Practical Action is proud to announce a fantastic response to an appeal broadcast on BBC Radio 4 by journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy.
On Sunday January 4 and Thursday January 8, the Channel 4 News presenter hit the airwaves to tell a million listeners about Babiker, a farmer living in Eastern Sudan.
Thanks to an ingenious solar irrigation system, he can now grow more food and feed himself and other displaced people by farming larger plots of land.
The technology and training have allowed him to earn a more sustainable income and work his way out of debt by ditching diesel-powered water pumps.
The additional crops also allow him to work with and provide food for internally displaced families who have moved to his village as a result of the on-going conflict in Sudan.
The appeal has provided Practical Action with funds, enabling the organisation to remain flexible and respond quickly to unforeseen crises, such as the one in Sudan.
Muna Eltahir, Practical Action Country Director for Sudan said: “It is absolutely vital that the public hear about the crisis that has engulfed Sudan, and also of the work that is being done to help people adapt and live well in their new reality.
“My colleagues and the people of Sudan are showing that by working together, it is possible to provide a vision of hope and positivity, even in the darkest times and I would like to thank everyone who donated on behalf of all of the Practical Action team in Sudan.”
Our previous Radio 4 appeal in January 2021 was part of the UK Aid Match (UKAM) scheme, with donations matched by the UK government. UK Aid Match funding has reduced in recent years, reflecting wider declines in government aid budgets globally.
To help replicate the impact of match funding for this appeal, a couple of generous supporters agreed to match the first £50,000 raised through the latest campaign.
The appeal has so far raised a grand total of over £140,000, surpassing its £100,000 target.
Sarah Roberts, CEO of Practical Action said: “We have continued working alongside communities in eastern Sudan, despite immense challenges since civil war erupted.
“We are supporting rural families facing hunger, severe water shortages, and those who are living with large numbers of people who have been displaced by the war. This critical work builds food security and provides essential services so that people have what they need now, as well as the basis for a better future.
“None of this would have been possible without our supporters and the public, whose generous donations allow us to be flexible and adaptable in uncertain times.
“I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who everyone who contributed, and to Krishnan Guru-Murthy who read the appeal on our behalf.”
Practical Action has been in Sudan for more than 40 years and works with communities to rehabilitate farmland, grow nutritious food, and expand access to clean energy and water. Better farming productivity is improving nutrition and strengthening food security, while better community management reduces tensions over natural resources.