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Sudan

Operation Lifeline Sudan Weekly Report: 19 Jan 2000

ACCESS ISSUES
Air Operations

During the reporting period, WFP delivered 622 MTs of food to various locations around Sudan from the north sector. Deliveries were 44% higher than the previous week. The increase was due to the resumption of airdrops by the C-130 aircraft. WFP airdropped food to Gok Machar, Liethnom, Malual Bai, Mangok, Marial Bai, Mayom Akol, Nyal, Nyamlell, Panliet and Panthou. Food was delivered to Wau by commercial airfreight and by WFP-leased aircraft airlifts.

In the southern sector, two C-130 Hercules and two Buffalo aircraft continued to deliver food aid from Lokichokio and one C-130 Hercules operated out of El Obeid. No deliveries were made from Khartoum during the reporting period.

Road Operations

During the reporting period, WFP delivered 352 MTs of mixed food commodities to Kassala for distribution to beneficiaries.

SECURITY

Eight Norwegian Church Aid staff killed

Seven out of eleven Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) staff were killed when their vehicle was ambushed on 14 January 2000. One other person died the following morning. The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) are believed to have been responsible.

OLS security evacuated NCA staff from Parajok to Lokichokkio on 15 January.

On 15 January 2000, a World Vision-Uganda vehicle was reportedly attacked in Kitgum by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). Two people were reported dead and one wounded. OLS security evacuated staff from that location.

The LRA reportedly attacked a location close to Parajok on 16 January 2000. No OLS agencies were on the ground.

Increased LRA activity in northern Uganda and Eastern Equatoria jeopardized the security of OLS staff working in these locations. Following recent attacks, all OLS locations along the South Sudan border within the area have been placed on level 3 and informed not to move out from the locations by vehicle.

Care International has suspended its operations in Unity State following the death of two members of staff on the Bentiu-Mayom route on 2 January 2000.

A Médecins Sans Frontières-Belgium (MSF-B) worker was attacked and seriously beaten in Lokichokio town.

Three armed gangsters broke into the Diocese of Torit camp in Lokichokio. No property was stolen as the guards managed to chase them away. The police are investigating the incident.

Kiech Kuon was bombed on 12 January 2000. There were no reports of deaths or injuries except that two cows were killed. Kiech Kuon was put on security alert.

Reports received on 13 January indicated that an Antonov aircraft was flying overhead in the Kiech Kuon area. Most of the population fled the area but later returned when the Antonov left. Kiech Kuon returned to security level 2.

On 15 January 2000, OLS security evacuated NCA staff from Parajok.

A security assessment to Bahr Al Ghazal indicated that the Murhaleen were spotted north of Warawar.

Cease-fire

The Government of Sudan announced its extension of the cease-fire for three months with effect from midnight of 15 January 2000.

The SPLM announced on 13 January 2000, its extension of the humanitarian cease-fire for three months covering Bahr Al Ghazal, Western Upper Nile and Central Upper Nile.

DELIVERIES, DISTRIBUTIONS & INTERVENTIONS

Food Distribution

During the reporting period, WFP distributed 305.9 MTs of food to 147,799 targeted beneficiaries in southern Sudan. The areas covered include Acumcum, Bararud, Atukuel, Thiek Thou, Mangok, Alek, Pakor, Majakliet, Madhol, Mangar Angui, and Gok Machar in Bahr Al Ghazal. Distribution into Western and Central Upper Nile was impeded by security but the agency was able to deliver food to Latjor State, Upper Nile.

During the reporting period, WFP Malakal provided 446 beneficiaries in Upper Nile with four MTs of mixed food commodities. Distributions were implemented in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

During the reporting period WFP Juba sub office led a team of personnel to investigate a report of displaced persons settled 30 miles south of Juba. A total of 285 individuals were registered as newly displaced in the area. Only non-food items such as blankets, utensils and plastic sheeting recommended to cover immediate needs were provided. An emergency assessment of individual needs was carried out and the report will be submitted shortly.

109 children discharged from supplementary feeding centres and 2,318 children under five years of age are eligible for premix nutritional supplements.

312 IDP lactating mothers received soap to help them improve their hygiene condition.

Emergency Response

UNICEF reports that 500 kg of essential drugs were delivered to Nasir on Sobat Corridor and the surrounding area of Ulang.

450 kg of essential drugs were delivered to Northern Upper Nile in Renk to serve health facilities in Wadkona.

116 kg of drugs were delivered to the National NGO Global Health Foundation.

80 Kg of essential drugs were delivered to the Children's Hospital in Malakal as ongoing supplies.

Immunization Campaign

UNICEF started the second acceleration campaign (Polio, DPT) on 7 January for five days covering Wau town, surrounding villages and displaced camps. 7436 children under 5 years of age received OPV and DPT.

Awareness and Public Education

Women from Ed Daein conducted an exhibition of handicrafts at the town youth centre. WFP trained 50 women through the Women Knocking on Women's Door food-for-work programme, providing them with food assistance. These women displayed their hand made products at the exhibition.

ASSESSMENTS

Following the results of the Bentiu nutrition survey carried out in December 1999, which showed a Global Malnutrition Rate of 26 % (above the 15% cut-off rate), WFP have started distributing full rations to beneficiaries in the area. With Care International having suspended its services in Bentiu, including the supplementary feeding centres, WFP are consulting with partners on supplying an additional blanket supplementary feeding ration to all under-five IDP children.

An assessment mission was carried out jointly by WFP, the Ministry of Agriculture in White Nile State, FAO and HAC in November 1999. The mission indicated that the areas of sesame cultivation were found to have increased by 30% (645,340 feddans in 1999 and 497,660 feddans in 1998), while sorghum areas have decreased by 47 % (928,620 feddans in 1999 compared to 1,765,905 feddans in 1998). This shift from sorghum was a result of the high sesame prices during 1998/99 harvest. The cost of sorghum has remained stable since October 1999 but prices are expected to increase immediately after this year's harvest is completed.

WFP Juba participated in a meeting to discuss a rapid nutrition survey for under-five children in Terekeka. The Ministry of Health is conducting a mission funded by UNICEF with the technical assistance of ACF. The survey is scheduled to begin during the next reporting period and will continue for a period of five days.

No population movements were noticed between IDP camps in South Darfur or to and from Southern Sudan. This decrease in movements is attributable to the ongoing harvest season.

Thanks to the success of the first/pilot settlement project, IDPs in ED Daein camps are eagerly waiting to be covered under the second phase. However, preparations for the second phase have been delayed because of lack of funds.

Children in Especially Difficult Circumstances

The French non-governmental organization Enfants du Monde began it activities in Wau this week. Its main aim is to provide psychosocial support to accompanied children who are either reunified with their families or who do not attend schools in Wau. The majority of children who are covered within the program are between 6 and 12 years old. They are involved in activities such as drawing, music and games.

Livestock Projects

UNICEF in coordination with PARC trained 15 Vet Technicians as supervisors of community animal health care workers. Operational locations have been pre-positioned to carry out a vaccination campaign against rinderpest and other livestock diseases during the dry season (January-June). It will target 100,000 people.

Health matters

The Weekly communicable diseases report from the Juba Teaching Hospital recorded 257 cases and one death from Malaria, six cases of acute Gastro-enteritis, fourteen cases of acute respiratory infection, one case of TB and two cases of cerebral spiral meningitis. No cases of polio, measles or tetanus toxoid were recorded.

INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS

The IDP working population of the two camps, Goz es Salam and Laya in White Nile represents 74 % of the total population of 44,000. Approximately 50 % of the working population that participated in the last seasonal crop harvest in different agricultural schemes in the White Nile and Blue Nile states have returned to their families in the IDP camps in Kosti. The other 50 % are still engaged in the sorghum harvest and are expected to return to the IDP camps in Kosti in March 2000.

During the reporting period, reports received from community leaders in White Nile revealed that some families in the IDP camps were planning to return to their original homes either in the south or western Sudan. The present IDP populations in the two camps of Laya and Goz es Salaam are generally faring well as they are presently earning cash from seasonal harvesting. As the seasonal employment opportunities were not significant this season, their living conditions are expected to change on completion of the harvest period in March 2000.

Health centers at Laya and Goz es Salam camps are operational and manned by two medical assistants from Islamic African Relief Agency (IARA) and Sudan Council of Churches (SCC). Present prevailing diseases among the population in the area are said to be malaria and diarrhea, although the number of cases among the IDPs has decreased. Feeding centers at both camps have been inoperative since December 1999. They will re-open this year with the resumption of WFP distributions. Sanitation has remained poor in both camps. Basic facilities are unavailable and a general lack of hygiene awareness is apparent.

OTHER OLS ISSUES

Meetings

The NGO/UNHCU weekly Security Meeting was held on 17 January 2000 at the UNHCU Conference Room.

The weekly meeting of the Humanitarian Aid Forum (HAF) Steering Committee took place on 18 January 2000 at UNHCU. Matters addressed included humanitarian personnel security, security situation in Bentiu and communications equipment.

The monthly HAF Inter-Agency Meeting was held on 19 January 2000 at the UNDP Conference Room. Issues dealt with included security report, Bentiu, HAF statement on security, IDP issues and electronic communications network for OLS.

The monthly Donors/UNEOG meeting was held on 20 January 2000 at the UNDP Conference Room. Issues discussed included cease-fires, access issues, security situation, Sudan Peace Act, visit of UN Special Envoy, and the South Darfur Resettlement Project.

A meeting of the Unity State Emergency Response Team (ERT) took place on 20 January 2000 at UNHCU. Issues dealt with included security situation in Unity State, population movements, security assessment mission and UN/NGO Update.