Sudan: Humanitarian Action in Darfur, weekly bulletin no. 37, 23 Oct 2008

Key overall developments

- Insecurity remains a major obstacle in moving food into Darfur. Two (2) commercial trucks carrying WFP food in South Darfur were stopped at gunpoint and looted of some commodities. Delivery rates from external hubs into Darfur have somewhat improved, but not at a fast enough pace to increase food rations from the current reduced levels. Beneficiaries currently receive 65% of the daily recommended kilo-calories.

Needs and response by sector

Education

North Darfur

- The World Food Programme (WFP) and the State Ministry of Education (SMoE) officials jointly held a Food for Education (FFE) management and reporting training for school administrators in Mellit town.

- With UNICEF support, the Autash Association for Peace and Development completed the construction of 12 permanent classrooms up to roofing level in El Serif and Saraf Omra rural schools benefiting over 600 school age children 87 % of whom are nomadic children.

- UNICEF released 133 education student kits for grades 1 to 4, 1,614 textbooks, and 99 recreation kits to Dar El Salaam, El Waha and Kalimando basic schools which will benefit 6,650 children.

West Darfur

- Mercy Corps introduced School Health and Environmental Education in Darfur (SHEE-D) in three (3) schools in Hassa Hissa IDP Camp.

- The Ministry of Education - supported by UNICEF - completed the training of 126 teachers on the new life skills curriculum, reaching the total targeted 300 teachers. The training took place in Zalingei, Garsila and El Geneina towns.

- Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) - supported by UNICEF and the SMoE - completed the construction of 36 semi-permanent classrooms benefiting 2,160 children in Kerink, Wadi Saleh, Azoom, Beida and El Geneina localities. A further 25 classrooms for nomadic children have been constructed benefiting 1,200 children in Kerink locality, Zalingei, Nertiti, Wadi Saleh and Kulbus.

Food Security and Livelihoods

North Darfur

- WFP food distributions are ongoing in accessible areas according to plan, with the exception of rural areas normally covered by German Agro Action (GAA) due to the partner's suspension of activities in the area.

- WFP is conducting verification exercises of unregistered beneficiaries are ongoing in Shangil Tobayi and Shaddad, while it has been completed in Kassab IDP Camp. The results of these exercises will provide updated information on the number of IDPs registered and assisted in each camp.

South Darfur

- During the week, WFP supplementary feeding was carried out to an estimated 1,500 children in Otash, Al Serif and Dereige IDP Camps. In Duma and Mershing, approximately 680 beneficiaries received a two-week pre-mixed food ration as part of the ongoing supplementary feeding programme.

- Under the therapeutic feeding programme, WFP partner CARE, reported feeding 360 women and children in feeding centres in Kass and Kubum.

West Darfur

- Mercy Corps livelihoods team in Mukjar completed the harvesting of sesame seeds and the production of natural (plant-based) fertilizers and hosted 71 visitors - 31 of whom were women - to their demonstration farm. Mercy Corps has also formed school garden committees at both the boys' school and the girl's school in Mukjar.

- WFP general food distributions are ongoing and beneficiaries in 20 food distribution points, including four (4) satellite villages in Mornei and Um Shalaya refugee camp, have received October food rations.

- WFP conducted an assessment on Mornei Hospital's readiness to implement a food for caregivers programme in Mornei therapeutic feeding centre. The assessment involved information gathering from CONCERN and HAI on their operational experience at the hospital.

Health and Nutrition

North Darfur

- UNICEF supported the release and transportation of two (2) metric tones of emergency health supplies to health facilities in Al Hilf and Mao.

- The World Health Organization (WHO) provided masks, gloves, overalls to the NGO Tri-angle to carry-out cleaning campaigns in Riyadh IDP Camp. In addition, WHO provided 50 vials of microbiological test to detect fecal contamination of drinking water to Medair agency as part of support in the on going water quality surveillance and monitoring exercises in El Geneina and Um Shalaya IDP camps.

- WHO conducted one-day consultative meeting to review the environmental health (EH) gap analysis study progress. Participants discussed remaining steps to be implemented.

- A second primary health care (PHC) coordination meeting for greater Darfur was hosted by the WHO office. The meeting discussed technical and organizational issues encountered during the implementation of PHC activities at state level and best practice to achieve expected results.

- WHO reported that a supervisory visit has been paid to the two (2) existing voluntary counseling and testing centers (VCTs) at El Fasher town by a team headed by the Sudan National Aids Program (SNAP) coordinator from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH). Technical support was given to the team in the VCTs.

South Darfur

- This week saw the graduation of 42 midwives from El Daein Midwifery School. The midwifery course is supported by UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

- WHO distributed secondary health care kit items to ten (10) state and rural Hospitals. The kits - that were provided by UNICEF - included obstetrical kits, drug kits, renewable supplies and equipments.

West Darfur

- The 4th UNICEF supported Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI) acceleration campaign for routine immunization was successfully finished in 11 localities in West Darfur. In addition EPI vaccinator training in Nertiti was conducted for 20 participants from Gildo, Gorni, Golol, Nertiti, Golo, Killing and Thur, supported by UNICEF and conducted by Ministry of Health Zalingei EPI department.

- WHO conducted a mission to Ardamata IDP Camp on 14th of October to investigate 66 cases of suspected whooping cough reported by the Med-Air INGO clinic in Ardamata IDP Camp near El Geneina town. Twelve (12) cases have been investigated of whom three (3) tested positive for Whooping Cough. The patients were sent to El Geneina hospital for treatment.

- WHO provided masks to the NGO Tri-angle to carry-out cleaning campaigns in Riyadh IDP Camp. In addition, WHO provided 50 vials of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) to the NGO Medair to carry a water quality exercises in El Geneina and Um Shalaya IDP Camps.

Non-Food Items (NFIs)

North Darfur

- The Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) supported 320 flood-affected households in Saraf Omra in the Kabkabiya area with non-food items from the NFI Common Pipeline.

West Darfur

- Mercy Corps distributed 500 kitchen sets from the common pipeline to vulnerable households in Hamidiya, Hassa Hissa/Shabab, Khamsa Degaig, and Taiba IDP Camps in Zalingei. An assessment of newly vulnerable households needing kitchen sets is ongoing, and is anticipated to end on 15 November.

- The NGO Tearfund replenished 1,837 households in Arara, Habila with plastic sheeting from the common pipeline.

- The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) replenished 90 households in Krinding 2 IDP Camp with sanitary material for women from the common pipeline.

Protection and Human Rights

North Darfur

- The UN Mine Action Office (UNMAO) is investigating numerous reports of scattered unexploded ordnance (UXOs) from recent fighting. UNMAO and its partner Mine Tech International, deployed to the Kutum area and conducted demolitions of the UXO items found. UNMAO also investigated the report of a UXO accident involving a young boy in the area. A recent mission also assessed the Tawilla road leading from Zam Zam IDP Camp, after a military convoy carrying ammunition was ambushed, scattering munitions over the area.

South Darfur

- UNICEF supported the skills training on child protection issues for 15 NGO staff working in a number of locations with IDPS in South Darfur.

- In El Daein, UNICEF and the SMoH facilitated the refreshment training for 21 youth peer educators in HIV/AIDS awareness.

West Darfur

- UNFPA distributed 19 reproductive health kits and 200 vials to NGO International medical corps (IMC), the Sudanese Islamic Medical association (SIM), and to the NGO Comitat Di Coordinament Delle Orgaizzazioni Per Il servizi Voonntario (COSV).

- UNFPA conducted a two-day training workshop in on Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) guidelines targeting 27 participants from national and international NGOs and UN agencies. The purpose of the workshop was to introduce the guidelines for humanitarian workers on the ground so as to be used as a tool for gender-based violence (GBV) interventions for prevention and response.

Water and Sanitation

North Darfur

- In collaboration with UNICEF, WHO continued to support the SMoH in conducting water quality control and monitoring in El Fasher town. The team covered 40 privately owned hand dug water wells operated by water point attendants and checked for residual chlorine levels in the samples. Out of the 40 samples checked, 37 of them indicated free residual chlorine levels within the standard range (0.3/mg/l to 0.6 mg/l), while 3 samples were below or gave NIL results. This information has been shared with the well owners and corrective measures have been implemented. WHO, UNICEF, and SMoH teams will continue with surveillance and monitoring exercises.

- In response to the Global Handwashing Day UNICEF, the State Water Corporation (SWC), and NGO partners undertook activities in El Fasher town and Abu Shouk IDP Camp as well as in rural areas including Um Kaddada and Kabkabiya. In Abu Shouk IDP Camp small children's games and drama activities were organized by UNICEF partners, Oxfam and Action Contre la Faim (ACF) to highlight the importance of washing your hands before participating in key household practices. Activities also took place in the SMoH Therapeutic Feeding Centre.

South Darfur

In South Darfur, Global Handwashing Day was colourfully celebrated by students processing through Nyala town waving banners on the importance of hand washing and singing songs that emphasized the key messages. School children in five (5) schools in Nyala town participated in handwashing day activities supported by UNICEF, the SWC and the Ministries of Health and Education. In the activities in the Otash IDP Camp, World Vision assisted Girls school included drama and musical activities along with practical demonstrations by community representatives.

- A total of 23,241,000 liters of water was produced by UNICEF/SWC supported water facilities:

- Al Neem - 4,130,000 liters of water
- Khor Omer - 1,260,000 liters of water
- Al Fardous - 1,953,000 liters of water
- Kass - 2,730,000 liters of water
- Mossai - 90,000 liters of water
- Kalma - 1,600,000 liters of water
- Otash - 4,002,000 liters of water
- Geraida - 2,800,000 liters of water
- Al Salam - 4,676,000 liters of water

West Darfur

- Oxfam conducted a week of public campaigns across Darfur, as part of celebrations for Global Handwashing Day. In Um Dukhun (West Darfur), around 1,500 children, women and men took part in a handwashing festival, with music and drama performances stressing the importance of washing hands properly with soap. Prizes were given out to the best young performers.

- The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Sudan implemented a European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) Sustainable Water Improvement Project (SWAI) in the areas of Wastani and Geibat that will benefit 1,500 individuals. Three (3) - out of ten (10) - wells were established, and approximately 20 broken hand pumps were rehabilitated.

- ADRA Sudan continues to monitor hand pumps - previously established through ECHO funds - in the areas of Gelu, Asirnie, and Um Tojouk.

- Mercy Corps repaired six (6) hand pumps and constructed 15 camp latrines in Um Dukhun. Mercy Corps WASH team in Um Dukhun also organized a clean-up campaign in three (3) communities.

- Mercy Corps hygiene promoters in Mukjar visited 3,002 households for behavior trial replacement. They identified 278 risky behaviors of which 189 were subsequently changed.

- Mercy Corps in Zalingei conducted public hygiene campaigns covering acute watery diarrhea, safe water, children's/personal hygiene and latrine maintenance in Hassa Hissa, Hamidiya, Taiba and Khamsa Degaig IDP Camps.

If you have inputs for the next edition or questions and comments on this one, or other media and public enquiries, please contact:

Nahla Zarroug, Information Analyst, United Nations, Khartoum, Sudan, Email: zarroug@un.org, Telephone: +249-9-12160065

For other media and public enquiries, you may also contact:

Orla Clinton, Public Information Officer, United Nations, Khartoum, Sudan, Email: clinton@un.org, Telephone: +249-9-12174454

Imad Hassanein, Media Officer, United Nations, Khartoum, Sudan, Email: hassaneini@un.org, Telephone: +249-9-12178035