Christian charity World Emergency Relief is preparing a 45 ton shipment of humanitarian aid and essential medical supplies for immediate dispatch to Sudan where it will be distributed to communities already struggling with extreme poverty.

The shipment will be distributed to remote communities which lack basic social services including healthcare facilities or safe water sources. Once there, the aid will be distributed by WER's local partner agency, ANCC Sudan.

WER has been active in Sudan since 2004 where it continues to provide essential aid to communities often overlooked by the international community. It was the only international aid agency to respond to the needs of local communities during a major cholera outbreak in Ikotos district in southern Sudan in 2006.

Now WER is appealing to Christians to donate to its emergency Sudan appeal and raise funds that will help provide antibiotics for diarrhoea, clean water for thousands of displaced children and build a new clinic to serve some of the 180,000 people in Ikotos.

Just last week, the Disasters Emergency Committee launched an emergency appeal to ensure that medicines and medical equipment are stocked in the Darfur region of Sudan ahead of the heavy rains which are expected to bring large-scale outbreaks of cholera and malaria.

World Vision, British Red Cross, Cafod, Christian Aid, Oxfam, Save the Children, and Tearfund are just some of the aid agencies appealing for vital help to respond to the rapidly growing crisis.

Brendan Gormley, Chief Executive of the Disasters Emergency Committee, said: "We are seeing one of the greatest concentrations of human suffering right now in Darfur and Chad and the impending rains will make the situation even worse. The money raised by the British public in 2004 saved thousands of lives and we desperately need your help again.

"The fact that the UK's leading agencies have come together to appeal shows the severity of the situation. We need to act urgently- please do give generously."

For more details and to make a donation to World Emergency Relief's appeal, please visit WER's emergency appeal website: www.red-e.org.uk
You can also donate by phone on 0870 429 2129

To donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee Darfur and Chad appeal go to http://www.dec.org.uk/?gclid=COe3md7OsIwCFQNQEgodhxTbSA