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In Brief
Operations Update no. 2; Period covered: 8 to 30 August 2007; Appeal coverage: 74%.
Appeal history:
- Preliminary Emergency Appeal launched on 18 July, 2007 for CHF 2,077,530 (USD 1,646,690 or EUR 1,194,969) for five months to assist 40,000 people.
- Revised Emergency Appeal issued on 8 August 2007 for CHF 5.46 million (USD 4.5 million or EUR 3.3 million) to assist 140,000 people for six months.
- Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF) allocated: CHF 249,000.
Outstanding needs: 1,421,144 (USD 1,181,333 or EUR 864,443).
Operational Summary:
Recent weeks have seen fresh floods in a number of states, affecting new areas and re-affecting same communities. The number of those who lost their homes increased by 40 per cent to 41,704 households. According to the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS), the total caseload of the affected population is now 76,727 households (at least 400,000 people) in 14 states.1
SRCS is the leading indigenous humanitarian agency working in all flood-hit areas. In many states, the National Society is the only organization that has presence on the ground and plays a vital role in providing emergency aid to those in need. Through the Federation-launched emergency appeal, up to CHF 4.04 million funding has been secured from international partners to support SRCS's relief, health, water and sanitation projects. This includes funding of EUR 1.1 million from the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) as well as cash and in-kind contributions from Partner National Societies.
The SRCS also receives bilateral donations of non-food items (NFI) from in-country and international donors. The National Society is a major implementing partner of the UN Joint Logistics Centre (UNJLC); 38 per cent of the household items dispatched by UNJLC from the common pipeline were distributed by SRCS to 15,555 families. An additional 11,768 families were supported with SRCS contingency stocks. Bilateral donations from International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners made it possible to reach an additional 3,415 families. In total, the SRCS has managed to assist some 30,738 families (40 per cent of the total caseload in 15 of the 21 flood-affected states of Sudan).
Gaps, however, remain. SRCS estimates that some 20,000 families have not yet been reached and the situation continues to evolve. Heavy rains and fresh floods are being reported regularly, most recently in South Kordofan. The rainy season is expected to continue until the end of September. The period between 15 August and 10 September is the most critical. The Government of Sudan estimates that one million people are at risk. The United Nations predicts that 53,000 more households (265,000 people) may be directly affected by new flooding and related destruction over the coming weeks. The SRCS is closely monitoring the situation and responding as needs emerge.
By mid September 2007, SRCS, in coordination with government, UN and other agencies, will re-evaluate needs and in-country stocks, and will present a revised plan of action. In the meantime preparations are ongoing to procure relief items (with ECHO funds) for 8,000 families. This will cover 38 per cent of the outstanding household caseload.
Replenishment of depleted SRCS contingency stocks remains a priority. The SRCS planning figure stays at 5,000 families. If the situation deteriorates, availability of emergency relief items such as tarpaulins and blankets as well insecticide treated mosquito nets will be essential to ensure that affected populations have immediate access to adequate shelter, and to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases. The situation is particularly critical in Gedaref, Gezira and Kassala states, where cases of Malaria and Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) have been on the rise. The numbers are feared to increase further (currently 890 confirmed cases of AWD since April 2007; 58 deaths, with 7 per cent mortality rate.)
The SRCS launched health and hygiene education campaigns throughout the country. It mobilized thousands of volunteers to engage with local communities and raise awareness on measures that can significantly improve the health of those at risk. In many areas, sanitation conditions are appalling as drainage systems are not functioning properly. The possibility of an outbreak of AWD and Malaria is high, especially when the rains decrease and water remains stagnant over long periods of time.
To provide basic health care services to isolated communities, SRCS deployed 10 mobile health units. Since the start of the operation the units have treated some 16,000 patients. With funds raised through the appeal, the Federation procured medicines and medical supplies that were distributed by SRCS medical assistants and nurses. More cash, however, is required to pay incentives to Red Crescent volunteers who have been working around the clock in harsh climatic conditions since the beginning of the emergency in early July 2007.
Additionally, un-earmarked cash contributions are needed to support procurement and distribution local shelter. Outstanding needs currently stand at CHF 1,421,144 (USD 1,181,333 or EUR 864,443).
For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:
- In Sudan: Osman Gafer Abdalla, Secretary General, Sudanese Red Crescent Society, Khartoum; email: srcs_sg@yahoo.com; telephone +249.83.78.48.89
- In Sudan: George Gigiberia, Ag Head of Delegation in Sudan; email: george.gigiberia@ifrc.org; telephone +249.83.77.10.33
- In Dubai (for mobilization of relief items): Amina Shaikh, Logistics Officer, RLU; email: amina.shaikh@ifrc.org; telephone: +971.50.458.48.72
- In Geneva: Niels Scott, Federation Operations Coordinator (Africa); email: niels.scott@ifrc.org; telephone +41.22.730.4527
- In Kenya: Dr Asha Mohammed, Federation Head of Eastern Africa Zone, Nairobi; email: asha.mohammed@ifrc.org; telephone: +254.20.283.5124; fax +254.20.271.2777