Updated: March 2009
Sudan
Overview | World Vision's history in Sudan | World Vision in Sudan today
OverviewThe Republic of the Sudan, geographically the largest country on Africa’s continent, is bordered by the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Uganda, and the Red Sea. With mountains in the far south and arid desert in the north, Rainfall varies by region, and the Nile River runs the entire length of the country.Natural resources include petroleum, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold, and hydropower. Arabic is the official language, although English and various African languages also are spoken. What is now northern Sudan was once the Kingdom of Nubia—an area that came under Egyptian rule around 2600 B.C. An Egyptian and Nubian civilization called Kush flourished until A.D. 350. During the 6th century missionaries converted the region to Christianity, but eventually an influx of Arab Muslims replaced Christianity with Islam. During the 1500s Sudan was conquered by a people group called the Funji. Several other African groups settled in the south during this time, including the Dinka, Shilluk, Nuer, and Azande. Sudan fell to Egypt’s rule again in 1874, but was taken over by Britain in 1898 and became known as Anglo- Egyptian Sudan until 1955. The 20th century saw the growth of nationalism, and in 1953, Egypt and Britain granted Sudan self-government. Independence was proclaimed on January 1, 1956. Since then, Sudan has been ruled by a series of unstable parliamentary governments and military regimes. Fundamentalist Islamic law, instituted in 1983, exacerbated the rift among the Arab north, African animists, and Christians in the south. Differences in language, religion, ethnicity, and political power erupted in a lengthy civil war between government forces and southern rebels. |  |
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| Human rights violations, religious persecution, and allegations that Sudan was a safe haven for terrorists isolated the country from most of the international community. The United Nations imposed sanctions against Sudan in 1995, lifting them six years later when the Sudanese government began peace talks. In January 2005 a peace deal between the government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) was signed, ending 20 years of brutal civil war that resulted in the deaths of 2 million people and the displacement of 4 million. Just as Sudan’s civil war seemed to be ending, violence intensified in the northwestern Darfur region. While the previous civil war was fought against southern black animists and Christians, this most recent conflict targeted black Muslims in the north. Arab militias, believed to be armed by the government, killed more than 30,000 people and displaced more than 1 million. The work of 7,000 peacekeepers from the African Union have proven to be ineffectual, and killings continued in Darfur. Shortly thereafter, another peace deal was composed and signed by the government and some of the Darfur rebel groups. By July 2006, violence had reportedly intensified. Sudan’s fragile economy is compromised by poverty and persistent drought. Approximately 80 percent of the population is employed in agriculture, yet only 6.78 percent of the land is arable. Crops of cotton, peanuts, sorghum, wheat, millet, gum arabic, sugarcane, and various fruits are hindered by a severe water shortage due to reoccurring droughts. Lack of water is a crisis throughout all of Sudan. In South Sudan, only 30 percent of rural dwellers have access to safe drinking water. As a result, scores of adults and children are dying from diarrhea and other water-related maladies, such as guinea worm. The people’s health also is impacted by the high risk of contracting malaria, typhoid, or dengue fevers. In addition, nearly 350,000 people are living with HIV and AIDS. Back to top World Vision’s history in SudanWorld Vision began its work in Sudan in 1972 through a partnership with the African Committee for Rehabilitation of the Southern Sudan (ACROSS) to provide emergency relief aid to war-affected families. Efforts included the reconstruction of the Rumbek community hospital and surrounding buildings, the provision of medicine and supplies, and education in preventive health care.The 1980s brought constant turmoil to the Sudanese people as civil war raged and severe drought parched the land. In 1983, approximately 1,500 refugees entered Sudan daily from violence-torn neighboring countries, straining the already limited food supply. World Vision, through the ACROSS Refugee Settlement Project, responded by distributing blankets, grain, cooking oil, medical kits, and shelter to more than 50,000 people. Supplemental feeding for children also was provided. Numerous development projects were initiated in the 1980s that assisted communities in improved crop production, animal husbandry, health care, clean water collection, infrastructure repair, and literacy. In 1989, World Vision became a founding member of Operation Lifeline Sudan, a partnership of nongovernmental organizations and United Nations agencies designated to coordinate the southern Sudan relief efforts. During the 1990s World Vision conducted operations in all major regions of southern Sudan. Project objectives included primary health care, water provision, agriculture, local grain purchase, enterprise development, and emergency relief efforts. World Vision focused on an integrated work approach that involved peace and advocacy, gender development, church support, and environment and natural resource initiatives. Back to top World Vision in Sudan todayWorld Vision is committed to partnering with the people of the Sudan to enhance their lives today and to help enact sustainable solutions for the future of their communities, families, and children. Currently, there are no children registered in the World Vision sponsorship program. World Vision operates several development projects, a few of which are supported by U.S. donors. Highlights of these efforts include the following:
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