U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR DEMOCRACY, CONFLICT, AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (DCHA)
Note: The last situation report was
dated January 27, 2006
BACKGROUND
On January 9, 2005, the Government of Sudan (GOS) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) officially ending Africa's longest running civil war. 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. In accordance with the CPA, the presidency of Sudan's Government of National Unity (GNU) was officially established in Khartoum on July 9, 2005. The interim national constitution authorized the creation of the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) and initiated a six-year interim period, after which the south will hold a referendum on whether to become an independent country. In February 2003, a separate conflict began in Darfur, western Sudan, when the locally based Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) attacked GOS security forces in the town of El Fasher, North Darfur. The ensuing humanitarian emergency in Darfur now affects more than 3.5 million people, including more than 1.7 million IDPs and approximately 220,000 refugees in eastern Chad. Resolving the crisis in Darfur remains critical to consolidating a national peace and addressing the simmering conflict in eastern Sudan. The U.S. Government (USG) held a lead position in the sustained international effort to galvanize the North-South peace process that culminated in the signing of the CPA, while simultaneously working to ensure humanitarian access to conflict-affected populations. The USG continues to be the largest international donor in Sudan and maintains a robust presence in the country. The following situation report concentrates on humanitarian conditions and USAID activities throughout Sudan.
| NUMBERS AT A GLANCE |
SOURCE
| |
| IDPs in Sudan | Total: 6,100,000
From Southern Sudan: 4 million | UNHCR(1) -- November 2005
OCHA(2) -- December 2005 |
| Sudanese Refugees | Estimated Total: 220,000
In Chad | UNHCR -- November 2005 |
| Sudanese Refugees | Total: 550,000
In Uganda, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kenya, Central African Republic, Egypt, and Eritrea | UNHCR -- April 2005 |
| Refugees in Sudan | Total: 170,000
From Eritrea, Ethiopia, Uganda, DRC, and others | UNHCR -- November 2005 |
Total FY 2005 -- 2006 USAID Humanitarian Assistance to Sudan and Eastern Chad: $840,589,663
Total FY 2005 -- 2006 USG Humanitarian Assistance to Sudan and Eastern Chad: $963,662,200(3)
CURRENT SITUATION
Mershing Attack Displaces 55,000. Following the continued harassment of the ethnic Fur residents of Mershing IDP camp in South Darfur, attackers believed to be janjaweed and Sudanese government police launched an offensive from January 25 to 27, displacing the entire village and camp population. According to OCHA, an estimated 55,000 newly displaced fled to the nearby area of Menawashi. In response, USAID/OFDA partner World Vision provided food assistance and Médecins Sans Frontières-Holland is operating a mobile health clinic. OCHA recently reported that the GNU Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) has begun to facilitate the return of a small number of displaced Mershing town residents. Based on an agreement with the GNU, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is verifying that the returns are not forced. Security in Mershing has reportedly improved as a result of more frequent African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) patrols and the replacement of 70 percent of the Sudanese government police force. The U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported that IDPs from Mershing departed two Menawashi schools temporarily used as lodging, allowing classes to resume on February 6. Former residents of Mershing IDP camp remain in Menawashi. According to OCHA, no significant gaps exist in the humanitarian response to the Mershing attack.
Insecurity in Shearia. After months of mounting tensions and skirmishes in the South Darfur town of Shearia, field sources report that only 10,000 of the original 32,000 inhabitants remain in the town. While some residents have fled to nearby villages and the farther towns of Nyala and El Fasher, the whereabouts of 15,000 to 20,000 former Shearia residents remains unknown. Humanitarian agencies have been unable to conduct an extensive assessment of humanitarian needs.
Eastern Chad/West Darfur Update. In a Situation Update dated February 2, UNHCR reported registering more than 1,500 new Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad during January 2006. According to UNHCR, the refugees came principally from areas north and south of the Chadian border town of Adre, and the Jebel Moon area of West Darfur. In the same report, UNHCR also noted that as a result of increasing armed forces presence, the U.N. had further reduced staff in areas of West Darfur under the Phase IV security designation. According to UNHCR, U.N. agencies and NGOs are limiting movement outside Geneina town.
Al Deain Nutrition Update. On January 26, the NGOs Tearfund and Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO) announced that a recent nutrition assessment in Al Deain, South Darfur, revealed that malnutrition rates have been cut in half since March 2005, following increased humanitarian assistance to the area. The assessment team found the global acute malnutrition (GAM) rate to be 13.9 percent in late 2005, compared with 25.2 percent in March 2005. The severe acute malnutrition (SAM) rate dropped from 4.3 percent to 1.4 percent in the same time period. The NGOs noted that following the March 2005 assessment, humanitarian agencies expanded water and sanitation, food security, and health and nutrition services in the area, where approximately 60,000 IDPs reside. USAID/DCHA Visit to Malakal. From January 23 to 30, a USAID/DCHA team visited Malakal town and surrounding areas of Upper Nile State to discuss priority needs and plan immediate activities to promote stability. The team found that factors affecting stability include conflicts at both community and political levels over Upper Nile's abundant resources; pervasiveness of small arms; large numbers of IDPs and returnees without adequate services; and high expectations for the peace process. USAID plans to finalize plans for a series of quick-impact activities in the coming weeks. Aweil Health. USAID/OFDA partner Tearfund reported the establishment of four primary health care centers in Aweil East and Aweil North Counties in Bahr el Ghazal State between October and December 2005. In addition, four village health committees were formed to support the health centers. More than 4,100 patients received treatment at the centers during the last three months of 2005.
Reconciliation Meetings. USAID funded a grant for a conference to resolve differences among the Kamda, Tulshi, Dajo, and Misseriya ethnic groups in an area of South Kordofan known as Abun Kaweicha. Approximately 200 representatives are scheduled to attend the conference in Lagawa, South Kordofan, in mid-February. The organizers aim to avert conflict between residents and nomads over water resources. Local government and community leaders have encouraged participation in the conference. In addition, USAID, through implementing partner PACT, is supporting a peace and reconciliation meeting between four communities in Khorflus County, Jonglei State, that currently are in conflict over the county's name and historical issues. The Rut, Thoi and Luanyjang communities from Khorflus town prefer that the county be named Khorflus; however, the Pawiny from Atar town want the county name to change to Atar. Local leaders and community residents are scheduled to meet to discuss several topics including the county's name, which ultimately will be decided by the legislature.
Abyei and Nuba Mountains Programs. USAID partner Save the Children/US (SC/US) reported distributing more than 974 metric tons (MT) of food to approximately 64,000 beneficiaries and returnees in Abyei and the Nuba Mountains between October and December 2005. During these months, SC/US constructed or rehabilitated two health clinics in Kadugli, two health clinics in Dilling, and one health clinic in Abu Gebeha. In addition, SC/US reported rehabilitating 20 hand pumps, including 16 in Abu Gebeha, 3 in Dilling, and 1 in Abyei town during the reporting period.
Returns Update. According to USAID partner Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), from October and December 2005 more than 7,400 returnees transited through wharfs and bus stations in Kosti, Rabac, and Elmanara en route to points southward. ADRA reported that of the 3,500 returnees transiting through the Kosti wharf, 1,700 were bound for Juba and nearly 800 were bound for Malakal. During the same period, ADRA provided more than 80 MT of food to beneficiaries at Kosti wharf and shelter to more than 25,000 beneficiaries at Malakal and Kosti wharfs. ADRA also reported that during the last three months of 2005, more than 1,600 individuals sought medical care at the ADRA clinic in Kosti and more than 4,600 individuals sought care at the ADRA clinic in Juba.
Meningitis Cases. According to a February 1 U.N. Country Team report, 163 suspected cases of meningitis and 15 meningitis-related deaths were reported in Blue Nile, Kassala, Sennar, El Gedaref, West Darfur, and Khartoum States during January 2006. The humanitarian community is coordinating with the Federal Ministry of Health (MOH) to plan a response. According to the report, the MOH plans to conduct a mass vaccination campaign in areas of Blue Nile and Kassala States where high-risk populations reside.
Notes:
(1) Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees
(2) U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(3) For a complete breakdown of FY 2005
Sudan funding, please see:
http://www.usaid.gov/our=5Fwork/humanitarian=5Fassistance/disaster=5Fassistance/countries/sudan/fy2006/sudan=5Fce=5Fsr01=5F10-14-2005.pdf
(pdf* format - 106 KB)