 people in the Bati area are benefiting from the project, which aims to break the cycle of dependency on food aid. See slideshow here.

Irrigation systems and improved agricultural methods are transforming a land profoundly affected by erratic rainfall and drought. Farmers are growing food and raising livestock to feed their families and to sell at market. The project also supports alternative income-generating activities and promotes the participation of women.

To celebrate the success of the project, and to recognize the generous support of The Sprott Foundation, the community named an 11.5 km road that runs from Bati town to the project area "Eric Sprott Road”. The road provides an important access route for many, including the nomadic Afar tribe, to the Bati market.

The community also decided to name a new market centre after Eric Sprott. It handles much of the produce coming from the project areas. The market is located in the heart of downtown Bati and attracts hundreds of people each day buying produce, much of it grown as part of CHF’s project.

To find out more, take a look at a slideshow highlighting the project and the street-naming ceremonies here.

Bati Success Reported in Ethiopian Media

The Ethiopian press proved enthusiastic in reporting the street-naming ceremony and the successes of CHF’s Partnership for Food Security project in Bati, Ethiopia. The press reported in detail the positive impact the project has made for individuals, families and communities.

To link to the stories published by the Ethiopian media click here.