Humanitarian Action in Darfur Weekly Bulletin No.42

Key overall developments

This week the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. John Holmes, began a six day visit to Sudan in which he will go to Darfur, Southern Kordofan and Southern Sudan. Mr. Holmes will finalise his visit with a press conference in Khartoum on Sunday 30 November at 15:00 in the UNMIS Press Briefing Room.

Needs and response by sector

Food Security and Livelihoods

South Darfur

– World Vision provided 349.24 metric tones (MT) of food to displaced people and war-affected residents in Mershing, and 785.84 MT of food rations to 62,870 displaced people at six (6) distribution points in Al Salam IDP Camp.

– World Vision enrolled 179 women in food aid management committees, raising women’s participation in the food management committees to 29.8%.

– Two (2) seed bank villages were established by World Vision in Edd al Fursan locality and another one in the Galdi corridor to enable farmers to access quality seeds using seed voucher and fairs. Galdi farmers started receiving millet and groundnut seeds.

– World Vision conducted two (2) coaching and mentoring visits to equip farmers who have established nurseries in Edd al Fursan locality with knowledge on tree seedling care.

– Forty (40) women from Shadida and 60 women from Al Salam areas were selected by World Vision selected to receive knowledge on vegetable production and set up four (4) farms for iincreased household income and improved nutrition.

– World Vision trained 100 volunteer leader farmers on how to restore and maintain household food security.

– World Vision distributed 13,000 tree seedlings to communities in Umgadity and Galdi.

Health and Nutrition

North Darfur

– In collaboration with the State Ministry of Health (SMoH), the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a four (4) day training on “Vector Control” targeting 33 participants from Kabkabiya locality and different NGOs.

– WHO completed a Training of Trainers for 16 medical doctors on Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) standard case management in El Fasher.

– WHO organized a training for 92 community health volunteers on health promotion and community based practices. The participants were selected from Kutum town, Kassab and Fata Borno IDP Camps. The trained team will play a paramount role in raising awareness in the community on maternal and child health related issues.

– A training conducted by WHO on case management and infection prevention took place in Kutum and Mallet rural hospitals targeting a total of 60 medical staff.

– The SMoH and WHO started water quality control in El Fasher town. The team conducted free residual chlorine (FRC) check for 32 water sources. The team also conducted water quality control in Abu Shouk and As Salaam IDP Camps covering 13 water sources.

– The WHO supported the Mellit Clinic with an assortment of drugs, medical supplies and equipment to ensure uninterrupted health services for IDPs and the surrounding affected population.

South Darfur

– Primary health care was provided by World Vision 1,059 people, nutritional services to 264 children, and vaccinations to 246 children and 154 women in Mershing and Manawashi. Also, ante-natal care was provided to 308 women.

– More than 3,600 people benefited from World Vision’s community health initiatives in Mershing and Manawashi.

– World Vision trained 20 women in Norley on how to care for insecticide treated nets (ITNs).

– World Vision continued to provide basic health services to both displaced people and the host population in Otash IDP Camp and Duma, where 525 people received anti-malarial treatment, 192 women received ante-natal care, 44 children got antibiotic treatments, 197 children aged below one (1) received requisite immunisations, and eight (8) women delivered with the assistance of village and certified midwives.

– Basic health services were provided by World Vision to 174 people in Galdi, and the NGO also held the following activities in Otash and Old Serif IDP Camps, conducted 14 sensitisation sessions on malnutrition; referred 126 sick children; conducted two (2) cooking demonstrations; measured the weights (bimonthly) and heights (monthly) of 493 children; included 33 pregnant and lactating mothers to the Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) measurement to monitor their nutritional status; and provided vitamin supplementation to 232 people.

– World Vision provided 150 information, education and communication (IEC) materials for use as visual aids in clinics and during health education sessions.

– Health education was conducted by World Vision for 1,903 people in Galdi, where 50 pregnant mothers received antenatal care and 36 benefited from reproductive health activities.

– World Vision conducted 381 consultations at its clinics in Otash and El Geneina. It also started rehabilitation of the clinics and supplementary feeding centres, immunised 38 children and vaccinated 88 through its mobile expanded programme on immunisation (EPI) activities. World Vision also conducted 25 household visits to provide health education on preventive and control measures, including hygiene issues in the camps.

– The WHO supported the SMoH to conduct a training in Tulus on “Tuberculosis case diagnosis, management and reporting” for 25 medical staff from the SMoH and NGOs.

– The SMoH — supported by the WHO — conducted a training on “Malaria case definition, diagnosis and management” in Tulus for 25 medical staff working in SMoH and NGOs clinics.

– WHO supported a 5-day training on “Management of acute malnutrition” in Nyala Teaching Hospital targeting 25 health workers.

– WHO conducted 11 days training for medical doctors on IMCI to fill the gap in South Darfur.

– WHO provided drugs and medical supplies to Nyala Teaching Hospital pharmacy.

West Darfur

– With full support from UNICEF, the training on the integrated management of childhood Illness (IMCI) started in Zalingei with 18 medical assistants.

– WHO conducted vector classification training in Zalingei.

– WHO trained 22 lab technicians from different health facilities in El Geneina on routine laboratory investigation.

Non-Food Items (NFIs)

South Darfur

– The NGO Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) replenished 8,352 households in Mershing IDP Camp and the Hashaba and Silo areas in Nyala with jerry cans from the NFI Common Pipeline.

– World Vision distributed 69 cartons of washing soap for 449 households in Juruf and 358 cartons for 2,307 households in Khor Abashe.

West Darfur

– The Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) replenished 1,719 households in Gokar, El Geneina with blankets, sleeping mats, jerry cans and women’s clothing.

Protection and Human Rights

North Darfur

– Through its implementing partner, Mine Tech International, the United Nations/African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) Mine Action Office destroyed 167 unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the Tawilla area, south west of El Fasher. Teams in the area also provided mine risk education to 171 civilians to raise awareness and knowledge of UXOs and promote safe behaviour that will reduce the risk of injury.

South Darfur

– World Vision conducted two (2) workshops at its women centres in Mershing and Manawashi. The workshops focused on children’s and human rights and were attended by 122 women and 25 men.

– World Vision provided care to 400 children at its four (4) child friendly spaces in Mershing and Manawashi and involved them in such creative activities as arts, drama, and traditional games.

Water and Sanitation

North Darfur

– The Water, Environment and Sanitation Department (WES) — supported by UNICEF — supported the repair of five (5) hands pumps in Kassab IDP Camp by hand pump technicians. The WES team repaired one (1) bladder, and regularly chlorinated water tanks. Additionally, also with UNICEF support, WES mobilized the IDP community in cleaning 846 jerry cans for safe storage of drinking water. The WES team visited 147 households to disseminate hygiene promotion messages and 186 community members were sensitized on the basic health messages through Hygiene promotion sessions.

– WES and UNICEF jointly conducted a sanitation promotion workshop to promote safe sanitation in the Dar El Salam locality. The workshop was attended by 40 participants including the Deputy Commissioner, water and sanitation committee members, women’s group, teachers and community leaders.

– With the support of UNICEF, WES mobilized the ZamZam IDP community in cleaning 1,625 communal latrines, and cleaning of 3,417 jerry cans for safe storage of drinking water at the house level. The team visited 4,223 households to disseminate hygiene promotion messages.

– WHO — together with the SMoH — conducted a training on water quality control in the Kabkabiya locality targeting 30 participants.

South Darfur

– World Vision involved 509 people in a clean-up campaign in Manawashi. It also distributed 1,010 cleaning tools.

– The construction of 12 latrines was done by World Vision in Debanira, Tega, Amlasaket IDP Camps, and Sailo, Hashaba and Tonkete. World Vision also conducted bacteriological water analyses using 20 samples and repaired two (2) water hand pumps in Manawashi.

– World Vision mobilised the local community to dig 100 latrines in Khor Abashe.

– Three (3) communities in Edd al Fursan locality were trained by World Vision on hygiene promotion and 100 people at Arbehaalrahad, Borda and Umbaloot were trained on appropriate behaviour for the prevention of water borne diseases.

– World Vision conducted geophysical surveys in Edd al Fursan locality and identified two (2) additional sites for drilling boreholes.

– World Vision accomplished the following in Duma, distributed 50 slabs, dug eight (8) latrines, provided 20,000 bricks for lining of the latrines, and distributed material for super structure to 17 households. Also, World Vision conducted water source disinfection and chlorine monitoring in the households and water points. In addition, 55 households benefited from World Vision’s hygiene promotion sessions and 45 people participated in a clean-up campaign.

– World Vision constructed seven (7) latrine pits within four metres in Duma East and Omo.

– The drilling of five (5) boreholes was done by World Vision in the Yara corridor in Mora, Yara West, Grongo, Labas and Alferdous. It also acquired materials for the construction of 50 latrines in the Yara corridor — 25 in Yara West and 25 in Mora. World Vision also held meetings with Watsan committees in the area to equip them with basic principles of management of water systems and latrines.

– With the support of the WHO, the SMoH started routine water quality control activities in Dereij, Otash and Al Salam IDP Camps, where a total of 49 sources were checked.

– WHO is coordinating with the SMoH, and water and sanitation partners to strengthen the water quality practices at house hold level, accelerating the jerry cans cleaning and replacement activities and disinfection of all tested hand pumps.

West Darfur

– UNICEF/WES reached 412 households with different hygiene promotion messages tailored to the needs hygiene/environmental status of the household visited in El Riyad, Ardamata and Dorti IDP Camps.

– WES — with the support of UNICEF — constructed 55 household latrines in Kondobe and Tanjeki providing access to sanitation for 275 people. Additionally, UNICEF provided chlorine for disinfection to Mercy corps and International Rescue Committee (IRC) for disinfection of drinking water. Over 45,000 people will benefit from the support.

– Two (2) rounds of routine water quality testing were carried-out in El Geneina and Zalingei, where 23 water sources in El Geneina and 25 water sources in Zalingei were tested.

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