Note: The last situation report was dated October 20, 2006.
BACKGROUND
In 2006, Sudan has made progress toward achieving sustainable peace in some regions of the country, while other areas continue to cope with the effects of conflict. The formation of the joint Government of National Unity (GNU) marked a step in the road toward peace for the southern-based Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the ruling government in Khartoum. The new government was a requirement of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that the former Government of Sudan and the SPLM signed in January 2005, officially ending Africa's longest running civil war. The interim national constitution authorized the creation of the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) and initiated a six-year interim period, after which Southern Sudan will hold a referendum on independence in 2011. During the 21-year conflict, fighting, famine, and disease killed more than 2 million people, forced an estimated 600,000 people to seek refuge in neighboring countries, and displaced 4 million people within Sudan-the largest internally displaced person (IDP) population in the world. The U.N. estimated that hundreds of thousands of displaced persons returned to Southern Sudan during 2005 and 2006, taxing scarce resources and weak infrastructure.
A separate conflict in the western region of Darfur entered its fourth year, despite a peace agreement between the GNU and one faction of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), signed in May 2006. Fighting among armed opposition group factions, Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and militias has persisted in 2006, displacing hundreds of thousands of civilians and preventing the return of others. The complex emergency in Darfur affected more than 3.8 million people, including 1.9 million IDPs, and approximately 220,000 refugees in eastern Chad. In eastern Sudan, the GNU and the Eastern Front opposition group signed a peace agreement on October 14, 2006, aiming to end the low-level violence and prevent tensions from erupting into widespread conflict.
The U.S. Government (USG) is the leading international donor to Sudan and has contributed more than $2 billion for humanitarian programs in Sudan and eastern Chad since FY 2004. The USG continues to lead the international effort to support implementation of the CPA, while simultaneously providing for the humanitarian needs of conflict-affected populations throughout the country.
| NUMBERS AT A GLANCE |
Source
| |
| IDPs in Sudan | Total: 6,200,000 From Southern Sudan: 4 million In Darfur: 1.9 million | UNHCR(1)-November 2005 OCHA(2)-December
2005 OCHA-September 2006 |
| Sudanese Refugees | Total: 220,000 In Chad | UNHCR-April 2006 |
| Sudanese Refugees | Total: 340,000
In Uganda, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kenya, Central African Republic, Egypt, and Eritrea | UNHCR-July 2006 |
| Refugees in Sudan | Total: 170,000
From Eritrea, Ethiopia, Uganda, DRC, and others | UNHCR-November 2005 |
Total FY 2007 USAID Humanitarian Assistance to Sudan and Eastern Chad: $94,988,700(3)
Total FY 2007 USG Humanitarian Assistance to Sudan and Eastern Chad: $94,988,700
Total FY 2006 USAID Humanitarian Assistance to Sudan and Eastern Chad: $667,060,719
Total FY 2006 USG Humanitarian Assistance to Sudan and Eastern Chad: $776,365,216
CURRENT SITUATION IN DARFUR
Displacements in West Darfur. Humanitarian organizations report that since October 28, Arab militias have attacked villages in the Jebel Moon and Silea areas of West Darfur, located north of El Geneina near the Chadian border. According to the organizations, the attacks resulted in the deaths of approximately 50 civilians and injury to 14 others, and the militias reportedly stole large numbers of livestock. U.N. agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) interviewed IDPs who fled to Silea, and reported that an unknown number of civilians dispersed toward Silea, Jebel Moon, and the Chadian village of Birak as a result of the violence. Additionally, IDPs stated that the assailants deliberately targeted children and the elderly. USAID partners have placed medical teams on standby Silea and El Geneina.
IDPs from Muhajeria, South Darfur. Insecurity continues to prevent humanitarian organizations from assessing the locations of all IDPs who fled Muhajeria and surrounding villages of South Darfur following clashes between the SLA/Minni Minawi and SLA/Free Will factions in October. An estimated 40,000 to 45,000 IDPs are now located in the South Darfur town of Seleah; however, humanitarian organizations report that an unknown number of IDPs have gathered in nearby Yasin and Sania Afandu. A USAID partner suspended humanitarian programs in the Sania Afandu area following the carjacking of an agency vehicle on October 25. On the same day and in the same area, field sources reported that in two separate incidents, unknown assailants attacked a commercial vehicle carrying relief commodities and a GNU Office of Water and Environmental Sanitation (WES) convoy. All five WES staff members in the convoy and two vehicles are reportedly still missing. Organizations plan to resume humanitarian programs in the area when the security situation stabilizes.
Durti Camp Programs Suspended. On October 15, armed assailants stopped four NGO staff conducting a routine health visit in Durti IDP camp near El Geneina, West Darfur, and stole the NGO's vehicle. NGO staff reported that while such incidents and thefts are not unusual, the daytime attack inside an IDP camp represents a deterioration in the local security situation. As a result, the NGO has temporarily suspended operations within the camp pending further review.
USAID Provides Emergency Relief Supplies. The U. Joint Logistics Center (UNJLC) announced that nearly the entire stock of 230,000 blankets-funded in part by USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA)-has arrived in Sudan for distribution throughout Darfur in preparation for the cold season. of October 7, the U.N. had stockpiled nearly 65,000 plastic sheets, more than 140,000 sleeping mats, and approximately 181,000 water containers for distribution in Darfur.
DPA Summary Audio Translations Available. In September, USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (USAID/OTI) funded the audio translations of a summary of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) in three of the main languages of Darfur-Fur, Zaghawa, and Massalit. The DPA information unit of the African Union Mission in Sudan has received 1,000 cassettes for distribution throughout Darfur, and the Darfur state radio stations have agreed to broadcast the summaries.
CURRENT SITUATION IN NON-DARFUR SUDAN
Worsening Security in Juba. Security near the Southern Sudan capital, Juba, has deteriorated following incidents on October 26 and 27, leading humanitarian organizations in the area to increase security precautions. Clashes involving an unidentified group and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) reportedly occurred near Juba town and the eastern bank of the White Nile River. On October 27, an armed group ambushed a U.N. Mission in Sudan convoy traveling on the Juba- Torit road, which runs eastward out of Juba. As a result, the U.N. has raised the security classification of the road to level four, requiring advance clearances and escorts for travel by road.
GNU Lifts State of Emergency for Eastern Sudan. According to the U.N. World Food Program (WFP), the GNU has lifted the state of emergency for eastern Sudan following the signing of a peace agreement with the Eastern Front on October 14. WFP reported that the adjustment is expected to facilitate movement within Red Sea and Kassala states and across the recently opened border with Eritrea, as well as improve access for humanitarian and development organizations in eastern Sudan.
Nutrition and Health Survey in Kosti IDP Camps. A nutrition and health survey undertaken by a USAID partner in September 2006 revealed high rates of malnutrition in the four IDP camps-Goz el Salam, Kadogli, Al Laya, and Dun Kug-outside of Kosti, White Nile State. The survey assessed the nutrition and health status of children under five years of age and showed an overall global acute malnutrition (GAM) rate exceeding the 15 percent emergency threshold. In 2004, a nutrition survey in the same areas estimated the GAM rate at 10 percent, significantly lower than the 2006 survey. The survey team concluded that food shortages, among other factors, contributed to the high malnutrition rates.
USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
On October 16, 2006, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Cameron R. Hume renewed the Sudan disaster declaration for FY 2007. The U.S. Mission in Sudan has declared disasters due to the complex emergency on an annual basis since 1987.
In FY 2006, USAID/OFDA contributed more than $177 million in Sudan and eastern Chad to provide a full range of emergency humanitarian interventions, reduce conflict, and improve local capacity to reintegrate IDPs returning to their home communities. In FY 2006, USAID/OFDA awarded more than $69 million to 28 NGO and U.N. partners for emergency programs in non-Darfur Sudan in the sectors of health; food security and agriculture; water sanitation, and hygiene; income generation; nutrition; protection; capacity building; and coordination. In Darfur, USAID/OFDA provided more than $104 million in FY 2006 to 28 NGO and U.N. partners for multi-sector interventions to assist IDPs and vulnerable populations. USAID/OFDA also supported returns of IDPs to their places of origin. In eastern Chad, USAID/OFDA provided more than $3.8 million to seven NGO and U.N. partners to support host communities and IDPs.
In response to the Sudan complex emergency, USAID's Office of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP) contributed nearly 476,000 metric tons (MT) of food assistance in FY 2006, valued at approximately $457.8 million. USAID/FFP provided contingency rations to implementing partners in areas where returnees were expected and continues to closely monitor and respond to food needs throughout the country.
The overall goal of USAID/OTI in Sudan is to strengthen Sudanese confidence and capacity to address the causes and consequences of political marginalization, violence, and instability under the framework of the CPA. USAID/OTI currently has five implementing partners in Sudan. In FY 2006, USAID/OTI provided approximately $34 million in support of Sudan programs.
The Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (State/PRM) has provided $113 million in assistance to Sudanese populations affected by the complex emergency in 2006. State/PRM supports protection and assistance programs for more than 220,000 Sudanese refugees in Chad in partnership with UNHCR, the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF), WFP, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and a broad range of NGOs. State/PRM also works with UNHCR, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and NGOs to support the return of refugees and IDPs in Southern Sudan and protect conflict-affected populations in Darfur.
Footnotes
(1) Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
(2) U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
(3) Humanitarian assistance to date in FY 2007 represents food aid contributions. Please see the funding chart at the end of this report for details.
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