Red Cross helps South Sudanese residents with energy saving stove training

October 14, 2013

Red Cross helps South Sudanese residents with energy saving stove training

The Canadian Red Cross, one of the largest charity organizations in the country, works closely with National Societies around the world to respond to pressing world health challenges with a number of innovative approaches. One location where both the Canadian Red Cross and other Red Cross Societies have provided aid is in South Sudan.

The situation in South Sudan
In both Sudan and South Sudan, the need for humanitarian aid is immense. Not only has decades of conflict devastated communities, but natural disasters like severe flooding and drought have limited access to food in many parts of these countries. Healthcare efforts have focused largely on preventing disease, stopping chronic malnutrition and lowering infant mortality rates.

An energy-saving initiative
The South Sudan Red Cross has been especially active in helping residents. Recently, the South Sudan Red Cross, with funding from the Canadian International Development Agency, initiated a very successful training program for women and men in Komiri Payam, part of Budi County. The project helped 117 men and women learn how to conserve the precious resource firewood while cooking on energy-saving mud stoves, which were made from local materials, allowing anyone in the region to benefit from the training.

Deforestation is a major problem for those in the region, making cooking food difficult. But the stoves consume far less firewood and can be equipped to run on alternative sources of fuel as well, such as grass, weeds, crop residue, leaves and seed pods. The stoves retain warmth as well, reducing the need to continually feed firewood.

The South Sudan Red Cross also reported that the mud stoves, with their enclosed flames, are much safer than the more traditional brick stoves. Furthermore, there are risks associated with collecting firewood, including land mines or accidentally stumbling into dangerous conflicts, like cattle raids.

Making a difference
The South Sudan Red Cross' training is already yielding great success. To date, more than 700 stoves have been built, and trainees are helping neighbours complete their own energy-saving stove projects. The stoves have changed lives.

Help make a difference in the lives of people in Canada and around the world, donate today either online or at your local Red Cross office.

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