Humanitarian Action in Darfur – Weekly Bulletin No.18

KEY OVERALL DEVELOPMENTS

? WFP has started May distribution in areas affected by the departure of the expelled NGOs. For food assistance beyond June, the World Food Programme (WFP) is preparing to launch a special operation (SO) in Darfur. The SO is designed to compensate for capacity gaps left by the expelled NGOs. The aim is to provide operational support to partner NGOs expanding into gap areas on programme design, implementation and monitoring, some logistical management, and to act as an operational contingency should some areas remain without NGO coverage. Under the SO, WFP will establish office and accommodation facilities for WFP and partners in remote locations with limited or no NGO coverage to improve / re-establish access.

? As of 4 May, all NFI Common Pipeline warehouses, previously managed by CARE, have been handed over to UNJLC. After endorsement by the NFI Common Pipeline Advisory Panel, IOM has assumed the role of transportation partner for the Common Pipeline going forward; assumption of the responsibilities and processing of required staff is pending receipt of funding. As Sector Lead, UNJLC continues to work with partners to identify solutions for the up-coming pre-rainy season distributions, as well as long-term solutions, for needs-assessment and distribution coverage for areas previously identified as gaps.

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? No cases of influenza A (H1N1) have been reported by WHO in the Region to date.

NEEDS AND RESPONSE BY SECTOR

Education

North Darfur

? Save the Children-Sweden (SC-S) has received school improvement plans from seven Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) in rural Tawilla. SC-S will meet the cost of imported materials while the PTAs will provide local materials and labour. SC-S is also rehabilitating six permanent classrooms in Abodogana School and Dali camp together with the PTAs.

South Darfur

? The State Ministry of Education, using funds from UNICEF, has completed printing of more than 70,000 primary school text books that will be distributed to schools ahead of the new academic year next month.

? Meanwhile, UNICEF and an international NGO have undertaken training of 30 members of the Parent Teachers Association in Um Kunya.

West Darfur

? Following a joint assessment by the Zalingei Department of Education and UNICEF of damage caused to schools by recent storms in the area, a committee made up of local Parent Teacher Association members and community leaders is drafting estimates to undertaken repairs and replacement to a number of damaged classroom

FOOD SECURITY AND LIVELIHOODS

North Darfur

? WFP direct distributions, including Blanket Supplementary Feeding Programme (BSFP), have been completed in Shangil Tobayi and Shadad camps.

? BSFP screening exercises were completed in Abu Shouk and Asalam camps. Numbers of the targeted under-five population are 10,041 and 7,709 respectively.

? The security situation in Dar El Salam locality hindered the confirmation of 8,000 individuals reported to have moved into the area. WFP is following up and will carry out an assessment in the coming week.

? Premix production capacity has been increased by 55 percent from 30 metric tons to 66 metric tons per day. This improvement will facilitate supply to all locations that rely on the North Darfur production facility.

South Darfur

? Sudanese Popular committee Relief (SPCR) verified 399 individuals from Muhajariya, 461 individuals from Labado and 841 individuals from Abudangal into Beleil camp.

? Distribution of premix for BSFP was completed to 9,544 children under five in Yassin and Seleah camps.

? BSFP feeding centres resumed activities in Kubum Town and Kubum camp. The State Ministry of Health will resume Supplementary Feeding Programme (SFP) activities in Hassaballa village in the coming weeks.

West Darfur

? Replacement of old ration cards continued in Hassahissa IDP camp and is expected to finish this week, with General Food Distribution for May scheduled to start next week.

? BSFP rations for 4,000 beneficiaries in Beida have been dispatched.

? WFP conducted a training of trainers’ course covering BSFP for Catholic Relief Services (CRS) staff.

HEALTH AND NUTRITION

North Darfur

Short-term response to NGO expulsions

? An agreement has been reached between the camp leaders in Zam Zam camp, UNICEF and an international NGO to establish a new health clinic in the camp. The clinic would be staffed by health workers seconded from the State Ministry of Health and community volunteers.

? Close monitoring of the health situation among the new arrivals in Zam Zam camp continued during the week. Relief International finalised the preparations to open the clinic for the new arrivals’ area.

? WHO/SMoH is following up on implementation of the recommendations of the joint mission to Kebkabiya and Serif Umra to cover gaps in implementation of nine clinics left by MSF-B.

? WHO continued to update mapping of Primary Health Care (PHC) services in areas where INGOs have left, in order to continue assessing gaps and adjust plans accordingly.

Regular activities

? A joint State Ministry of Health (SMoH)/WHO supervision and monitoring visit was conducted to Mellit locality to follow up on the Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) and Measles surveillance system and prepare the teams for the upcoming Accelerated Child Survival Initiative (ACSI) campaign. An orientation session and update of the recent situation of Polio, and AFP/Measles surveillance system was conducted to health staff in the locality including Medical Doctors and Medical Assistants working at Hospital and other health centres. Training of 60 volunteers in preparation for the coming ACSI April 2009 was conducted during the visit.

? A similar joint SMoH/WHO visit was made to Um Keddada locality with the same purpose. 30 volunteers were trained in preparation for the ACSI campaign.

South Darfur

Short-term response to NGO expulsions

? UNICEF has provided a primary health centre kit containing essential drugs and medicines to the Therapeutic Feeding Centre in Kerere, following shortages in drug supplies.

Regular activities

? The Child Health Week element of the Sudan Accelerated Child Survival Initiative (SASCI) took place across South Darfur led by the SMoH with support from UNICEF and WHO. More than 780,000 children were targeted with vitamin A supplementation, while de-worming activities aimed to reach more than 670,000 children.

? UNICEF supported the training of 20 health monitors and inspectors in testing for iodised salt, as part of efforts to ensure the State-wide ban on the use of non-iodised salt can be fully implemented.

? UNFPA South Darfur celebrated the midwifery day on the 5th of May through Radio programming that addressed: the importance of midwife in the community and to pregnant women, midwifery and reproductive health situation in the state and the role of UN agencies (UNFPA-UNICEF) in supporting midwifery schools.

? UNFPA South Darfur provided Reproductive Health commodities to ICRC and Kuwaiti Helping Patient Fund (KHPF)

? The Hospital programme continued supporting rural hospitals with drugs and consumables. Accordingly, Gereida Rural hospital was supported with 1000 examination gloves and 50 safety boxes from WHO. These will assist in ensuring reduction of hospital acquired infections as well as promotion of safety precaution in hospitals.

? The cumulative number of cases of suspected meningitis is 207. During week 16, the number of reported cases was 26 including one death. 53 percent of cases were between 5-14 years of age, 21 percent were 15-29 years of age and nine percent were 2-4 years of age. The reactive mass vaccination campaign has started in Otash camp with 18,632 people vaccinated so far out of the target of 26,632. A micro plan has been prepared to conduct a campaign in Nyala.

West Darfur

Short-term response to NGO expulsions

? Three of the 13 Therapeutic Feeding Centres formerly managed by expelled NGOs in West Darfur remain out of action, either due to insecurity or lack of alternative capacity. However, all six of the Supplementary Feeding Centres affected by the NGO expulsions are now operating.

Regular activities

? The Child Health Weeks element of the Sudan Accelerated Child Survival Initiative was undertaken across West Darfur, aiming to reach nearly 380,000 children with polio vaccine, more than 300,000 children with de-worming tablets and more than 340,000 children with vitamin A supplements. The initiative is being led by the State Ministry of Health, with the support of UNICEF.

? WHO provided Primary Health Care (PHC) guidelines provided to Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) in Zalingei in support of seven clinics (Zalingei, Deleige and Jabal Marra).

? The third round of meningitis vaccination campaign In West Darfur will be conducted in the Golo and Killing areas of Jebel Marra from second of May targeting 65,000 people from two to 30 years of age. The plan of action has already been prepared with the collaboration of ICRC, SMOH, UNICEF, and WHO. WHO/UNICEF will provide vaccines, syringes and operational cost of the campaign. The ICRC will provide vehicles and implement the campaign. This week six suspected meningitis cases have been reported and Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) samples have been taken from two cases.

? WHO/SMOH shared the results of the second round of meningitis vaccination campaign conducted in collaboration with ICRC, SMOH, UNICEF, and WHO in Jebel Marra Guldo area. The total number of people vaccinated during the campaign was 4085 between two to 30 years of age out of the target of 6500. The reason for not achieving the target is because many people took their vaccination in Kitti area which is near to Guldo during the first round of the campaign.

? UNFPA is supporting SMOH WD to train medical doctors and midwives on Emergency Obstetric Care( EmOC)

? UNFPA WD is supporting SMoH to conduct a set of activities on HIV/AIDS including peer education and training of trainers (TOTs) for high risk groups.

NON-FOOD ITEMS (NFIS)

South Darfur

? This week in South Darfur, Samaritan’s Purse supported 2,537 newly-displaced households in Fallujah, Leiba and Swanee in the Nyala locality with essential household items from the NFI Common Pipeline.

? Additionally, Humedica distributed plastic sheeting from the Common Pipeline to 1,500 households requiring replenishment in Al Salam Camp.

PROTECTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS

South Darfur

Short-term response to NGO expulsions

? UNICEF has entered into an agreement with two other organizations to ensure psychosocial activities formerly managed by expelled NGOs can be provided in Kass and Nyala camps for internally displaced persons. The agreement, which will see UNICEF providing financial support and supplies, is expected to benefit over 10,000 children in the camps.

Regular activities

? UNFPA in collaboration with Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) is organizing a two-day workshop in Zalingei for humanitarian workers on inter-agency standing committee guidelines on gender based violence and related Sudanese laws.

? UNFPA is supporting SMOH to organise a three-day training workshop on clinical management of rape in Geneina next week

West Darfur

Short-term response to NGO expulsions

? UNICEF has provided financial and material support to an international NGO to manage child protection services in Habila and For Baranga formerly managed by one of the expelled NGOs.

Water and Sanitation

North Darfur

Short-term response to NGO expulsions

? UNICEF has supported the State Water Corporation to provide additional water supply facilities in Abu Shouk camp for internally displaced persons, while the State Water Corporation has also used the services of community members to maintain 28 hand pumps in the camp in the last week.

? Ongoing operation and maintenance work in the water sector continues in Asalam and Zam Zam camps through a partnership between the State Water Corporation, UNICEF and local camp residents.

Regular activities

? A joint SMoH/WHO mission was conducted to Kutum town area to accomplish a spraying campaign in Kassab camp for flies’ control. 26 volunteers were trained for four days on safety of spraying and use of spraying equipment. The volunteers comprised health personnel from Kutum locality and community health workers from Kassab camp and Kutum town. The training was facilitated by the public health officer from SMoH with technical support from WHO.

? On job training was conducted for three people from MOH Kutum and Kutum locality on water quality control, monitoring and how to use bacteriological test Kits.

? Water quality control and monitoring was conducted during the mission in Kutum and Kassab camp. 11 H2S were taken from water sources in Kassab for bacteriological test (Nine from hand pumps and two from households). All the samples from the hand pumps were negative for H2S, and the two from the households were all positive hence high risk of contamination.

? In Zam Zam camp, local community hygiene workers undertook cleaning of more than 2,000 communal latrines while more than 3,600 households were reached with hygiene education messages. A similar programme saw 1,800 households reached in Abu Shouk camp.

South Darfur

Short-term response to NGO expulsions

? The State Water Corporation has continued to sustain operations and maintenance of 20 motorized water systems in IDP camps across South Darfur, with financial, material and technical support from UNICEF.
? HUMEDICA is trying to fill the gap of sanitation and Hygiene promotion in the camp with the resources available.
Regular activities
? 5,000 people in Wazzazien now have access to clean water following the repair of a water facility by the State Water Corporation with UNICEF support. The partners’ installation of six new hand pumps in Nyala and Mershing has also led to clean water being provided to 1,500 people for the first time.

? WHO supported Water and Environmental Sanitation (WES) with 100 tests of H2S and reagents for water quality.

? Water and Environmental Sanitation (WES) lab visited Al Salam camp and conducted simple water quality control, nine water points and 11 households were checked. All the water checked had free residual chlorine (FCR) within normal range except one that was below the normal whereas at household level, four samples were found to be below the normal range. Remedial action will include community sensitisation of safe water handling.

? The integrated Vector Management campaign was concluded in the camps. (Kalma has not yet been covered)

West Darfur

Short-term response to NGO expulsions

? The provision of clean water in the nine locations in West Darfur affected by the expulsion of water sector NGOs is now being fully managed and funded by the State Water Corporation. In Taiba and Nertiti camps for internally displaced persons the State Water Corporation is working with UNICEF and local community members to start solid waste management.

? The gaps left by expelled NGOs were discussed in all areas except for Krenik. Islamic Relief (IR) will cover the services in agreement with WES and UNICEF.

? WHO provided five boxes of H2S for water quality monitoring in house-holds and open dug wells around Geneina town.

Regular activities

? The State Water Corporation, supported by UNICEF, has undertaken maintenance of hand pumps in the Zalingei areas to ensure sustained clean water supply for 3,000 people. The two partners have also provided solid waste management equipment to Taiba camp for internally displaced persons.

? Water monitoring was done in Kulbus town during the week. Samples were taken from five taps, eight tanks, and two households. All were found to have nil chlorine. An H2S test for contamination found two taps and four tanks to be positive hence high risk of contamination. Chlorination exercise is to be undertaken to ensure adequate chlorination.

? WHO/SMoH finalizing the draft of water chlorination solid waste and vector control plan for intervention. It will be shared with WASH sector partners.

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