OCHA Sudan: East Darfur State Profile (March 2023)

BACKGROUND

East Darfur State was created in 2012 when it was carved out of South Darfur. It borders South Darfur, North Darfur, West Kordofan, the Abyei Area and shares an international border with South Sudan. Its state capital is Ad Du’ayn town. The main tribes in the state are the Birgit, M’berti, Ma’aliya, Rezeigat, and Zaghawa. Historically, tribal conflict in the state existed before the start of the Darfur conflict in 2003, with conflict between the Ma’aliya and Rezeigat tribes dating back to the 1960s. In addition, conflict between nomadic herders and sedentary farming communities, usually over land ownership and use of resources, was also common.

There are four camps, four neighbourhoods and 11 villages in the state hosting internally displaced persons (IDPs), according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mobility Tracking Round Five. In addition, the state hosts two refugee camps for South Sudanese, who started arriving in the state when conflict broke out in neighbouring South Sudan in mid-December 2013.

HUMANITARIAN OVERVIEW

Inter-tribal conflict, protracted displacement, the economic crisis, food insecurity, poor basic services, flooding, and the refugee influx are the main drivers of humanitarian needs in the state.

There have been longstanding tensions among different community groups in East Darfur. Communities often live segregated from each other and stereotyping of IDP communities persists, with IDPs and refugees facing discrimination from the host community. In addition, attacks by members of the host community—often nomadicpastoralist tribes—against IDPs and refugees are common. Land use and ownership tensions among nomads, herders and sedentary farming communities are common.

The main livelihood activities in the state include agriculture, livestock rearing and trading. About 84 per cent of the population in the state relies on natural resource-dependent livelihoods. The population suffers from low social indicators, insufficient access to basic services and service delivery, and limited access to labour markets.

EAST DARFUR IN NUMBERS

1.3 million population in 2023 (National: 49.7 million)

112 in 1,000 number of children who die before their 5th birthday (National: 68)

93.7% children who complete primary school and continue to secondary school (National: 90.7%)

40.8% percentage of literate young women (15 - 24 years) (National: 59.8%)

57.4% percentage of girls married before the age of 18 (National 38%)

44.6% chronic malnutrition (Severe and moderate) prevalence among children U5 (National: 38.2%)*

15.3% GAM (Global Acute Malnutrition) prevalence among children U5 (National: 16.3%)”

115,294 number of children U5 suffering from GAM (National: 3.1 million)

200,000 number of people projected at IPC phase 3 & 4 (Oct 2022 - Feb 2023) (National: 7.7 million)

45.1% percentage of people with access to improved drinking water (National: 68%)