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Sudan

OLS Southern Sector Update 97/23 12 June 1997

A weekly report on major developments concerning relief operations in southern Sudan
FLIGHT CLEARANCES RECEIVED FOR JUNE...

The Government of Sudan has approved the June 1997 clearance lists for Lokichokio-based flights into southern Sudan. The following exceptions were received on 11 June in a letter from the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) in Khartoum:

Yei, Rumbek, Tonj and Warrap were not approved.

Approval is granted for use of the C-130 Hercules aircraft with the condition that it serves the following Government-held locations: Gogrial, Pibor, Yirol, Kapoeta, Torit, Tali and Nasir.

Relief flights from Lokichokio resumed on 11 June following a seven day flight suspension pending this flight clearance notification.

REPAIRS RESUME TO AIRCRAFT DAMAGED IN ABUROC...

Repairs will resume in Aburoc on 12 June on the UNICEF-contracted Buffalo aircraft (call sign B4), damaged during take-off on 23 May. Engineers of Trident, owners of the grounded Buffalo, will fly to Aburoc and complete repairs that were interrupted when the town was bombed on 1 June. Efforts to find a replacement aircraft were not successful, and Trident hopes to have the aircraft operational soon to continue the delivery of relief supplies.

OLS STAFF RELOCATED FROM MADHOL AND AGAIGAI...

Eight staff of Save the Children Fund-UK, WFP and UNICEF were relocated from Madhol and Agaigai on 9 June due to a shortage of food. The teams were stranded without incoming supplies due to the flight suspension that began on 5 June.

BOMBS DROPPED ON MARIDI...

The SRRA and OXFAM staff in Maridi reported that 12 bombs were dropped on the town on 10 June killing one woman and injuring eight others. Five of the injured are in critical condition and may need medical evacuation.

WFP UPDATE...

WFP continued food deliveries during 1-7 June to locations in southern Sudan, with a total of 191 metric tonnes (mt) delivered to 30,038 beneficiaries. In Bahr el Ghazal, scheduled deliveries to Agaigai remain on standby, initially due to unavailability of aircraft and later due to the flight suspensions. In Jonglei/Upper Nile, scheduled deliveries to Paliau also remain on standby. In Eastern Equatoria, 191mt was delivered to 30,038 beneficiaries in Natinga, Lasu, Ombassi and Tore.

During 1-7 June, WFP delivered 4.9mt of cereals, pulses and vegetable oil to 444 beneficiaries in support of NGO programmes in southern Sudan. Food for in-patients was provided for 175 patients of MSF-Holland and the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA). Supplementary food was provided to 70 malnourished children and adults through the Diocese of Torit. Food was provided to 69 students in training programmes run by Christian Mission Aid (CMA) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Food was provided to 30 teacher trainees of ADRA. Finally, 100 trainees of the Diocese of Torit were given food for vet training.

An emergency assessment to Ayein was interrupted due to insecurity on 5 June and will continue following the resumption of flights.