Weekly Humanitarian Action in Darfur – 3 April 2008

Headlines

? Banditry against commercial trucks carrying WFP food to and within Darfur continues to hinder the timely delivery of food assistance as transporters are becoming increasingly reluctant to travel without government or security escorts, which considerably slows down delivery and turnaround times. While food stocks are sufficient to meet April distribution plans, WFP has been unable to replenish the usual buffer stocks to cater for exigencies. The total number of trucks currently missing is 42 and the number of drivers unaccounted for is 29, including one killed in Darfur.

? All monitoring and assessment missions in North Darfur, including the joint State Ministry of Education/UNICEF/WFP needs assessment, are currently on hold due to continued insecurity throughout the state.

? During 8 – 14 March, South Darfur reported the highest incidence rate of ARI and bloody diarrhoea, while malaria was highest in North Darfur. South Darfur reported 15 cases of Acute Jaundice Syndrome, while West Darfur reported 34 cases, compared with 19 and 35 cases respectively during the previous week.

? IDP camps in Nertiti, West Darfur have reached the meningitis epidemic threshold. Vaccination campaign is targeting 32,000 people.

? As part of its logistics coordination activities, UNJLC continues to accept applications for the free Common Transport Service, which will run in May and June to El Fasher, Nyala and Geneina. Announced mid-March, the service is being executed by CARE and coordinated by UNJLC. Humanitarian cargo will be delivered, free of charge, to the offices of humanitarian agencies in the three Darfur state capitals. Further information can be obtained by emailing [email protected].

POPULATION MOVEMENTS

? WFP and NGO partner teams are adjusting food distribution plans to reflect population movement to Armankul from Selea, West Darfur, following recent displacements after several weeks of fighting in the northern parts of the state. Attempts are still being made to determine where other displaced persons have fled to and verify numbers of people requiring assistance. Further population movement is expected until the security situation stabilizes.

Needs and response by sector

EDUCATION

North Darfur

? The NGO German Agro Action has completed the construction of 50 classrooms in 15 rural schools in Malha, supported by UNICEF that will benefit more than 2,500 students. Seven new classrooms in Malha’s urban schools have also been completed, benefiting more than 350 children, again with UNICEF assistance. Meanwhile, Autash Peace and Development Association has completed construction of five UNICEF-funded classrooms for 250 internally displaced children in El Sereaf camp. Through a partnership between the State Ministry of Education, UNICEF and Plan Sudan, US$ 37,000 has been made available to parent-teacher committees in Zam Zam camp that will support rehabilitation of 36 temporary classrooms for 2,000 children.

? With UNICEF support, the State Ministry of Education and Plan Sudan have started a two month training programme for 50 young women who are not attending schools in Zam Zam, Abu Shouk and Al Salaam camps as well as El Fasher town, to provide skills in handicrafts, food processing and sewing.

West Darfur

? With support from UNICEF, the school in Abu Surug that was closed after attacks on the community reopened for 126 students, with nine teachers reporting back for duty.

? As a result of the agreement by UNICEF to cover examination fees for children affected by recent attacks in the northern corridor of West Darfur, 177 children from Siliea, Sirba and Abu Surug undertook their end of year exams in El Geneina.

FOOD SECURITY AND LIVELIHOODS

South Darfur

? A total of 1,408 IDPs (116 people in Khor Omer and 1,292 people in El Neem camp) have been added to the General Food Distribution caseload in Ed Daein to receive monthly food support.

? WFP provided a 15-day transit ration to 485 Dinka returnees to Northern Bahr El Ghazal from Abu Matariq, South Darfur.

West Darfur

? WFP is providing food support to 128 pupils from Sirba and Selea who will attend the Sudanese basic certificate in Geneina, West Darfur. This follows a request to WFP from the State Ministry of Education. WFP recently signed a Letter of Understanding with the State Ministries of Agriculture, Education and Health for a capacity building project, in which all three ministries received equipment including computers, GPS and printers.

GOVERNANCE AND RULE OF LAW

North Darfur

? On 31 March, the UNDP Rule of Law Programme in North Darfur organized in collaboration with El Fashir University a seminar on “Poverty and Conflict in Darfur”. The event provided a platform for open and timely discussion on the linkages between poverty and conflict in Darfur. It also examined the strategies that could help policy-makers to address the various problems related to the issue. The Seminar took place at El Fashir University and attracted some 250 participants from Darfur’s academia, civil society, Internally Displaced Persons, local authorities and women’s groups. It was facilitated by Mr. Yassir Hassan Satti, Assistant Professor and Director of the Centre for Peace and Development Studies at the University of Zalingi.

HEALTH AND NUTRITION

Over-all Darfur health situation

? The World Health Organization and the Federal Ministry of Health reported that between 8 – 14 March, a total of 50,301 health events under surveillance were reported from Darfur. Of these 18,191 health events (36%) were reported in less than 5 year age group while the remaining 32,110 health events (64%) were reported in the above 5 year age group. In above 5 year age group, 13.2% of reported cases were attributed to acute respiratory tract infection (ARI), clinically diagnosed malaria contributed 3 % while bloody diarrhoea 2.7% of all reported cases. By comparison, 26.3% of reported cases in the under 5 year age group were attributed to acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) followed by bloody diarrhoea 3.8% and 2.2% for clinically diagnosed malaria. The case load of selected endemic diseases was usual given the seasonality of these diseases reported earlier from Greater Darfur.

North Darfur

? The World Health Organization is working with its health partners to complete the health facilities mapping in 5 out of the 7 localities in the State. The process will be completed in March 2008 and a comprehensive picture of the health systems for North Darfur will be produced by WHO.

? WHO is supporting the review and implementation of the referral system of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) cases from camps to maternity hospital by working closely with health partners and the health officials of the hospitals. WHO continues to provide referral guidelines to partners to allow prompt and timely referrals to the hospital as agreed by the SMOH.

? 24 medical staff from hospitals and INGOs’s health facilities were trained on clinical management of rapes survivors. The World Health Organization is closely working with UNFPA and is offering technical support and guidelines for the training.

? The World Health Organization donated basic and essential drugs to Korma clinic to ensure delivery of quality health services. The health facility has recently been upgraded to serve as major health facility for the locality and the villages in its vicinity. It has been facing issues such as water shortage and influx of patients due to the increase of number of the nomads in the area.

? The State Ministry of Health, UNICEF, WHO and other partners completed the polio immunization campaign in North Darfur, with coverage exceeding initial estimates – including the areas of Hashaba and Muzbat which had not been covered previously.

? Feeding centres supported by UNICEF in North Darfur have started reporting a steady increase in admissions as the hunger season (May, June, July) draws nearer.

? UNICEF has supported the State Ministry of Health to undertake HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns in Kutum, Kebkabyia, El Fasher University and Kassab, Abu Shouk and Al Salaam camps for internally displaced persons, targeting 2,500 young people.

South Darfur

? An Orientation workshop was provided to health cadres working in the IDP camps around Nyala. The World Health Organization and the State Ministry of Health conducted the meningitis case definition and management as part of the preparedness activities in South Darfur. Health cadres of camps around Kass will also undergo the same orientation.

? The World Health Organization’s communicable diseases control unit and the State Ministry of Health are collaboratively working on the meningitis preparedness and response activities. A rapid response team composed of representatives from Cord Aid and State Ministry of Health- Daein is on-ground to support WHO’s effort in ensuring preparedness and response activities. One suspected case of meningitis reported to Al Daein Hospital from Khour Omer camp was of an 18 month-old child and was investigated by the CDC officer and the sample was taken for further investigation. No other suspected cases have been reported from the state.

West Darfur

? WHO is taking the lead role in health in the ongoing assessment missions to evaluate health infrastructure and human resources of villages in the northern corridor. In this regard, health assessments have been conducted in the areas of Sirba, Bir Degig, Condebi and Serf Gidad villages. The recent assessment missions by WHO, UNICEF and OCHA identified one of the urgent needs of the area as the provision of enough drug supplies and midwifery kits to Umdukhon, Bendis and Mukjar areas before the rainy season.

? Vaccination campaign is on-going in North and South IDP camps of Nertiti, West Darfur state targeting 32,000 of population including Thur, Golo and the town of Nertiti. This is done in coordination with FMoH, SMoH, MSF-F, UNICEF, WHO and partners. The vaccines are provided by UNICEF, while the operational cost of the campaign is covered by the MSF-France.

? In Morni where meningitis cases were reported, WHO has provided four transport media and various drug supplies. Outbreak preparedness and response plan has been laid out by WHO and its partners.

? A total of 20,000 people were reached through a special meningitis vaccination campaign in the Nertiti area of Jebel Marrah, led by the State Ministry of Health and supported by UNICEF and WHO. Meanwhile, UNICEF has supported 20 laboratory assistants from El Geneina, Mornei, Krenik, Umshalaya, Masterie, Arara, Habila, Forbaranga, Umkhei, Deleij, Umdukhun, Bendisi, Nertiti, Kelling, Rokirow and Sisi to attend a two-month training programme on malaria diagnosis at the national training centre in Sennar.

? A training programme on Clinical Management of Rape was undertaken with 22 medical staff from the State Ministry of Health and NGOs, with support from UNFPA and UNICEF.

NON-FOOD ITEMS AND EMERGENCY SHELTER

? Common Pipeline distributions for this week were in response to fires in IDP camps. In North Darfur, there was a fire in Zam Zam Camp, which affected 112 households. SPRC distributed Common Pipeline non-food items (NFIs) to the affected populations. In South Darfur, Labado Development Committee distributed NFIs in Sheiria to 69 households, also affected by a fire.

? UNJLC continues to meet with donors regarding the Common Appeal for the purchase of items for the Common Pipeline. The Common Pipeline supports over 90% of NFI distributions in Darfur, and the funds requested will enable the purchasing of vital stocks prior to the on-set of the rainy season.

PROTECTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS

? The ongoing campaign against female genital mutilation and cutting, led by the State Council for Child Welfare with UNICEF support reached 21 different locations in South Darfur; with additional support from UNFPA and the NGO CHF, four forums for 800 women were held in Otash, Kalma and Al Salaam camps.

? Training of trainers on HIV awareness has been undertaken for ten peer educators from the State Ministry of Health, Relief International and the Sudanese Red Crescent Association in both North and South Darfur. These educators will reach out to a further 80 peer workers, who in turn should reach some 35,000 young people with information on HIV and its prevention.

WATER AND SANITATION

North Darfur

? In response to increasing reported cases of acute jaundice syndrome (AJS), a field mission was conducted to Um Dhukhun to assess the water/sanitation situation. During the mission, water samples were collected from the main water sources and analysis conducted for bacteriological contamination. One of the important findings is that chlorination systems are weak with the main water supply sources. Coordination meetings were held last week where findings were shared with WASH partners to contain the spread of AJS. Chlorination of all water sites has also started.

? Recently, joint efforts of the World Health Organization, UNICEF with the Ministry of Health and other health partners covered Abu Shouk and El Salam IDP camps in assessing water quality control. One of the results showed contamination which prompted planning to increase the hygiene promotion activities.

? In Al Salaam camp for internally displaced persons, Oxfam has completed the construction of 11 school latrines benefiting an estimated 3,400 students, while in Wadaa, the State Water Corporation and UNICEF have constructed school latrines for 400 pupils. In Zam Zam camp, the State Water Corporation supported by UNICEF has constructed five communal latrines for 150 people and supported a hygiene campaign visiting 1,900 households to promote hygiene messages. The two partners also supported a five day cleaning campaign in the camp, which saw the cleaning and maintenance of 1,500 communal latrines benefiting 30,000 camp residents.

? The WES team with the support from IDP based hygiene promoters conducted a one hygiene/cleaning campaign by visiting 1,900 households to provide hygiene promotion messages. A total of 1,200 jerry cans were cleaned and 1,900 households were visited. A similar campaign was undertaken in Kassab camp, reaching more than 3,200 households.

? In Abu Shouk camp, Oxfam, with support from UNICEF, has distributed nearly 140,000 bars of soap as part of hygiene promotion activities that will benefit nearly 56,000 residents. In Al Salaam the same partnership saw more than 126,000 bars of soap being distributed, while UNICEF supported the NGO Action Contre La Faim to provide soap to Therapeutic Feeding Centres in Abu Shouk and Al Salaam, camps benefiting 100 patients. In Zam Zam camp, the State Water Corporation distributed nearly 125,000 bars of soap bars to 55,000 residents while in Kassab camp UNICEF and GOAL have provided more than 64,000 bars of soap to residents to promote hygiene and preventive health message, benefiting 55,000 IDPs. Additional 213 soap cartons (9,585 soap bars) were distributed to 3,825 new arrivals in the camp to promote personal hygiene.

South Darfur

? The State Water Corporation, with UNICEF support, has undertaken a range of sanitation activities across South Darfur including the construction of 93 new latrines in Al Salaam and Al Ferdous camps for internally displaced persons, and the rehabilitation of 25 household latrines in Al Salaam and Mossei camps. The two partners also undertook three clean up campaigns in Kalma and Mossei camps, as well as a number of household hygiene promotion visits.

West Darfur

? The NGO ACTED has established four hygiene clubs in Sarf Gabara, Goz Ghurab, Dar Salaam and Nour El Huda, with curriculum and education materials were provided by UNICEF. The State Water Corporation and UNICEF have provided a refresher training course on hygiene promotion for 30 hygiene promoters from the two IDP camps in Nertiti. Meanwhile, 60 community members were trained in hand pump mechanic training in Garsilla.

If you have inputs for the next edition or questions and comments on this one, or other media and public enquiries, please contact:
-Nahla Zarroug, Information Analyst, United Nations, Khartoum, Sudan, Email: [email protected], Telephone: +249-9-12160065

For other media and public enquiries, you may also contact:
Orla Clinton, Public Information Officer, United Nations, Khartoum, Sudan, Email: [email protected], Telephone: +249-9-12174454
Imad Hassanein, Media Officer, United Nations, Khartoum, Sudan, Email: [email protected], Telephone: +249-9-12178035