UN agencies in Sudan agree to strengthen joint action

August 9, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) offices in Sudan agreed on Sunday to enhance coordination in their support of refugees and displaced persons.

The Letter of Understanding (LoU) and a Joint Action Plan was signed by UNHCR Representative in Sudan Mohamed Adar and UNICEF’s Representative in Sudan, Geert Cappelaere.

In line with the signed letter of understanding the two agencies will coordinate their assistance to refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)” with special emphasis on education, child protection, nutrition, health, as well as water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) and behaviour change and communication interventions”.

UN agencies estimate that over six million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Sudan including IDPs from Darfur, South Kordofan, and While Nile, refugees from Eritrea, Ethiopia and South Sudan.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Cappelaere indicated that children constitute some 70% of the refugee population in Sudan.

A joint statement issued on Sunday the two partners agreed to clarify roles and responsibilities “in the areas of coordination, strategic planning and assessments, contingency planning and preparedness, implementation, monitoring and reporting, resource mobilisation, advocacy and information sharing”.

In a report issued in July 2015, the UNICEF Sudan says its humanitarian appeal for 2015 is 73% unfunded, adding that without additional funds its activities in the areas of education and child protection will be affected.

(ST)