ACT Appeal Sudan: Eritrean Refugees in Kassala - AFSD05

Appeal Target: US$ 266,440
Geneva, 23 June 2000

Dear Colleagues,

The border conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia, which started in early1998, has caused injury and considerable loss of lives besides displacing hundreds of thousands of people on both sides. A severe drought, which has gripped countries in the region, has further exacerbated the situation.

The major new offensive by the Ethiopian forces on Eritrea's western border a few weeks ago has led to further casualties and displacement, causing people to flee across the border into Sudan. As of 13 June, nearly 80,000 Eritreans have been registered in 4 camps in Kassala, eastern Sudan.

ACT members the Sudan Council of Churches (SCC) and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) have been monitoring the situation since the first refugees entered eastern Sudan. As the numbers have grown so have the needs and there is now an urgent necessity to provide assistance to the refugees many of whom have arrived with just the clothes on their backs.

Based on assessments and on the outcome of meetings with the government authorities and UNHCR, the ACT members propose to provide shelter materials and fuel (as a substitute for firewood which is not available in this desert like region), to around 3,000 families in Gulsa, one of the 4 camps set up for the refugees.

Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested

The project is expected to be completed by 30 August, 2000.

Please kindly send your contributions to the ACT bank account and inform the Finance Officer Jessie Kgoroeadira (direct tel. +4122/791.60.38, e-mail address jkg@act-intl.org) of all pledges/contributions and transfers, including funds sent direct to the implementers. Please note the Pledge Form is no longer attached with the Appeal.

Account Number - 102539/0.01.061 (USD)
Account Name: ACT - Action by Churches Together
Banque Edouard Constant
Cours de Rive 11
Case postale 3754
1211 Genève 3
SWITZERLAND

We would appreciate being informed of any intent to submit applications for EU, USAID and/or other back donor funding and the subsequent results. We thank you in advance for your kind cooperation.

ACT Web Site address: http://www.act-intl.org

ACT is a worldwide network of churches and related agencies meeting human need through coordinated emergency response.

The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.

I. REQUESTING ACT MEMBERS

• Norwegian Church Aid (NCA)
• Sudan Council of Churches (SCC)

Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) is an autonomous, ecumenical development aid organisation, based in Oslo and has 50 years experience globally. NCA has been operational in Sudan, both in relief and development for more than 20 years. It has in recent years worked primarily through local partner organisations and maintained a monitoring and capacity building role. At the same time NCA has also been operating in emergency relief operations when required.

NCA has a long history of partnership both with Sudan Council of Churches (SCC) and the New Sudan Council of Churches (NSCC) through emergency relief projects in Khartoum, Eastern Equatoria and Upper Nile. NCA has fully operational offices in Sudan as well as a Regional Office for East Africa in Nairobi.

The Sudan Council of Churches (SCC) formed in 1940's, is an indigenous Ecumenical Christian organisation and extends support to member churches in developing their spiritual, intellectual and resource capacities. In 1972, the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission was formed to rehabilitate the returnees from neighbouring countries and the internally displaced people after the Addis Ababa Agreement. In 1985, the Emergency Response Program (ERP) was established to respond to the needs of the people affected by disasters in the country. SCC/ERP has since implemented several emergency programs in Sudan.

II. IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES

The project will be implemented through the Inter Church Committee (ICC) in Kassala/Gadaref. The ICC comprises the following member churches:

The Sudan Catholic Bishops Conference (SCBC) is a member of SCC and SUDANAID is the service arm of the Roman Catholic Church (RCC), which has a parish in Kassala.

The Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church (SPEC) is a SCC member church.

The Episcopal Church of Sudan (ECS) is a member of SCC and one of the major protestant churches in Sudan.

III. DESCRIPTION of the EMERGENCY SITUATION

The recent war between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which started in the spring 1998, has since caused injury, death and displacement of tens of thousands of people. This war has been compared to the 1st World War, with huge numbers of infantry soldiers being killed in the trenches of the battlefield. Several attempts to stop the war and convince the parties to solve the conflict with peaceful means have not yet been successful.

Ethiopia recently started an offensive along the western part of the border, stretching toward Sudan. This offensive has managed to penetrate into Eritrea towards the main road between, Asmara and Kassala in Sudan causing further displacement. Around 500,000 persons are reported to have fled their homes, some of them crossing the border into Sudan. So far a limited number has been coming from the towns of Barento, Omhager and Tesenaye. Recently the State Government of Sudan in Kassala reported that larger numbers of Eritrean refugees were arriving in the Kassala area and appeared to be in desperate need of food, shelter, water/sanitation and medical care.

Current situation

Due to the renewed hostilities between Eritrea and Ethiopia, thousands of Eritrean refugees started to arrive either by foot or on animals to Al Lafa, 30 km east of Kassala town, on 16 May, 2000. The majority arrived empty handed, while some managed to bring their tractors or mini busses loaded with refrigerators, satelite dish antennas and household furniture.

Recalling the bad experiences when they first came to Sudan in 1968, some of the families have already gone back to their villages because they say, they prefer to die in their country with dignity.

AL LAFA CAMP - The original citizens of Lafa camp abandoned the area after the attack of the Sudanese Opposition Party last year. On 25 May 2000, the number of refugees was estimated at around 15,000 and by 5 June, the number had increased to 32,000. People, many in rags, are scattered all over the area with no organisation what so ever. The only shelter they have from the burning sun are the dry thorny trees. As the one basic school of Al Lafa village is already packed full with refugees and animals.

GULSA CAMP - The conditions of the refugees in this camp can only be described as miserable at the very best. The majority are women, children and elderly people who arrived with only the clothes on their backs. Among them were several Eritrean soldiers who left their positions in the battle in an attempt to save their lives. On 25 May 2000, the number of refugees was 8,000, and by 5 June the number had risen to 17,000.

GERGAF CAMP - This camp had 7,000 registered refugees by 5 June 2000. As it is situated very close to the border it is not considered secure enough and UNHCR are in discussion with the Government of Sudan to move the whole population to Shagarab camp. The local government is however reluctant to do but discussions are still on and the UNHCR believes that an agreement will be reached shortly

SHAGARAB CAMP - Shagarab is an old refugee camp and on June 5 had 3,500 registered refugees. The water supply is sufficient, but needs some improvement and so does the sanitation facilities. The camp can easily accommodate a larger number of refugees.

Impact on Human Lives

The displaced are seeking refuge from the ongoing war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Reports claim that many lives have been lost and many have been wounded. Large numbers have been internally displaced and several thousands have crossed over the borders to neighbouring countries. During the latest days even soldiers wounded in the war have arrived in the camps in eastern Sudan.

Description of the Damages

The refugees left their country, most of them with only the clothes they were wearing. The area they have arrived in is almost a desert, with only thorn-bushes to give scant protection against the burning sun. Hence shelter is an urgent need.

Water is provided by big tanker trucks which up to now has been enough to meet the needs.

Although the sanitation situation is improving daily since the large INGOs are attending to the issue, sanitation continues to be a problem and the situation needs to be brought under control before the onset of the rains.

World Food Program (WFP) is providing food and some of the NGOs have also flown in high protein food.

The refugees are in need of household-fuel as there is no firewood in this barren desert like area.

Location for the Proposed Response

The ACT-members and their partners have decided to assist in Gulsa camp based on advice from co-operating partners in Kassala. ACT members feel that the population of the camp is manageable and the immediate aim is to assist the refugees with shelter and household-fuel, as some of the other basic needs are already being taken care of.

Disaster and Emergency Statistics

As of 6 June 2000, the number of registered refugees in the 4 camps are as follows:

Consequently, UNHCR has revised the contingency-planning figure from 50,000 to 100,000 refugees in eastern Sudan, due to the escalation in fighting in the nearby border region.

IV. GOAL & OBJECTIVES

The project aims to provide life saving and life sustaining assistance to refugees in Gulsa camp.

Specifically the project will provide shelter materials and household-fuel to 3,000 refugee families.

V. TARGETED BENEFICIARIES

The project plans to assist around 3,000 families (15,000 refugees) by providing shelter materials and household-fuel in Gulsa Camp. If required, other emergency needs may be considered based on decisions arrived at the UNHCR/NGOs Co-ordinating Forum meetings.

The refugees are mainly women, children and elderly persons and will have registration papers issued by UNHCR.

VI. PROJECT ADMINISTRATION & IMPLEMENTATION.

A Co-ordinating Committee has been formed with one representative each, from:

• Sudan Council of Churches
• Sudan Catholic Bishop Conference (SCBC)/Sudanaid
• Norwegian Church Aid

The co-ordinating committee will oversee implementation of the project by the Inter Church Committee (ICC) in Kassala. SCBC/Sudanaid is a member of SCC and all churches represented in the Inter Church committee (ICC) in Kassala are members of SCC. The role of SCC in the implementation phase is of great importance, both as a motivator and as the main "church-body" giving assistance to the refugees.

The co-ordinating committee will employ two staff for one month to assist the ICC, in Kassala, distributing the items to the refugees. The two staff will have accounting and recording skills needed for the exercise to ensure the distribution is recorded and accounted for in the correct manner. In addition, several local volunteers will be recruited to help with project implementation.

All the relief items (shelter materials including tools and charcoal for fuel) will be distributed to the beneficiaries on presentation of the UNHCR issued registration card.

The Co-ordinating Committee will monitor the project very closely through planned visits. The committee will review, check and sign the final reports prior to submission to the ACT Geneva.

NCA as the focal point will play a leading role in co-ordinating the project activities, handle the funds and forward both the financial and narrative reports to ACT and other donors.

Procurement

Since most of the items are not available in Kassala, they will have to be bought in Khartoum and transported, first to Kassala and then to the sites for distribution. The responsible staff, together with the co-ordinating committee will purchase the items in Khartoum and facilitate the transport to Kassala. The items will be stored in the church premises in Kassala before they are taken to the camps for distribution.

VII. CO-ORDINATION

The Commissioner for Refugees (COR) together with the local Government in Kassala State is the focal point which co-ordinates humanitarian assistance to the refugees, in close conjunction with UNHCR.

There are several NGOs present in Kassala at the moment attending to the needs of the refugees. ICRC, OXFAM, IRC, MSF-Holland, MSF-FRANCE, GAA, SRC (Sudan Red Cresent) and others are among them. All NGOs participate either in the co-ordinating meetings with UNHCR in Khartoum, or in the meetings held by different committees and sub committees in the refugee camps.

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