Counterpart NGO sends $5 Million help to Darfur

Aug 22, 2005 (Washington) — “The scale of the tragedy in Sudan is almost too huge to comprehend, but we all have to do our best,” said the head of a private development agency. Dispatching his organization’s team to Darfur, Lelei LeLaulu, president of Counterpart International, said Counterpart would start airlifting over US$5 million dollars worth of pharmaceuticals and hospital supplies to the African nation.

Counterpart will also set up warehouses and logistical networks in partnership with Relief International and other humanitarian and development organizations. “A lot of people horrified by recent events in Sudan want to help and we plan to be ready to receive additional contributions,” said LeLaulu.

The Counterpart Sudan operations are led by Sudanese Hearty Ritti, former Vice President of the advocacy group Southern Sudanese Voice or Freedom, and Errin Procknow, a humanitarian aid logistics expert. The team arrived in Sudan over the weekend.

“The supplies we bring to the warehouse will help those most vulnerable in the communities, especially internally displaced persons. We look forward to assisting those in need in Sudan,” said Ritti, who hails from the southern region of Sudan.

Ritti was closely involved with the Sudan Peace Act which was signed by President Bush in October of 2002. The act aims to facilitate asolution to the civil war while condemning human rights violations.

Procknow of Counterpart’s Community and Humanitarian Assistance Programs (CHAP) traveled around the US in search of surplus government, private and corporate donations for the Darfur operation.

Set up in 1965, Counterpart is a non-profit humanitarian and development organization with projects it operates directly or with partners in more than 60 countries.