Humanitarian Action in Darfur – Weekly Bulletin No.20

KEY OVERALL DEVELOPMENTS

Short-term response to NGO expulsions

– UNJLC is working to ensure that the NFI Common Pipeline is fully operational once again. In Darfur, rainy season needs assessment and distribution partners have been identified for all areas except Kebkabiya and Shangil Tobayi. Assessments of rainy season NFI requirements are ongoing and small-scale distributions have begun in some areas.

NEEDS AND RESPONSE BY SECTOR

Education

South Darfur

– World Vision continued supporting Computer training for 15 youth groups at Manawashi.
– It distributed desks and chairs to six schools around Nyala.

Food Security and Livelihoods

North Darfur

– WFP distributions have been completed in Abu Shouk and Rwanda camps as well as in El Fasher Town and Kutum areas.
– Preparations are ongoing for WFP direct distribution of General Food Distribution and the Blanket Supplementary Food Programme in Shangil Tobayi and Shaddad IDP camps.
– WFP conducted a Blanket Supplementary Feeding Programme training of trainers in Kabkabiya and Kutum for WFP staff, NGOs and Food and Management Committees.

South Darfur

– WFP Nyala finalized the verification of 6,476 individuals in Muhajeria, 1,129 individuals in Shaeria Town, and 26 individuals at the African Union (AU) Compound. A joint WFP and Child-Friendly Community Initiative (CFCI) team undertook a three day mission to Asalam (Dimo, Amasho), Bileil (Gad el Haboub), Al Wahidat (Yara) localities to assess the readiness of four out of 12 selected CFCI schools. CFCI is a government initiative.
– World Vision (WV) distributed 103.12 metric tons of food rations to 12,503 beneficiaries at Manawashi camps and 90.26 metric tons of food to 10,945 beneficiaries at Mershing camps.
– 1,874.26 metric tons of food were also distributed by World Vision to 156,145 beneficiaries at Sakaly, Dereig, Al Salam and Kalma IDP camps.
– Refresher training for 15 Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) and 10 Volunteer Leader Farmers (VLFs) was conducted by World Vision in Nitega area and 10 VLFs in Mershing.
– World Vision collected 630 biological samples (e.g., blood, dung) from animals to determine the prevalence of livestock diseases in the area.
– The planting of various vegetables on 140 plots and sowing of 3,300 fruit and forest seedlings at Khorabashi nursery and 3,100 seedlings at Mershing nursery were facilitated by World Vision.
– 40 cattle troughs were distributed at Kurumji.
– The NGO continued with the rehabilitation of Kurumji Dam.
– World Vision provided training on poultry production to 100 women in Mershing. Further 30 farmers there were trained on crop production during the rainy season and 21 farmers at 13 farms also benefitted from agricultural extension training messages.
– WV continued with preparations for seed fairs planned to take place in June in various locations in South Darfur.
– Agricultural activities for women groups engaged in farming in Shadida, Umgadity and Galdi villages received World Vision support.
– MERLIN is in the process of taking over MSF-H PHC centre in Kalma.

West Darfur

Short-term response to NGO expulsions

– Food distributions were completed at 15 food distribution points; 52 percent of which was directly distributed by WFP due to a lack of partner coverage.
– The mass meningitis vaccination campaign is completed in East Jebel Marra covering 29,674 of the population in collaboration between MDM, UNICEF and WHO. The Meningitis vaccination campaign is on going in different places.
– WHO and State Ministry of Health (SMoH) conducted a one day training session in Tulus on “Meningitis Case Detection and Case Management”.
– The Task Force Group for the Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) /Cholera preparedness is activated in West Darfur.
– SMOH continued the distribution of leaflets on A H1N1 to all Health facilities in West Darfur.
– WHO with assistance from ICRC has been donating essential drugs to the two remote and inaccessible areas of Jebel Marra; to Kurum and Kurifal Health facilities.
– After the expulsion of MSF-F and evacuation of MSF Swiss from Jebel Marra most of areas under rebel control are inaccessible for the provision of health services from SMOH but accessible for the UN and INGOs. The same situation is for Jebel Moon in Northern corridor of West Darfur.

HEALTH AND NUTRITION

North Darfur

Short-term response to NGO expulsions

– UNICEF supported a partner to carry out a door-to-door malnutrition (MUAC) screening for children under five years old among the new arrivals in Zam Zam camp. Almost 8,900 children were screened of which 1,243 were found to be moderately malnourished and 176 severely malnourished. A similar effort supported by UNICEF and carried out by the Sudan Ministry of Health in the Al Gubbah area of El Fasher town found 60 children under five years old moderately malnourished and 13 children severely malnourished out of the 991 children screened.

Regular activities

– More results from the recent Child Health Week phase of the Sudan Accelerated Child Survival Initiative, supported by UNICEF across North Darfur, have now been received – 443,000 children were vaccinated against polio, 399,000 children provided Vitamin A supplements and 365,000 children under five years old received de-worming medication.

South Darfur

Short-term response to NGO expulsions

– UNICEF supplied the Therapeutic Feeding Centre/Outpatient Treatment Programme in Kalma Camp with a range of materials.

REGULAR ACTIVITIES

– With support from UNICEF and other partners 367,604 children received polio vaccine in the accessible areas of West Darfur state as part of the recent Child Health Week.
– UNICEF and other partners supported a meningitis vaccination campaign in Golo in Western Jebel Marra from 12 May, and which is expected to continue until the end of this month.
– Nine nutritionists completed training undertaken by the State Ministry of Health with UNICEF support. The graduated nutritionists will now move to different localities across South Darfur and train nutrition assistants.
– World Vision conducted consultations and provided primary health care to 2,831 patients at clinics in Galdi, Genena, Manawashi, Mershing and Otash; it supervised the safe delivery of 23 children; vaccinated 420 children and mothers; provided ante-natal care to 601 women.
– Corn Soya Blend (CSB) was provided by World vision to boost the health status of 1,110 malnourished children in Manawashi and Mershing.
– 1.469 metric tons of supplementary food were provided by World Vision to beneficiaries at Otash and Dereig camps.
– 22 severely malnourished children were admitted for treatment by World Vision that conducted health education visits to 981 households in Manawashi and Mershing, and it reached out to 2,380 people through community mobilisation.

NON-FOOD ITEMS (NFIS)

North Darfur

– This week Relief International distributed plastic sheeting to clinics in Zam Zam camp.

South Darfur

– UNICEF supported therapeutic feeding centres in Nyala with plastic sheeting and blankets from the NFI Common Pipeline.
– In addition, IMC provided clinics in Asalam camp with plastic sheeting

PROTECTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS

South Darfur

– Psychosocial support, care and informal education were provided by World Vision to 1,381 children at community centres and child friendly spaces at Asalam camp, Galdi, Manawashi and Mershing settlements. It also held three events for the children.
– Adult literacy classes for 751 women and income generation activities for women received World Vision support at Al Salam camp, Galdi, Manawashi and Mershing settlements where it also held two events for women.
– World Vision trained 56 women at Manawashi and Mershing settlements on the construction of fuel-efficient stoves.
– It also conducted six focus group discussions in Manawashi and Mershing where 861 children were sensitised on issues related to children and their rights. It also held ten focus group discussions in which 736 women and 127 men were sensitised on children’s rights and gender issues. Two focus group discussions were held for village protection committees in Manawashi and Mershing.

WATER AND SANITATION

North Darfur

Short-term response to NGO expulsions

– During the last week UNICEF supported the State Water Corporation to maintain and operate 28 hand pumps and 20 water yards in Abu Shouk, Zamzam, Al Salaam and Kassab camps for internally displaced persons. Seventeen hand pumps were maintained and kept operational at other locations, in towns and rural areas in North Darfur.
– With UNICEF support, five communal latrines were constructed and an additional 200 repaired in Abu Shouk camp. In Kassab Camp 96 communal latrines were repaired and a further 800 in Kebkabia camp and 18 in Shangili Tobai/Shadad.
– UNICEF supported the distribution of 596 cartons of soap in Abu Shouk and Al Salam camps to promote personal hygiene, while in Kassab camp community based hygiene promoters reached 215 households with hygiene education messages and mobilized to clean 25,000 jerry cans.

REGULAR ACTIVITIES

– In Zam Zam camp, 4,400 households were reached with hygiene education messages with UNICEF support. A similar effort reached 3,400 households in Kutum camp where community members also cleaned 14,500 jerry cans.
– UNICEF supported the cleaning of 2,443 communal latrines in Zam Zam camp and a garbage collection and disposal campaign in Kutum camp.

South Darfur

Short-term response to NGO expulsions

– With UNICEF support the State Water Corporation maintained 31 motorized water schemes and 120 hand pumps across South Darfur. Also, six bladder water containers were disinfected and one hand pump and one submersible
pump were repaired.

Regular activities

– With UNICEF support 7,200 cartons of soap were distributed in seven camps across South Darfur.
– With UNICEF support 160 households were reached across South Darfur with hygiene and sanitation messages and 4,000 people were reached through 70 community sessions about improving water services and programmes.
– UNICEF supported the State Water Corporation to provide two schools in Kass with water by installing a 700 metre long water pipe. Some 800 students will benefit from the initiative.
– The construction of 10 replacement latrines in Duma was continued by World Vision.
– Clean-up campaigns that involved 288 people in Kalaka community and 320 households were conducted by World Vision in Duma East and Omo.
– 16 hand pumps in various communities were repaired.
– Focus group discussions and awareness sessions on hygiene issues were conducted in Duma, Omo, Khorabashi, Kurumji and Kalaka.

West Darfur

Short-term response to NGO expulsions

– With support from UNICEF and the federal government, the State Water Corporation started construction of 500 household latrines and relocating a further 1,200 across West Darfur.
– Hand pumps were installed on two wells previously drilled in Gornei benefiting 500 people.
– With UNICEF support the State Water Corporation continued to maintain and operate 18 motorized water schemes in Zallingei, Mornei, Habilla, Um Shalaya and Geneina benefiting more than 100,000 people.
– With UNICEF support 254 household latrines were repositioned in three villages benefiting 1,524 people.
– 690 households were reached with hygiene messages in Terji, Dorti, Ryiad and Ardamata. Five cleaning campaigns were also conducted in Taiba, Dortii and Ardamata.

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