Humanitarian Action in Darfur Weekly Bulletin No. 11

KEY OVERALL DEVELOPMENTS

– Three joint Government of Sudan and United Nations teams have conducted assessments in each of the three Darfur states to ascertain the humanitarian impact of the expulsions of thirteen international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the dissolution of three national NGOs from Darfur. The assessments concentrated on four life-saving sectors: water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); health and nutrition; food aid; and non-food items and shelter. Discussion on the findings commence on March 20. Outcomes will be shared when finalized.

– World Food Programme (WFP) has started a one-off distribution of two months food rations to beneficiaries in areas formerly covered by the expelled NGOs. This however is unsustainable in the long run due to limited capacity and the need for monitoring and accountability.

– WFP continued to provide food assistance to displaced populations from Muhajariya and Shaeria areas. WFP is planning additional food distributions in Zam Zam camp to support over 36,000 new arrivals.

NEEDS AND RESPONSE BY SECTOR

Education

South Darfur

– 26 members of parents and teachers associations and 26 child welfare and safety committees were trained by World Vision who also distributed 143 desks and 143 benches to schools in Mershing. They also sensitized Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) and teachers in four schools on Child Rights Convention (CRC) and human rights.

FOOD SECURITY AND LIVELIHOODS

North Darfur

– WFP operations are impacted by the expulsion of ACF. The one-off food distributions for March and April are ongoing through local Food Relief Committees.

– Provision of food assistance to displaced populations from Muhajariya and Shaeria areas is ongoing. WFP is planning additional food distributions in Zam Zam camp to support over 36,000 new arrivals.

– As a follow-up to the Blanket Supplementary Feeding Programme (BSFP) lessons learned workshop, WFP and partners have started operational planning, community sensitization campaigns and verification exercises in preparation for BSFP 2009 implementation.

South Darfur

– The two-month food distributions are ongoing to beneficiaries affected by CARE and Solidarités expulsions from Darfur.

– WFP and its partners verified 2,765 newly displaced individuals at El Neem camp. These groups are being assisted with emergency rations. A joint mission to El Neem camp is planned to assess the situation of the new arrivals who have stayed at the reception centre in the camp for a long period of time.

– General food distributions in Manawashi, Sakaly, Mosey, Sakaly west and Dereg camps were completed by World Vision. A total of 49,782 beneficiaries received 574.137 metric tons of food.

– Training of 85 farmers (53 women and 32 men) on vegetable production at Khore abeshi and Mershing was conducted by World Vision. Furthermore, 25 women were trained on chicken management at Mershing, 40 women were trained on seedling seeds’ bed preparation in Shadida, and 6,500 seedlings were nursed at Nitega and Mesrshing communities. A total of 1,000 beneficiaries were selected for seed fair in Edd Al Fursan, as far as fodder farm concerns, women completed planting of 18 plots with elephant grass and prepared to replant 70.

– People were also mobilized on livestock watering troughs in Keenen, Banadora and Abunabaga communities.

West Darfur

– The two-month food distributions are ongoing to beneficiaries affected by Save the Children US and CARE expulsion from Darfur.

HEALTH AND NUTRITION

South Darfur

– 225 mosquito nets were distributed to vulnerable pregnant and lactating mothers and children under five years in Hai Altabaldi, Alnaseej Alejtimaae and Hai alsalam in Edd Al Fursan.1707 patients visited World Vision’s clinics for consultation and 407 children and 36 mothers were vaccinated, thus 186 women were accessed antenatal care at Mershing and Manawashi communities.

– A total of 553 children were treated and 1.57 metric tons of high energy food was given.

NON-FOOD ITEMS (NFIS)

The departure of international and national NGOs will have an important effect on NFI and ES Sector activity in Darfur, as they are key partners for assessing needs and distributing essential non-food and emergency shelter items to populations in need. The departure of CARE will impact the humanitarian community’s ability to support conflict- and disaster affected populations with life-saving non-food items and emergency shelter in Darfur as CARE was responsible for transport and warehousing for the NFI Common Pipeline.

PROTECTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS

North Darfur

– The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is currently monitoring the new arrivals in Zam Zam camp in cooperation with the Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and local partners through a registration committee. The committee is collecting preliminary information from the new arrivals, assigning them a place in the western part of the camp (designated area for the new arrivals), and sharing the information with WFP for provision of emergency rations. Figures are presented to all humanitarian actors on a daily basis to provide emergency assistance.

South Darfur

– 118 people (91 women and 27 girls) were sensitized on Gender Based Violence in both Manawashi and Mershing and 722 more were sensitized on CRC in Mershing and Manawashi. World Vision also patronized 1503 children in Child Friendly Spaces (CFSs) in Galdi, Alsalam, Manawashi and Mershing.

– A total of 168 women were trained on how to increase their financial independence and 131 others continued receiving psychosocial support in Galdi community.

– Four women clubs were established in Alsalam and Galdi by World Vision.

West Darfur

– UNFPA celebrated the international women’s day jointly with UNDP and UNAMID by supporting the Wali advisor office for women and child affairs in conducting a one day workshop under the theme “Let women and men unite to protect women” with a focus on gender mainstreaming in ministries and government institutions. Three main areas were presented and discussed: Gender mainstreaming in development planning and general budgeting; labour law and women protection and women status and protection under Shareia law.

WATER AND SANITATION

North Darfur

– In Zam Zam, supplemental water supplies has been trucked in to support new arrivals.

South Darfur

– 30 hand pumps and eight broken hand pumps were rehabilitated in Edd Al Fursan town and Mershing by World Vision.

– The NGO also fixed 287 latrines, completed the construction of 112 latrines in Mershing and Duma and prepared 20,000 bricks for lining new latrines.

– Furthermore, they conducted a clean-up campaign attended by 441people in Manawashi and Duma and conducted sensitisation sessions for beneficiaries in the communities on hygiene promotion and construction of household latrines.

West Darfur

– Currently 100 additional latrines are being built in El Ryad camp (El Geneina) by Triangle. They also plan to set up 25 “washing hands facilities” near the latrines’ areas, and put six new bladders on three water points in place.

– A KAP survey on hygiene promotion on the three areas of intervention (Bindizi, Um Dukhun and Geneina) was launched by Triangle.

If you have inputs for the next edition or questions and comments on this one, or other media and public enquiries, please contact:
Imad Hassanein, Media Officer, United Nations, Khartoum, Sudan, Email: [email protected], Telephone: +249-9-12178035
For other media and public enquiries, you may also contact:
Orla Clinton, Head Advocacy and Public Information/RC/HC Spokesperson, United Nations, Khartoum, Sudan,
Email: [email protected], Telephone: +249-9-12174454
Cecilia Attefors, Public Information Officer, United Nations, Khartoum, Sudan, Email: [email protected], Telephone: +249-9-12179084