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The Situation
It was tagged by the United Nations as the “world’s greatest current
humanitarian crisis”. It all began in early 2003 as a result of an
internal armed conflict. In 2004, at least two million people were
affected by the war. This resulted in hordes of communities being
driven out of their homes, and displaced within the Greater Darfur
Region. About 200,000 refugees also fled across the border into Chad.
Our Response
 MERCY
Malaysia sent a Rapid Assessment Team in early August 2004 to El
Geneina, the capital city of West Darfur to assess the situation and
identify areas in which we could provide aid. During the early stages
of our presence, the team collaborated with Islamic Relief UK. We
identified areas of health needs that we could provide; and soon after,
established a Base Camp and Field Office in El-Geneina, West Darfur.
Medical Relief
 MERCY
Malaysia volunteer, Dr. Abdul Adzim, treating a patient Two young
infants being cared by family members in a mobile clinic (Photo by Art
Chen, courtesy of The Star Publication) Throughout 2004, various
medical and humanitarian relief programs were implemented in El Geneina
Hospital, the only hospital in the city. From August through to
December, we deployed 7 doctors and 3 nurses. A significant number of
specialists served to support the medical needs in the hospital, as
well as mobile clinics located within the Internally Displaced Persons
(IDPs) Camps in West Darfur. Working together with the Saudi Red
Crescent, MERCY Malaysia also distributed food items to the inpatients
of El Geneina Hospital.
Institutional Feeding Programme (IFP)
 El
Geneina Hospital is a rudimentary hospital, therefore, it is not fully
equipped or enjoy the facilities of a modern hospital. Many parts of
the hospital needed to be upgraded and rehabilitated.
One of the services in the El-Geneina Hospital which MERCY Malaysia
undertook was to rehabilitate the hospital’s kitchen. This facility had
not been functional or equipped to provide food for its inpatients. As
a result, family members camp within the hospital compound to cook for
them. On 24th November 2004, we initiated an Institutional Feeding
Programme through structural rehabilitation of the hospital kitchen and
began providing inpatients with nutritious and balanced supplements.
This marked the beginning of MERCY Malaysia’s reconstruction and
rehabilitation programmes in the El Geneina Hospital. The hospital
kitchen was renovated and rehabilitated. With a donation received from
the Saudi Red Crescent, MERCY Malaysia constructed a water tank, a
feature crucial to the operations of the institutional feeding
programme.
A dietary programme for inpatients was formulated by MERCY Malaysia’s
volunteer dieticians and nutritionists. The menu was designed to
reflect the dietary needs of inpatients while taking into consideration
the traditional diet and eating habits of the people of Sudan. It is
also prepared in compliance with the rules and regulations set by the
United Nations World Food Programme. Our volunteers also provided
training to the local staff on the running and management of the
Institutional Feeding Programme, as part of the organisation’s capacity
building functions in West Darfur.
Reproductive Health Unit
The Maternity Ward in El Geneina Hospital was ill equipped and the
building of a Reproductive Health Unit is, therefore, necessary to
provide the IDPs with comprehensive reproductive healthcare. With the
aim of reducing morbidity and mortality rate, MERCY Malaysia takes on
the responsibility of extending the Maternity Ward, as well as the
construction of part the new Reproductive Health Unit.
By the end 2004, MERCY Malaysia was ready to begin the rehabilitation
project on the reproductive health facilities. The rehabilitation of
this unit is constructed using local manpower, and is being managed and
monitored by MERCY Malaysia’s Project Engineer.
Reproductive Health Unit was officially launched on November 2006.
Kerinding 2 Pre-School
MERCY Malaysia set up a Pre-School for children between 4-6 years old
at Kerinding 2 IDP camp located in El Geneina. We launched on 27th
November 2004 and registered 350 children. MERCY Malaysia collaborated
with the Sudanese Ministry of Education in devising the programme for
the pre-school. We also included activities such as play therapy, art
therapy and music therapy. MERCY Malaysia deployed volunteer
educationists and clinical psychologists to train local Sudanese to
become facilitators in the pre-school with the prospects of managing
the school on their own.
MERCY Malaysia undertook the construction of the pre-school. The
structure was constructed in the form of Sudanese huts, bearing in mind
the comfort of students, trainers and the needs of schoolroom
activities.
Congregating in the school ground. The school follows Sudanese
architectural features, using natural materials and was constructed by
the locals MERCY Malaysia’s mission in Sudan was made successful with
the dedication of 24 members, comprising doctors, nurses,
psychologists, nutritionists, dieticians, logisticians, engineers,
architect, educationists and staff.
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