Donate for Darfur & Chad here.

International relief efforts in Darfur and neighboring Chad are on the brink of collapse, according to Jan Egeland, the chief U.N. aid coordinator.

"The next several weeks will make or break," Mr. Egeland told the New York Times.

Now, in addition to the horrific news of mass executions and the subsequent flood of refugees, a new challenge threatens to worsen matters dramatically.

The United Nations World Food Program has announced that, effective immediately, millions of vulnerable people throughout eastern and western Sudan will receive significantly reduced rations of food due to a severe funding shortfall.

The United Nations hopes that reducing the daily rations to as little as 1,764 kilocalories – just 84% of the minimum daily requirement of 2,100 kilocalories per person – food supplies in the region will last longer during the “hunger season,” the annual pre-harvest period from July to September, when needs are greatest.

According to Peter Smerdon, the World Food Program’s senior public affairs officer, this signals a “dramatic” shift, made necessary as a result of donations running far below what is needed to feed 6.1 million people during the hunger season.

Aid providers are especially worried about the negative impact of reduced rations in Darfur and neighboring Chad, where a genocidal campaign has killed 400,000 black Africans and forced an additional 2.5 million to flee their homes in search of safer ground.  Though several parties recently signed a peace treaty, a number of rival factions are refusing to add their endorsement, potentially escalating the conflict and exacerbating the devastating consequences of a food shortage.

To help combat this catastrophic shortage, MAZON is urging supporters to provide aid to struggling families throughout the region through the Food for Darfur & Chad fund.  Make sure to indicate that your donation should be used for Darfur relief.

In addition to its fundraising, MAZON is asking American Jews across the nation to speak up on behalf of victims of this terrible tragedy. MAZON encourages supporters to write letters to their legislators, urging them to take desperately needed action.

Click here to learn about national efforts to save Darfur.