(PORTLAND, ORE. - Aug. 13, 2007) Medical Teams International, along with five other North American-based aid organizations, will step up relief efforts in Sudan thanks to a $1.4 million federal grant. The grant will help Medical Teams International deliver better access to health care and improve medical services for 60,000 displaced people living in West Darfur.

The award was given to the Global Relief Alliance (GRA), a partnership of Medical Teams International, World Relief, World Concern, MAP, Food for the Hungry and Christian Reformed World Relief Committee.

The grant (awarded by the Office for Foreign Disaster Assistance) also helps Medical Teams International train local healthcare workers to manage common diseases—respiratory infections, malaria and diarrhea. These conditions often turn deadly without access to medical care. Medical Teams International will also supply nutrition monitoring and hygiene education as well as distribution of protective netting to protect women and children from malaria-carrying mosquitoes.

"This grant ensures that we can continue helping families that desperately need medical care," says Joe DiCarlo, director of emergency response at Medical Teams International. "Despite a challenging security situation, it's essential that we reach these communities with medicines, health education and healthcare providers."

Medical Teams International will contribute to the implementation of the $552,196 health care component of the grant. The GRA has delivered more than $2.5 million in services to Darfur, including food, water and livelihood programs.

Medical Teams International has been providing health care assistance in Darfur since 2004. Since then, it has sent medical volunteers to treat families living in camps for displaced people, trained Sudanese community health workers and funded local health clinics. In April 2007, Medical Teams International deployed its first medical volunteer to Darfur since 2005.

Two decades of conflict, famine and widespread insecurity in Sudan have triggered the largest internally displaced person population in the world. More than 4 million Sudanese, including nearly 2 million in Darfur, struggle to find clean water, adequate food and critically needed medical help.