In April of 2008, Art for Darfur donated 100% of proceeds to the IRC’s work on the ground in Darfur, Sudan. We chose the IRC because of the long-standing relationship the organization has had with Sudanese citizens, it’s condition-free humanitarian aid programs and the organization’s commitment to allocating 90% of funds to programs and only 10% on operations.
The International Rescue Committee has been operating in Sudan since 1981, aiding communities hit by conflict or natural disaster, and helping to rebuild in areas of post-conflict. In Southern Sudan – effectively a semi-autonomous country since 2005 – the IRC now directly helps more than 450,000 people with essential services including healthcare, special medical care for children under five, protection and measures to tackle violence against women. The IRC was also delivering humanitarian aid to around 2 million people in Darfur, North and East Sudan until March 2009.
UPDATE: After the ICC indictment of Sudan’s president, Omar Al-Bashir, the Government of Sudan has ordered the closure of International Rescue Committee humanitarian aid programs in Darfur as well as North and East Sudan — a decision that stops the IRC from delivering life-saving aid to more than 1.75 million men, women and children.