Sudan - Complex emergency situation report #2 (FY 2002)

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
DEMOCRACY, CONFLICT, AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (DCHA)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)

Note: This Situation Report updates USAID/OFDA Situation Report #1, FY02 dated December 10, 2001.

BACKGROUND

Sudan's 18-year civil war between Government of Sudan (GOS) military and militia forces and mostly southern Sudanese rebel groups, including the Southern People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M), persists on numerous fronts along the traditional North/South divide, transitional zones (i.e. the Nuba Mountains, Southern Blue Nile), and eastern front, where GOS forces are engaged against the Northern Democratic Alliance (NDA). Populations in the South and transitional areas continue to be adversely affected by forced displacements due to the continued fighting, raiding, and GOS aerial bombings. Since 1999, oil drilling and exploration, as well as piping crude oil to the Red Sea for export, has further increased displacement of the affected populations in the Nuba Mountains and western Upper Nile.

The ongoing insecurity and population displacements have destroyed most of the indigenous trading and production systems and impeded humanitarian relief efforts. Operation Lifeline Sudan (U.N./OLS), established in 1989 in response to the conflict-related famine in the South, is a tripartite agreement of negotiated access among the GOS, the SPLM, and the United Nations (U.N.). Under this framework, a consortium of U.N. agencies and more than 40 international and indigenous non-governmental organizations (NGOs) provide emergency relief and rehabilitation assistance in Sudan. In addition, more than ten international NGOs provide humanitarian assistance outside of the U.N./OLS consortium.

An estimated two million people, nearly 8% of the country's population, have died from war-related events, including fighting, famine, and disease since 1983. Sudan has experienced three periods of famine over the last 13 years; Bahr el Ghazal in 1988-1989 and 1998, and Upper Nile in 1992-1993. The Sudanese population has been susceptible not only to famine and war-related catastrophes, but also to floods from rising river levels and torrential rains, epidemics such as measles and meningitis, drought in the North and South, and insect infestations, largely due to locusts. USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) has been active in Sudan since 1987, addressing emergency needs of the war and drought-affected populations, both within and outside the U.N./OLS framework.

Total FY 2002 USAID/OFDA Humanitarian Assistance to Sudan (to date): $16,746,196
Total FY 2002 USG Humanitarian Assistance to Sudan (to date): $18,946,196

Total FY 2001 USAID/OFDA Humanitarian Assistance to Sudan: $27,263,520
Total FY 2001 USG Humanitarian Assistance to Sudan: $154,704,528

CURRENT SITUATION

Nuba Mountains: The humanitarian situation, as well as political developments, in the Nuba Mountains have been steadily improving over the last few months. Following a USAID/OFDA humanitarian relief flight on August 30, which delivered more than 8 MT of emergency food assistance to the Nuba Mountains population, the United States and the United Nations negotiated a four-week period of tranquility for the traditionally unstable area. This period of tranquility allowed the World Food Program to deliver more than 2039 MT of emergency food aid, targeting the critical food needs of more than 85,000 beneficiaries in four areas. The airdrops, which lasted from November 14 through December 4, represented the first large-scale humanitarian response to the isolated Nuba Mountains area, which is outside the mandate of OLS and to which the GOS has repeatedly denied access over the past decade.

Following the successful delivery of emergency food assistance to the affected-area, negotiations between the GOS, SPLA, and USG led to a United Nations-led multi-agency assessment mission to both government and opposition-held areas of the Nuba Mountains. Technical teams from the northern sector were on the ground from January 3-11, and the southern sector assessment team conducted their appraisal from January 8-11 and 20-24. The mission assessed the food security, livestock, health, water/sanitation, and education sectors in the geographical areas of Kadugli, Abu Gebeyha/Talodi, Dilling, Heiban/Rashad and Lagawa in the northern sector and Kauda, Karkar, Julud, Tima, Lado, Hajar Hatab and Kawalib in the southern sector. A detailed report of the humanitarian assessment mission of both the government and opposition-held areas is expected in the near term.

On the political front, following Swiss and U.S. mediated talks in Burgenstock, Switzerland, the GOS and SPLA formally agreed to a renewable six-month cease-fire in the Nuba Mountains. Implementation of the agreement, which began on January 22, calls for both sides to observe and extend the current military stand-down in the area, including all of southern Kordofan and Legawa County in Western Kordofan.

Western Bahr el Ghazal: Civilian populations in western Bahr el Ghazal have been subject to periods of intense fighting between GOS military forces and SPLA forces over the last nine months. In November, the GOS denied U.N./OLS humanitarian access to Deim Zubier and other affected towns in western Bahr el Ghazal. WFP's Technical Support Unit (TSU) estimated in mid-November that there were 16,000 new internally displaced people in Awoda, Raga County. Due to insecurity in the area, WFP had been unable to fully access this IDP population and was providing services when access permitted.

According to local sources in the Bahr el Ghazal area, more than 7,600 IDPs fled Raga to Aweil West and Aweil North counties in late November and early December. Of this total, more than 4,987 IDPs were believed to be in two camps in Aweil West County and more than 2,629 displaced people in two camps in Aweil North County.

Northern Sudan Crop Assessment: The FAO/WFP crop and food supply assessment mission to northern Sudan began the second week of December. Preliminary results indicate that food production has improved over last year in most areas; however, more than 155,000 MTs of food aid is still required to assist more than 2 million IDPs.

Relatively sufficient and reasonably distributed rains, the local availability of seeds and tools and a pest free cereal season were some of the reasons for production improvement. There remain, however, localized food deficit areas in North Darfur, northeast of El Fashir, and in northern parts of North and West Kordofan. In the Red Sea State, the food shortage is worse than Kordofan and Darfur, coupled with a shortage in drinking water due to erratic and insufficient rains.

Production of cereals in central and eastern Sudan (the Sorghum Production Belt) was reported to be good and the prices started to fall. Farmers fear that prices may drop to low levels and it will not be feasible for them to complete the harvest. Prices of cereals, especially sorghum, were reported to have dropped in many areas in Western Sudan. In certain areas such as Western Darfur prices were only one fourth of their August 2001 levels.

Upper Nile: Military conflict continues to adversely affect the humanitarian situation in the disputed oil-rich regions of western and central Upper Nile. Recent reports from the U.N. Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) in mid-January indicated the area remains an active military zone, with large numbers of GOS and SPLA forces in the Nhial Diu and Bentiu areas. The humanitarian effect on the population of Upper Nile has been tremendous. The area remains one of the most underserved locations in southern Sudan, and outbreaks of diseases, such as polio, have been reported recently.

Polio Eradication and Surveillance: GOS officials announced on January 19, which marks National Immunization Day in Sudan, that the GOS and OLS will begin to implement a polio eradication campaign in the conflict affected areas of southern Sudan. According to UNICEF, the GOS has accepted a U.N. proposal to observe periods of tranquility for the first Monday through Thursday of February, March, and April 2002, so that U.N. and GOS health teams can embark on a massive campaign to eradicate polio. This period of tranquility will also allow health teams to conduct polio surveillance to monitor potential outbreaks. UNICEF estimates that 5.7 million Sudanese children under five years of age need to be vaccinated against the polio virus. The USG negotiated an agreement with the GOS that calls for the government to not deny access to any flights associated with the polio eradication campaign during the tranquility period. However, USG proposals related to tranquility periods to facilitate the eradication of guinea worm and rinderpest have not been approved by the GOS.

CONSTRAINTS TO HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

Humanitarian Access: According to U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the number of GOS humanitarian flight denials in opposition-controlled locations in southern Sudan has increased significantly over the course of 2001. Under the terms of U.N./OLS, the government of Sudan retains the right to deny access to specific locations due to security concerns, however, these denials significantly stress the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Sudan's under-served populations. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has also expressed concern over the increase in GOS flight denials. Populations in Upper Nile, western Bahr el Ghazal, and eastern Equatoria are the worst affected by the flight denials.

Aerial Bombings: On January 11, the U.N. reported two GOS aerial bombings approximately 11 miles outside of the eastern Equatoria town of Ikotos. Details of the bombing were not available, however this incident came as U.S. Special Envoy for Peace, John Danforth, was in Sudan January 12-17 for discussions with the GOS and SPLM. The cessation of aerial bombing has been a point of negotiation for peace in Sudan.

Insecurity: On January 9, reports indicated that fighting did take place in the Tima area of the Nuba Mountains with casualties. All ten members of the southern sector assessment team, including USAID/OFDA's Southern Sudan Program Officer and a USAID/OFDA technical consultant, were in the Nuba Mountains village of Kauda at the time of the reported attacks. As a precaution, the U.N. evacuated members of the southern sector assessment team, including USAID staff, to El Obeid on January 10. Tima and Tullishi were not scheduled for a visit by the southern sector assessment team; however, the area is close to the village of Julud, a location cleared by the GOS and SPLA for the assessment. Members of the northern sector assessment team, including USAID/Khartoum staff, have relocated to El Obeid as well.

USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

USG humanitarian assistance to Sudan, outlined in the 2000-2002 Integrated Strategic Plan for Sudan, focuses on the war and drought-affected populations in non-GOS held areas of southern Sudan, as well as the war-affected population in GOS-controlled areas of Sudan. In FY 2001 this policy was amended, allowing humanitarian assistance to drought-affected populations in government areas as well.

In May 2001, President Bush named USAID Administrator Andrew S. Natsios as Special Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan. The role of the Special Humanitarian Coordinator includes increasing stability in war and drought-affected areas, improving the delivery mechanisms of humanitarian assistance, coordinating USG assistance, coordinating external relations with other donors, and increasing attention on human rights abuses. In response to this appointment, Administrator Natsios formed a Sudan Task Force to effectively manage the day-to-day implementation of these goals.

As part of Administrator Natsios's mandate, USAID, via a technical consultant, recently conducted a review of Operation Lifeline Sudan Southern Sector operations. Recommendations from this review were received by USAID in mid-January and a full debriefing to the international community is expect in the near term.

On September 6, 2001, President Bush appointed former Senator John Danforth to be his Special Envoy for Peace to Sudan. Danforth is leading a renewed effort to find peace in Sudan and to promote development in the country. In January 2002, U.S. Special Envoy Danforth led a USG delegation that included USAID/OFDA Director Winter and several other high-ranking USG officials to the Sudan, Kenya, and Cairo for discussions with GOS, SPLA/M and regional leaders. Several key humanitarian issues were highlighted during the U.S. Special Envoy's visit to the region, including sustained peace in the Nuba Mountains, days and periods of tranquility, and the bombardment of civilian and humanitarian targets. Former Senator Danforth visited the region in November 2001 as well.

Within the framework of the Integrated Strategic Plan for Sudan, USAID has identified programmatic priorities for fiscal year 2002. These priorities include; multi-sectoral emergency assistance to war-affected populations, increasing support to war-affected populations in under-served geographic areas (i.e. Nuba Mountains, Upper Nile, Southern Blue Nile, and eastern Sudan), increasing support for IDP/refugee returns, continuing to support drought and flood recovery programs in northern Sudan, and responding quickly to negotiated humanitarian access agreements. USAID/OFDA, as well as USAID's Office of Food for Peace (FFP), will provide humanitarian assistance under the guidelines of the Integrated Strategic Plan and outlined programmatic priorities. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) provide additional USG humanitarian assistance to Sudan.

On October 15, 2001, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Raymond Brown renewed the disaster declaration for the complex emergency and drought affecting Sudan in FY 2002. The US Mission in Sudan has declared disasters due to complex emergencies since 1987, allowing the USG to respond with humanitarian assistance to Sudan's war-affected population.

On November 26, the U.N. launched the 2002 Consolidated Appeal for Sudan. The appeal, which seeks $194 million in humanitarian assistance, is the U.N. framework for providing humanitarian assistance to both the complex emergency and drought in Sudan. The USG supports the Consolidated Appeal through humanitarian assistance to FAO, UNOCHA, UNICEF, UNHCR, UNHabitiat, and WFP.

¹ USAID funding figure includes international disaster assistance funding provided by USAID/OFDA and USAID/FFP and does not reflect development assistance funding provided through USAID’s Africa Bureau.

² USAID/OFDA funding indicates committed and/or obligated amounts as of January 31, 2001. Additional USG humanitarian assistance will be reported as it becomes available.

³ State/PRM figures include only Sudan-specific funding, and do not include unearmarked funding for UNHCR and IFRC Africa programs.

Roger P. Winter Director
Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance

USAID/OFDA bulletins can be obtained from the USAID web site at http://www.usaid.gov/hum_response/ofda/situation.html