OCHA Sudan Floods Situation Report No. 12: 4 September 2003

CURRENT SITUATION
General

1. The general consensus among humanitarian actors on the ground is that the situation in accessible areas is operationally under control. The majority of the target population has received immediate assistance in most sectors, or assistance is already in the pipeline.

2. While the situation is deemed to be stable at the moment, given the dynamics of the emergency due to localized rainfall and flooding, and the varying degree of access to some locations, the reported needs for assistance may fluctuate in the short term.

3. Registered numbers of beneficiaries have increased since the onset of the emergency. Revised figures from the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) raises the affected population to 105,000, representing 17,000 families having totally or partly lost their houses to the flood disaster.

4. While the distribution of relief assistance is progressing in the Kassala area, there are significant unmet needs, particularly with respect to sanitation (household facilities), health (mosquito nets) and shelter. This is due to both the pace of implementation, and shortcomings in the availability of relief material. OCHA/UNDAC is currently participating in meetings in the Kassala Emergency Forum (KEF), from where an update on the operational status and priority needs is expected shortly. UNDAC continues to monitor the situation, and will revert with regular updates.

Kassala State

Kassala Town and its surroundings

Water and Sanitation

5. As of 1st September the water situation in Kassala town was reported as stabilised (IFRC, WES). The water network is operating at close to full capacity (already 85% as of 20th August - UNDAC assessment). Furthermore, SRC and the Austrian/German Red Cross Societies provide supplementary water tank distribution, and they have distributed 16,040 jerry cans for potable water, representing a total capacity of 250,800 litres.

6. Sanitation efforts are being taken care of by several humanitarian actors. Preliminary information indicates a residual workload on the implementation of sanitary facilities for households.

Health

7. The health situation remains generally stable, with no reported outbreaks of epidemics. The number of patients visiting the health facilities has reduced from 2,165 to 1,876. While SRC clinics have handled in excess of 10,000 patients during the two weeks of review, they report no significant health problems caused by floods.

8. Due to a slight increase in malaria cases reported by health facilities, from 2.0/1000 to 2.2/1000, the State Ministry of Health (SMOH) plans to intensify indoor spraying as well as spraying of stagnant water pools.

9. Diarrhoea cases have become stable at 0.5/1000, deemed by SMOH as a clear indication of the effectiveness of health education conducted jointly by the SMOH and NGOs.

10. Aerial spraying of mosquito and housefly breeding areas has covered 93% (11 sq km) of the target area, in an effort to prevent outbreaks of malaria and diarrhoea.

11. As of 28th August, when further distribution was suspended by SMOH due to the establishment of a new mechanism for distribution, 2,446 mosquito nets had been provided. Close to 50% of the 20,000 mosquito nets targeted for impregnation had been treated by this date.

Food Aid

12. In cooperation with SRC, WFP has completed its first month of relief food distribution to flood victims in Kassala. A total of 1,210 MT of food was distributed to 67,820 people (13,564 households).

13. Kuwaiti Peoples Help Fund (KPHF) has provided an additional quantity of 300 MT of mixed food commodities, according to information from KEF on 12th August.

Agriculture

14. An assessment report prepared by FAO in collaboration with SMOH, SRC, ACORD, ITDG and PLAN Sudan, detailing damage on livestock and horticulture by soil erosion was presented in a KEF meeting on 28th August. The report contains information on requirements and priority needs for recovery.

Shelter

15. As of 1st September, IFRC had distributed 400 tents, while 8,000 households have been provided with plastic sheeting. Provision for 5,000 plastic sheeting is in the pipeline. In addition, 400 tarpaulins have been distributed.

16. The IFRC also reports having distributed 31,014 blankets.

Other areas in Kassala State

17. Assessment missions to the Hadalya and Wagar areas within the Gash delta, north of Kassala town, have been completed and assessment reports are expected to be available within the next day. Preliminary information indicates an adverse and deteriorating situation that requires an urgent response. The scope and scale of the required needs remains to be clarified in the forthcoming assessment reports.

Other states

For comprehensive information on other states not indicated in this report, please refer to situation report no. 11, which provides an overview of the situation following several assessment missions.

Sinnar State

18. Unconfirmed, preliminary reports indicate a significant impact on several villages in the Dindar area of the Sinnar State, due to heavy rains and flooding. Assessments are being undertaken, and results are expected by the end of the week.

Contacts: Office of the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator: Guadalupe de Sousa: +249 1230 8703 (desousag@un.org); Information: Alf B. Kiil (undac@operamail.com) or mobile +249 1230 6451.