Humanitarian Action in Darfur – Weekly Bulletin No.25
Weekly Bulletin No. 25
25 June 2009
Headlines
? The Sheikhs of Kalma camp, South Darfur have shown willingness to provide access to WHO to conduct an assessment visit to health clinics in the camp next week.
? Cluster training was conducted this week in South and North Darfur.
? In West Darfur, a WHO car was hijacked by three armed men. No one was injured during the incident.
? In collaboration with the State Ministry of Health (SMoH), WHO in South Darfur conducted a training session for 35 health cadres on Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) Case Detection and Case Management, Notification, and Sample collection”
KEY OVERALL DEVELOPMENTS
? UNJLC has disseminated the Non-Food Items (NFI) Common Pipeline Common Appeal for Funding to donors. The Appeal advocates for funding for NFI Common Pipeline operations in the second half of 2009, emphasizing the urgent funding requirements of the Pipeline warehousing and transportation partners. Donors are equally encouraged to fund needs assessment and distribution partners to ensure NFIs can be delivered to beneficiaries in need in a timely manner and the Pipeline can continue to function effectively.
?
Needs and response by sector
Education
North Darfur
Regular activities
? UNICEF supported the State Ministry of Education with supplying 44 classroom kits, 10 recreation kits and 5 boxes of geometric sets to basic schools in El Malha locality, benefiting 2,200 children, half of them girls. In a similar effort 39 recreation kits, 39 classroom kits and 5 geometric sets were provided to rural schools of Dar El Salaam locality, benefiting 1,950 school children, thereof 53 percent girls. Also, 10 recreation kits, 74 classroom kits and 10 geometric sets were provided to rural schools of El Fasher, benefiting 3,700 school children, half of them girls.
South Darfur
Regular activities
? UNICEF supported partners to help communities prepare for the new school year. Two classrooms, latrines and an office were built in Um-Dafog school. Two classrooms were constructed in Almohy school and three in Taqreebah school. In Talha school two classrooms were constructed.
? UNICEF supplied Keleikil Abu Salama with education material benefiting 409 pupils and Gereida, Abu Ajura and Nyala with plastic sheets to cover the roofs of class rooms during the rainy season.
? World Vision completed a three-month computer course for 15 youths (nine male; six female) in Manawashi and trained 47 volunteer teachers on adult education methodologies in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
Food Security and Livelihoods
North Darfur
Regular activities
? Fifteen agricultural workers who run the five GOAL supported community demonstration farms in Kutum attended a one week intensive agricultural refresher training workshop. Facilitated by the Ministry of Agriculture and supported by GOAL, key farmers in the locality were invited to participate in the workshop which covered vegetable production and community approaches. These community agricultural workers will go on to teach the improved production techniques to some 2,000 local farmers on demonstration farms in the coming months.
? Arrangements are being made to distribute through a UNHCR implementing partner plastic sheets and sleeping mats to 400 households of IDP returnees in Serf Jidad. These people returned under the government-assisted programme mainly from Armankul and Tendelti towards the end of May this year.
South Darfur
Regular activities
? World Vision implemented the following key programme activities in South Darfur during the past week:
o Distributed 701.04 metric tonnes (MT) of monthly food rations to 68,212 beneficiaries in Al Salam camp, Khorabashi, Krumji, Almalam and Mershing D, E and F.
o Conducted refresher training for 150 members of Food Distribution Committees (FDCs) from Almalam, Manawashi and Mershing. The training was aimed at empowering local communities to support food distribution.
o Onsite monitoring at Mershing (D and F) food distribution points also occurred.
o Conducted the verification of children under five years slated to receive blanket feeding at Kalma and Otash IDP camps.
o Trained 235 female farmers at Mershing on home garden management and provided them with vegetable seeds such as okra, tomatoes and local cucumber. Also supported management of 400 new seedlings at Mershing nursery.
o Distributed materials for the construction of nurseries in Jughma and Betiekha villages, Edd al Fursan locality.
o Continued seed fair events in Mahajrya Algama, Mahajrya Altgamo, Umjanah and Norley villages and seed bank activities at Umzaifa, Eraida, Ganateer and Boba villages in Edd al Fursan.
Health and Nutrition
North Darfur
Short-term response to NGO expulsions
? UNICEF helped supply the health facility in Abbassi camp in Mellit locality with medical supplies which will benefit 8,000 people during the next two months.
? UNICEF supported an immunization campaign against meningitis in Abu Shouk, Al Salam and Zam Zam camps as well as south El Fasher town. More than 81,000 people between two and five years old were vaccinated.
Regular activities
? In North Darfur WHO supported clinics with Integrated Management of Childhood guidelines.
? This week WHO supported El-Fasher teaching hospital and Maternity Centre with drugs and laboratory materials.
South Darfur
Short-term response to NGO expulsions
? WHO, South Darfur and UNICEF conducted a mission to Seliea, Moharea, Labado and Sherea to monitor the health services provided in the areas that showed gaps after the expulsion of INGOs in addition to assess the poorly accessed areas like Sherea.
Regular activities
? WHO provided Nyala Hospital IDPs Pharmacy with essential drug items, antibiotics and consumable supplies to ensure free treatment is provided at the hospital.
? One monthly monitoring and supervision visit was conducted to Ed Daein rural hospital to monitor free access of IDPs to the hospital services and the quality of care provided to all patients.
? World Vision implemented the following key programme activities in South Darfur during the past week:
o Distributed 500 mosquito nets to children under five years during an event to mark the Day of The African Child in Diri village, Edd al Fursan locality.
o Conducted consultations and provided primary health care to 2,449 patients at clinics in Galdi, Geneina, Manawashi, Mershing and Otash; vaccinated 586 children and mothers; provided ante-natal care to 628 women; supervised the safe delivery of 11 children; provided Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) services to 862 people.
o Provided Corn Soya Blend (CSB) to 385 malnourished children in Manawashi and Mershing and 1.28 metric tonnes of high energy food to children at supplementary feeding centres.
o Conducted health education visits to 2,199 households, and reached out to 2,012 people through community mobilisation.
o Trained 11 community volunteers.
West Darfur
Short-term response to NGO expulsions
? Eleven of the 13 Therapeutic Feeding Centres and all six Supplementary Feeding Centres that were affected by the suspension of the NGOs continued activities with full UNICEF support.
? UNICEF supported HIV/AIDS awareness raising activities in Zalingei Youth Friendly Centres, benefiting 800 youth.
? UNICEF supported the training of 20 nutrition assistants and vaccinators on essential nutrition packages to improve their knowledge and skills regarding the health and nutrition needs in their operational areas.
? UNICEF provided a financial and technical support to a partner to conduct a nutrition survey in the Kurdul area of Zalingei.
Regular activities
? WHO/ECHO donated laboratory equipment to El Geneina Teaching Hospital. A weekly monitoring visit is ongoing to state hospitals.
Non-Food Items (NFIs)
North Darfur
Regular activities
? GOAL Community Health Promoters distributed soap to 6,619 households (25,215 beneficiaries) in Kutum’s Kassab Camp to help minimize hygiene related diseases.
? Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) replenished 12,001 households in El Salam and Abu Shouk camps with plastic sheeting and jerry cans for the rainy season.
? After a fire, SRCS supported nine households in Tawila camp with non-food items and emergency shelter.
? MSF-Spain distributed NFIs to 123 newly-displaced households in Shangil Tobayi camp.
South Darfur
Regular activities
? Humedica supported 22 households of newly displaced persons in Al Salam camp with NFIs from the Common Pipeline.
West Darfur
Regular activities
? Arrangement are being made to distribute through UNHCR’ implementing partner plastic sheets and sleeping mats to 400 households of IDP returnees in Serf Jidad. These people returned under the government-assisted programme mainly from Armankul and Tendelti towards the end of May this year.
? On 14 June, UNHCR distributed 114 mosquito nets to refugees and on 16 June 49 plastic sheets to refugee youth in Mukjar refugee camp.
? In rural areas of Habila (Mangarsa, Salah, Urum and Goz el Haraya) UNHCR distributed sheets and jerry cans to 267 person with special needs. UNHCR also visited Chadian refugees living around Mangarsa to inform them about the NFI distribution in their location next week.
Protection and Human Rights
North Darfur
Regular activities
? UNICEF supported the celebration of the Day of African Child in the town El Fasher. In connection with the celebration school children were reached with hygiene promotion messages on washing hands with soap and water. Each school child who participated in the celebrations was provided soap.
? The Community Radio Programme, supported by UNICEF, continues to broadcast a range of public information messages on various child-related issues reaching 120,000 people.
South Darfur
Short-term response to NGO expulsions
? UNICEF continues to support activities aimed at psychological wellbeing of war affected children in camps around Nyala, benefiting 22,000.
Regular activities
? UNICEF supported national and international NGOs and government agencies to organize various activities to draw attention to child survival in connection with the Day of the African Child.
? World Vision implemented key programme activities in South Darfur during the past week:
o Organised a belated event in Manawashi locality to mark the International Day of the African Child.
o Provided psychosocial support, care and informal education to 1,246 children at community centres and child friendly spaces at Al Salam camp, Galdi, Manawashi and Mershing settlements. Also organised sporting, drama, art and cultural events for the children.
o Supported adult literacy classes for 775 women and income generation activities for women at Al Salam camp, Galdi, Manawashi and Mershing settlements.
o Trained 75 women at Manawashi and Mershing settlements on the construction of fuel-efficient stoves and 47 women in the two locations and Galdi village on the management of their income generation activities.
o Conducted six focus group discussions in Manawashi and Mershing through which 624 children (327 girls and 297 boys) were sensitised on issues related to children and their rights, and seven focus group discussions through which 421 women and 53 men were sensitised on children’s rights and gender issues. Also, two focus group discussions were held for village protection committees in Manawashi and Mershing.
West Darfur
Regular activities
? In connection with celebration of the Day of the African Child UNICEF supported the training of 30 children between 14 and 18 years old on key health and nutrition messages. Over 300 children were reached with health and nutrition messages during the event. UNICEF also supported other partners to celebrate the day, supplying UNICEF awareness and communication material to maximize awareness and transfer messages.
? Also in connection with celebration of the Day of the African Child UNICEF supported five days training of 40 children on song and role-play in Haskanita community.
Water and Sanitation
North Darfur
Short-term response to NGO expulsions
? During the last week UNICEF supported the State Water Corporation to chlorinate six water tanks and maintain and operate 78 hand pumps and 11 water yards in Abu Shouk, Al Salaam and Kassab camps for internally displaced persons, benefiting 130,000 people.
? UNICEF supported the State Water Corporation to carry out a garbage cleaning campaign in Abu Shouk camp and mobilize the community to participate. Fifty communal latrines were disinfected. A garbage cleaning campaign was also conducted in Kassab camp.
? UNICEF supported the State Water Corporation to rehabilitate 1,108 communal latrines in Al Salaam camp, 217 in Kassab camp and 530 in Kabkabiya. In Shangil Tobai 19 new communal latrines were constructed and 217 rehabilitated.
? In Abu Shouk camp UNICEF supported the State Water Corporation to hold community sessions about sanitation and hygiene attended by 343 people and to mobilize community members to clean 1,813 jerry cans to promote safety of water in households. Hygiene promoters reached 9,280 households with hygiene and sanitation messages. In Kassab camp community members were mobilized to clean 618 jerry cans.
Regular activities
? In coordination with the Water and Environmental Sanitation Department (WES), GOAL conducted training workshops in repairing and maintaining hand pumps in Kutum’s two camps. Thirty two water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) committee members in Kassab Camp and 22 in Fata Borno Camp were trained and then they fixed broken water points as part of the exercise. The committee training makes water points more sustainable while giving communities in both camps a greater degree of operational capacity.
? UNICEF supported the State Water Corporation to maintain and operate 63 hand pumps and 8 water yards in Zam Zam camp benefiting 90,000 people. Also, with UNICEF support 26 hand pumps were rehabilitated and one mini water yard installed at other locations with UNICEF support .
? The State Water Corporation rehabilitated 185 communal latrines in Zam Zam camp and mobilized community members to clean 721 communal latrines.
? With UNICEF and the State Water Corporation’s support the community. Also at Abbasi camp 20 new communal latrines were constructed and seven rehabilitated.
? With UNICEF and the State Water Corporation’s hygiene promoters reached 623 households in Zam Zam with hygiene and sanitation messages. For promotion of personal hygiene and well being 85,320 soap bars were distributed in the camp.
? UNICEF supported a partner to promote hygiene activities in Um Kadadah, Al Lait and Um Sidra localities: Hygiene promotion session for school children. A total of 10,900 children, about half of them girls, were trained on hygiene promotion and behaviour change, sanitation and garbage disposal. UNICEF also conducted a baseline survey on knowledge and practices in safe hygiene and sanitation behaviour, including handling of safe drinking water. Furthermore information was distributed at 16 water yards about hygiene promotion, garbage collection, handling of water, water borne diseases and cleaning of jerry cans. Four sign boards were constructed with hygiene messages were constructed at each of the 16 water yards.
South Darfur
Short-term response to NGO expulsions
? With UNICEF support The State Water Corporation rehabilitated 65 household latrines in Kass camps and 200 in Ottash camp. Two cleaning campaigns were conducted in 15 sub-camps in Kass and two cleaning campaigns as well in Ottash in which 1356 carton s of soap were distributed to 12,200 households. In Kass camps, hygiene promoters reached 822 households with hygiene and sanitation messages and held seven community sessions on water and hygiene attended by 317 people.
Regular activities
? With UNICEF support the State Water Corporation maintained and operated 33 motorized water yards and 120 hand pumps across South Darfur, benefiting 230,000 people. Chlorination activities in all the motorized water yards were carried out successfully.
? World Vision implemented the following key programme activities in South Darfur during the past week:
o Successfully drilled three boreholes Ubjaradil (two) and Killing (one) villages in Rehed al Birdi.
o Constructed 10 new latrine superstructures in Manawashi and replaced 130 in Mershing.
o Constructed 50 slabs for new family latrines and lined 30 latrines in Mershing.
o Involved 852 people in clean-up events in Duma and at Tonkitir, Hashaba, Silo and Alwadi camps in Mershing .
o Repaired two broken hand pumps at Almasaket and Alwadi camps in Mershing and one in Duma.
o Collected 67 samples from various water sources in Duma, Manawashi and Mershing for bacteriological analysis.
o Started excavations and gathering of materials for a water distribution system to be set up in Jughma village, Edd al Fursan.
o Trained 30 women in Duma on how to prepare Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS).
o Conducted refresher training for 50 members of water, sanitation and hygiene committees.
West Darfur
Short-term response to NGO expulsions
? With UNICEF support the State Water Corporation carried out hygiene and sanitation promotion activities in Nertiti camp.
? The State Water Corporation with UNICEF support rehabilitated 650 household latrines in Krinding One camp, benefiting over 3,900 people. Also, 30 hygiene promoters in the camp visited households to promote personal hygiene, latrine use and safe water handling.
? With UNICEF support the State Water Corporation constructed 300 household latrines in Um Dukhun benefiting more than 1,800 people.
Regular activities
? With UNICEF support the State Water Corporation continued to chlorinate, maintain and operate 18 motorized water yards in Zalingei, Mornei, Habilla, Um Shalaya and Geneina benefiting more than 100,000 people.
? With UNICEF support the State Water Corporation drilled four boreholes in Ardamata camp and six in Azum. Hand pumps will be installed shortly.
? The State Water Corporation with UNICEF support analyzed quality of water from four location in Ardamata camp and six in Azum. All the samples fulfilled the standards set for quality of drinking water.
? With UNICEF support 478 households were reached with hygiene and sanitation messages in Dorti, Ardamata and Riyadh camps. Four cleaning campaigns were conducted in Dorti, Ardamata and Riyadh camps.
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