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Dear friend, When an emergency strikes, our team is there to quickly respond to families’ needs and deliver urgently needed relief. Courageous, knowledgeable, and selfless Mercy Corps team members do this work across the globe — often in their own communities. One of our team members working on an ongoing emergency response is Emmanuel Ufot, the Emergency Strategic Support Director based in Darfur, Sudan. Today, we’ll take a deep dive into how we’ve been responding to the conflict and displacement crisis in Sudan. Before we do, check out our blog about how we respond to emergencies and the lasting impact we’ve created for families in need.
Emmanuel: I remember almost 20 years ago, a crisis displaced many people in the city, and a lot of people were coming to a particular school-turned-camp because they needed assistance. I heard there were organizations helping, so I went to the camp. I walked through the place and I couldn’t believe what was happening. Everything was chaotic. I saw some people in jackets helping, and I decided I wanted to help as well. Every day, I showed up and they told me what to do. After three months, an organization gave me a job and I’ve been helping people. I decided to go to school to learn everything about food security, nutrition, and coordination. Since then, I’ve not looked back. Q: Can you describe your role in emergency response and what a typical day looks like? Emmanuel: What is normal every day is that first thing in the morning, I go through my phone quickly to the security WhatsApp and try to scan feeds on what happened in the night — basically, I’m trying to see if there was any drone attacks. Most of the day, it’s field visits or responding to emergency calls — ensuring people can receive support or attending coordination meetings with other partners. In the office, I check on other staff, follow up, and constantly scan for security information because I have to make rapid decisions immediately. People’s lives depend on it. I wind down towards the evening, and it could be that while the day was going on, there was an attack somewhere. There is never a dull moment. There’s always something to do. Q: What would you say sets Mercy Corps apart in the way that it approaches emergency response and recovery efforts? Emmanuel: We have a system to be able to triage and find out the people who need assistance the most. We go straight to the people. With cash assistance, we prioritize putting money in the hands of people so that they can take control of their lives and that helps them immediately to be able to cope with any shock that they find themselves in. Right now, we’re starting to distribute seeds to farmers. We’re targeting them for this production season. We’re helping them to plan better and do better. Me and my team — we’re saving lives, we’re bringing hope, we’re transforming communities. Supporters like you allow Mercy Corps team members to make a difference in the lives of communities. They are able to live and work in crisis zones to ensure families receive the support they need when disaster strikes. To learn more about our work, watch this video on Emergency Response. With gratitude, Mercy Corps |
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