Humanitarian Action in Darfur Weekly Bulletin No. 21

KEY OVERALL DEVELOPMENTS

– A high level UN team visited South Darfur from 18 – 19 June to access the humanitarian situation. Following this visit a joint UN statement was issued warning that continued insecurity in the region which led to food ration cuts combined with this year’s bad harvest have created an increasingly precarious situation. The UN wants insecurity to stop, a return to full rations as well as a conducive environment necessary for the ongoing essential delivery of life-saving assistance to the people of Darfur.
– On 20 June, the United Nations General Assembly approved an appropriation of $1.57 billion for the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) for the financial period running from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009.
– In a statement issued on 23 June, The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that millions of displaced Sudanese in Darfur are to face their third month of ration cuts as violence and attacks on trucking convoys continue to disrupt the flow of food assistance to the region. Some 2.7 million people will soon face their third month of a 42% ration cut at the same time as the hunger gap looms — the difficult months from now until harvest in October.
– June 24, The International Medical Corps (IMC) announced that the GE Foundation — the philanthropic organization of General Electric Company — provided them with a $700,000 emergency grant directed toward humanitarian efforts in Darfur. In addition, the GE Corporation will be donating nearly $500,000 in health care equipment, training and supplies to support IMC efforts in the region.

POPULATION MOVEMENTS

North Darfur

– The International Organization for Migration (IOM) conducted research and consultations on reported sites of government supported rehabilitation in order to monitor the possible generation of pull factors for IDP returns.
– Background research and consultations were conducted by IOM to improve inter-agency cooperation in the monitoring of spontaneous seasonal agricultural IDP returns.
– IOM deployed 22 surveyors for its population baseline, population tracking and village assessments in hard to reach rural areas in North Darfur.

South Darfur

– IOM conducted a training session for 20 Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) personnel on IDP protection issues associated with IDP returns and relocations.
– IOM continued to assist with preparations for a possible IDP relocation between Al Salam IDP Camp and El Sereif IDP Camp by conducting a preliminary information campaign in Al Salam IDP Camp; by supporting World Vision International (WVI)’s verification and registration of new arrivals in Al Salam IDP Camp; by monitoring the community and site conditions in the proposed relocation site; and by preparing for future go and see visits.
– IOM continued to train surveyors for its population baseline, population tracking and village assessments in hard to reach rural areas.

NEEDS AND RESPONSE BY SECTOR

EDUCATION

North Darfur

– With financial assistance from UNICEF, the State Ministry of Education (some) completed the training of 150 nomadic teachers in Arabic language and teaching methodology in Malha, Saraf Omra and El Sereaf. In addition, ten (10) parent-teacher associations (PTAs) have been established with 110 association members trained on school management of schools in ten (10) nomadic communities in El Sereaf locality. Meanwhile following advocacy from UNICEF and the some, parent-teacher associations in Abu Shouk and As Salaam IDP Camps — in collaboration with WFP — have agreed to implement school feeding programmes for over 27,000 children.

South Darfur

– Education supplies were provided by UNICEF to benefit 5,000 nomadic children across South Darfur. These supplies included classroom and teachers’ materials, stationery and recreation kits.

West Darfur

– A wide range of school supplies — including chalkboard paints, student stationery, textbooks, floor mats and furniture — has been provided by UNICEF to support schools in seven (7) localities in West Darfur, including two (2) remote localities in Jebel Marra.

FOOD SECURITY AND LIVELIHOODS

South Darfur

– In the month of May, Samaritan’s Purse carried out food distributions in 13 sites out of 31 distribution points in South Darfur. Total Beneficiaries from this distribution were 98,283 individuals. The distributed amount of food was 526.458 metric tones (MT).
– Samaritan’s Purse distributed 106 MT of seed, 3,200 donkey ploughs, 6,000 hand tools and 3,494 kilograms of vegetable seeds to 104,820 individuals (17,470 families) in East Jabal Marra.
– The three (3) kilometers (KM) village road from Feina to Aya, has been rehabilitated and accessed for transportation by Samaritan’s Purse.
– According to WFP, new arrivals from the Sania Afandu area arrived to Al Salam, Kalma and Bileil IDP Camps during the week. Emergency rations were provided while WFP and partners conducted verifications and registrations for final inclusion in the general caseload. Approximately 12,900 new arrivals — 48% already ration card-holders — were counted in Al Salam IDP Camp.
– WFP is gearing up to start the second round of the Blanket Supplementary Feeding Programme (BSFP) to reach 11,000 IDP children under-five in South Darfur.
– The Ed Daein Stabilization Hospital reported an increase in admission of malnutrition cases — primarily among IDP groups. WFP currently supports a BSFP in Ed Daein reaching over 10,000 children under-five. Since January 2008, the programme has reached over 30,000 IDP children.

West Darfur

– Between June 12 and June 19, Save the Children-US (SCUS) distributed a total of 357.2 MT of food commodities to a caseload of 36,428 beneficiaries throughout West Darfur.

HEALTH AND NUTRITION

North Darfur

– The bilateral discussion between GOAL-Ireland and the World Health Organization (WHO) resulted in an agreement for collaborative activities to strengthen support to state’s health system and to improve capacity of health workers. The agreement includes training activities for para-medic staff on integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI), health management and information system (HMIS), and laboratory techniques. It was also agreed that WHO and the State Ministry of Health (SMoH) will conduct a field mission to Kutum to review the reporting/surveillance system, strengthen staff capability, and fill-in gaps. GOAL-Ireland is currently supporting eight (8) primary health care facilities in the Kutum area.
– WHO continues to replenish medical drug supplies to six (6) rural areas in North Darfur to cover the expected gaps — that will be caused by the forecasted floods and disease outbreaks — amongst the state’s vulnerable population. Apart from what has been identified in the flood contingency plan, buffer stocks of drugs have been secured at El Fasher to fill gaps in the rural areas. These include three (3) basic kits, 1,250 units of intravenous (IV) fluid, 2,000 sachets of oral rehydration salts (ORS), 600 pieces of syringes and needles, and 4,000 antibiotics tablets.
– WHO — in collaboration with the State SMoH — continues to monitor, provide support and advocate for the beefing up of environmental health and sanitation activities within IDP camps. In the latest data, malaria contributed to proportional morbidity of 1% of the total consultations while bloody diarrhea cases represented 2%. Most of the bloody diarrhea cases were reported from Kabkabiya, Kassab and Shangil Tobayi.

South Darfur

– UNICEF has provided primary health care kits — containing essential drugs and medical supplies — to the NGO MADAR in support of its operations in Ban Jadeed. Meanwhile, a campaign to treat Bilharziasis (a parasite infection) is underway in Al Salam IDP Camp, involving the State Ministry of Health (SMoH) and the NGOs International Medical Corps (IMC), Humedica and CARE International, with UNICEF providing necessary medical supplies for the campaign.
– The SMoH, UNICEF and WHO — together with health and water/sanitation partners — are collaboratively working to strengthen health care services, and to enhance the provision of clean water and sanitation services to populations in high risk camps, with focus on Al Salam IDP Camp and the Yassin locality, which are reporting high number of acute jaundice and diarrheal disease cases. WHO in coordination with Humedica and International Medical Corps (IMC) have been disseminating personal hygiene messages in these IDP camps.
– Transport media for diagnostic samples of diarrheal diseases have been pre-positioned in different locations in South Darfur by WHO.
– WHO supported Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) with IV fluids and antibiotics for Kubum and Um Labasa IDP Camps.
– To ensure free access of IDPs to hospital services, WHO continues its monitoring visit activities and provision of drugs and renewable supplies to the WHO-operated pharmacy in Nyala Teaching Hospital. WHO also provided laboratory equipment and laboratory re-agents to the newly rehabilitated Tulus Rural Hospital.

West Darfur

– UNICEF provided 600 cartons of nutritional paste to the NGO Concern to support specialist feeding programmes in El Geneina, Mornie, Um Shalaya, Selea, Kulbus, Krenic and Sirba for the next three (3) months.
– With UNICEF support, the state office of the Sudan National AIDS Programme (SNAP) has begun the implementation of awareness-raising activities for 1,600 young people currently enrolled in the national service military camp for the next 45 days.
– WHO, UNICEF and health partners are working collaboratively in West Darfur to strengthen the state’s flood emergency preparedness and response plan. The State’s health sector focuses its attention to environmental health related diseases, specifically on acute jaundice syndrome cases reported from Um Dhukhun area.
– As part of its activities to expand access to health care and referral systems, WHO continues to support health facilities by providing six (6) clinics in El Geneina with guidelines for management of common diseases in IDP camps, clinical management of rape, malaria new protocol treatment, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) syndromic management, and integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) guidelines.
– Training on the signs and causes of malnutrition, anthropomorphic measurements, and complementary feeding was provided to 15 Save the Children-US nutrition workers in Krinding 1.

NON-FOOD ITEMS (NFIS)

The NFI Common Pipeline Partners – The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the United Nations Joint Logistics Center (UNJLC), CARE and UNICEF – are pleased to announce the receipt of funding from the Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) for procurement of critical non-food item (NFI) and emergency shelter (ES) stocks. While the receipt of these funds helps alleviate immediate procurement concerns, funding for distribution of NFIs and management of the Common Pipeline remain insufficient to cover projected activities for 2008. The partners will continue to actively approach donors and search for solutions to ensure life-saving non-food and emergency shelter aid is delivered.

South Darfur

– This week, the majority of NFI common pipeline distributions in South Darfur supported newly displaced populations. Specifically, Médecins Sans Frontières-France (MSF-France) distributed NFIs to 744 households in Um-Kunya, Samaritan’s Purse to 1,125 households in Yassin, Solidarité to 737 households in Muhajiriya and 185 households in Aby Dangal, and Cooperative Housing Foundation (CHF) International to 744 households in Kalma IDP Camp.
– Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) distributed Common Pipeline NFIs to 3,103 households of IDPs requiring replenishment in Manawashi IDP Camp.
– CHF International distributed plastic sheeting from the NFI Common Pipeline to support community centres in Otash, Kalma, and Kuka IDP Camps, youth centres in Otash, Kalma, and Um-Kunya IDP Camps, and women’s centres in Al Salam IDP Camp.
– Additionally, Médecins Sans Frontières-Holland (MSF-Holland) used 150 pieces of plastic sheeting to support community projects in Kalma IDP Camp.

West Darfur

– Tearfund used Common Pipeline blankets, sleeping mats and plastic sheeting to support therapeutic feeding centers in Kango Haraza, Masteri, Arara, and Beida.
– Plastic sheeting was also provided from the NFI Common Pipeline to War Child to support youth centres in Krindig, Dorti IDP Camp, Riyad, and Ardamata IDP Camp.
– SCUS NFI distribution targeted 1,000 Extremely Vulnerable Individuals (EVIs) in Habila and 2,300 EVIs in Fur Baranga. Fur Baranga EVIs included both host community and IDP community members.

PROTECTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS

North Darfur

– In North Darfur, to mark the Day of the African Child on 16 June, UNICEF and NGO partners International Rescue Committee (IRC), Enfants du Monde (EMDH), Save the Children Sweden (SCS) and Cooperative Housing Foundation (CHF) undertook activities in Abu Shouk, As Salaam, Zam Zam and Kassab IDP Camps, reaching more that 12,000 children, youth and community members with different activities focusing on the dangers of child recruitment into armed groups and forces and other protection issues. These activities were enhanced with mass media and public forums on the issue, supported by the State Council for Child Welfare.
– UNICEF provided supplies — including office equipment and furniture — for the El Fasher Family and Child Protection Unit, managed by the police, to help enhance the units’ capacity to support those affected by crime and abuse in the state.

South Darfur

– In South Darfur, to mark the Day of the African Child on 16 June, some 3,000 officials from the State Government, UN agencies, NGOs, civil society and children took part in activities including marches, music and drama performances, discussions groups and art events.
– UNICEF supported an eight-day training programme for social workers in South Darfur, with 50 participants from the Ministry of Social Affairs, the State Council for Child Welfare, and the Department of Population and Census. Trainees came from areas including Kass, Ed el Fursan, Ed Daein, and Adila, with the course focusing on skills development.
– In East Jebel Marra, Samaritan’s Purse provided 280 women training on gender, gender-based violence (GBV), and psychosocial support. Of these women 80 were trained as outreach workers, focusing on reaching the most vulnerable women in need and providing them with psychosocial support.
– Training on seed multiplication, seed quality management, land preparation, and pest control was provided by Samaritan’s Purse to 310 farmers — 135 of whom were female — selected from three (3) locations in East Jabal Marra.
– In the month of May, some 2,887 children and youth made use of the Friendly Spaces/Youth Center (CFS/YC) programmes established through partnership between Samaritan’s Purse and UNICEF.

West Darfur

– In West Darfur, to mark the Day of the African Child on 16 June, 55 participants from the State Legislative Council, the State Council for Child Welfare, the State Ministry of Social Welfare, National Security, police, community leaders and representatives of signatory groups to the Darfur Peace Agreement all attended a UNICEF-supported workshop on preventing child recruitment to armed forces and groups. Meanwhile, some 6,000 children and parents took part in events in Riyad, Ardamata, Kerinding and Dorti IDP Camps organized by the NGOs Terre des Hommes, Save the Children-US and War Child.
– On June 16, celebrations for the Day of the African Child were held in all SCUS 38 child support centers. On June 20, similar celebrations were held at two (2) child support centers in Um Shalaya to mark World Refugee Day.
– In El Geneina Hospital 25 child protection staff members from SCUS participated in a first-aid training. The training included a two-day workshop and seven (7) days of practical work in the hospital.

WATER AND SANITATION

North Darfur

– The State Water Corporation (SWC) — with assistance from UNICEF — continued its programme of installation, repair and rehabilitation of water sources across North Darfur; in the last week 23 hand pumps were either constructed or brought back into use in Abu Shouk, As Salaam, Kassab and Zam Zam IDP Camps and in the Abu Zerega, Dar El Salaam, El Fasher, Mellit and Um Kaddada areas. In addition, the two partners constructed and rehabilitated 187 school and communal latrines in Dar As Salaam, El Fasher and in Zam Zam IDP Camps, benefiting 4,500 people. Meanwhile, in Kassab and Zam Zam IDP Camps, household hygiene campaigns and environmental clean campaigns have taken place.

South Darfur

– With leadership from the SWC — and backed by UNICEF — in Otash IDP Camp, six (6) clean up campaigns were conducted and 344 home visits on hygiene promotion were undertaken to reach more than 2,000 people, while 37 group sessions on hygiene promotion reached more than 1,600 people. In Al Salam IDP Camp, 11 hygiene education sessions reached more than 200 residents, and in Mossei IDP Camp two (2) clean up campaigns were undertaken by 94 residents and a combination of household visits and group information sessions brought hygiene education messages to some 168 people.
– In Saboon, Kolubory, and Torangtonga the construction of 150 household latrines was completed by Samaritan’s Purse.
– In South Darfur seven (7) hand pumps were repaired or maintained by Samaritan’s Purse.
– Samaritan’s Purse provided 47 community health volunteers with a one-day training of trainers (TOT) training, where the issues of Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) and cholera were covered.

West Darfur

– In a partnership between the SWC, the SMoH and UNICEF, more than 1,000 households were reached with hygiene education information in Dorti, Ardamata, Riyad and Zalingei IDP Camps. In addition, four (4) clean-up campaigns were undertaken in Ardamata and Dorti IDP Camps.

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