Sudan, Africa's largest country, has been divided by civil war almost constantly since it gained independence in 1956. While the comprehensive peace accord signed in 2005 ended decades of fighting between the north and south, violence continues to plague Darfur in the west. (Where is Darfur?) The brutal tactics on both sides have left an estimated 200,000 people dead and prompted more than 2.5 million people to flee their homes.

The International Rescue Committee has been responding to regional conflicts, natural disasters and post-conflict reconstruction in Sudan since 1981. We are active throughout the country, working with more than 2.45 million people and divide our operations into three regions: West Sudan (Darfur), North and East Sudan, and Southern Sudan. The IRC’s long-term goal is to improve the Sudanese people’s ability to exercise their fundamental rights, access basic services and manage their own livelihoods.  IRC programs in Sudan >

See Photos from Southern Sudan on the IRC Voices from the Field Blog.  PLUS Joanne Offer's latest blog from Sudan on AlertNet.