Kerkera is a rural village of 1,500 in the conflict-affected northern Darfur region of Sudan. Located some forty miles north of the regional capital of El-Fasher, the village of Kerkera is a small-holding agricultural community of indigenous Africans belonging to the region’s principal Fur ethnic group (non-Arab Muslim) and speaking local dialects. Although access to water and arable land is very limited, villagers engage in low-level subsistence agriculture where possible and earn a meager income from the sale of crops, mainly dried tomatoes and onions, in the markets of El-Fasher.

“Where these children live there are no roads, no electricity, no telephones and little access to health care or education. When the rains fail so does this fragile economy, forcing children to walk miles for water.” Patricia Parker, Kids for Kids

Like much of Darfur, Kerkera and its 250 families have faced continuing threat since violence erupted between government-backed militias and Darfur rebel groups in February 2003. In the past year, attacks on aid convoys in the immediate vicinity have resulted in severe disruptions in much-needed humanitarian assistance and the temporary stationing of African Union peace-keeping troops in Kerkera and neighboring villages; the aid regime is under continuing threat today.