DOHA: Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has completed its Social Harmony initiative launched about three years ago to promote peaceful coexistence and productive capabilities in West Darfur, Sudan.
Lasting 30 months until last December, the project was implemented with a $500,000 (QR1,819,340) contribution from Qatar Development Fund.
The project launched in May 2013 aimed to aid 500 post-war repatriated families of Arara, a poor village in Beida locality, West Darfur state, hit by the armed conflict.
To implement the development project, QRCS joined hands with its Sudanese counterpart and other entities, including the United Nations Development Programme, the Sudanese government’s Humanitarian Aid Commission, and University of Zalingei, Geneina Branch, with support from the Sudanese ministries of agriculture and social welfare and the community of 28,115 in the village.
QRCS Secretary-General Saleh bin Ali Al Mohannadi said, “The effort seeks to create an atmosphere of peace and stability by addressing conflict factors and containing tribal tensions first, then taking action to enhance the means of making livelihoods, reconstruction and development of natural resources.”
The war in Darfur had a heavy impact on the region, with villages obliterated and over two million people rendered homeless and forced to refugee camps.
Following the signing of the 2011 peace agreement, the displaced people returned home with hopes of restoring their normal life. However, they faced only painful reality: Most villages lacked the slightest basics of life, infrastructure and services were destroyed and the sources of income no more existent.
The programme was designed to foster social and cultural interaction among tribal and ethnic groups of Arara.
The responsibility for the project will be handed over to local government and community committees, who will be trained in project management and reporting.
QRCS’s field contributions includes operating Krinding Medical Centre, which serves 61,000 internally displaced people, rural hospitals that have so far helped over 100,000 people, water network installation, sanitation and urgent intervention in disaster management and relief.
The Peninsula
