World Vision calls upon the international community to maintain a high level of attention on Sudan, where voting on the question of self-determination ended peacefully in South Sudan over the weekend.

"It would be a big risk to disband preparedness based on a peaceful voting process. There is much that is yet to be done, including the announcement of the results, the referendum in Abyei and whatever the outcomes of these processes may mean to the north and south," said Edwin Asante, the programme director for World Vision in South Sudan.

Faith based communities (FBCs) (Box 1) provide 40% to 50% of healthcare in developing countries (African Religious Health Assets Programme, 2006). One in five organisations working on HIV programmes are faith-based (World Health, 2004). While their role in responding to HIV is recognised, FBCs have unexploited capacity for the delivery of HIV prevention, treatment and care.

This is partly because some humanitarian organisations do not value the role of FBCs. Concerns include fears that

Many reports have been written about life in the hamlets, villages, displacement and refugee camps in Africa. Those reports are incomplete without these two words: child deaths.

In many places where I have been in East Africa, child deaths have become so common, that this sad situation has become a way of life.

Lots of mothers, including some in my extended family, have powerlessly watched their children die of preventable and treatable diseases such as malaria and pneumonia.

Sudan

The toll is huge. Out of every three

Many children in the villages of Edd al Fursan locality in war-weary Darfur are born in their parents' huts under the watchful eyes of traditional birth attendants such as Asha Daud Adam.

Although Asha, 57, is illiterate, she has delivered babies for 27 years, helping impoverished women give birth safely in a demanding environment with scarce maternal health care services.

"I do it as a service to my community," says Asha, a resident of Jugma village, who recently participated in her first training as a birth attendant.

Since 2008, World Vision has trained

'Operation Lightning Thunder' has yet to yield evidence that the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has been disrupted or destroyed as a movement. On the contrary the situation has moved from a stalled peace process to a very hot war, and as is in most conflicts, it is civilians who have paid (and are continuing to pay) the price for the calculated risks taken by leaders in the region.

While acknowledging there is little or no independent reporting it appears that the LRA have been responsible

A visit by World Vision Canada Vice President Emmanuel Isch to World Vision's South Darfur programme was delayed after the convoy became stuck behind hundreds of trucks blocking the main El Fasher and Nyala highway.

The drivers of the trucks with World Food Programme stickers were protesting the escalating incidences of killings and hijackings of their colleagues by bandits within the region. The protests were unrelated to World Vision.

The hundreds of trucks later proceeded on the main highway towards the northern part of South Darfur with heavily

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

II. INTRODUCTION

III. OBJECTIVES

IV. METHODOLOGY
- Type of Survey and Sample Size
- Sampling Methodology
- Data Collection
- Indicators, Guidelines, and Formula's Used

World Vision International has temporarily relocated 17 international staff from Malakal and surrounding areas to other locations in Southern Sudan.

The action was taken as a precautionary measure, and reflects similar relocations by other agencies working in the Upper Nile Province. In total, 120 humanitarian staff have left due to conflict in the Upper Nile area.

Fighting broke out in Malakal between Sudan People's Liberation Army forces and militia operating in Upper Nile

World Vision has distributed non-food items to 450 flood-affected households in the areas of Dar al Salaam and Mayo near Khartoum city.

Among the non-food items distributed by World Vision was plastic sheeting, cooking kits and jerry cans.

Heavy rains in August led to widespread destruction in the area. Houses there are made of mud and are therefore particularly vulnerable to floods. Some of the affected population lost both their houses and belongings and are now homeless.

Heavy flooding of the Blue and White