Sudan: Humanitarian Action in Darfur, weekly bulletin no. 41, 20 Nov 2008

Key overall developments

- The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Haroun Lual Ron, announced the extension of the Moratorium facilitating humanitarian aid to Darfur until 31 January 2010. This should further enhance the delivery of vital humanitarian assistance for up to 4.7 million conflict-affected people as well as enabling humanitarian organizations to operate in Darfur.

Needs and response by sector

Education

North Darfur

- UNICEF advocated for the State Ministry of Education (SMoE) to further assist basic (primary) and secondary schools in El Fasher. As a result the SMoE procured desks and benches for 15,905 basic school children, chairs and desks for 4,125 higher secondary school students (50% girls), chairs and desks for 450 teachers. In coordination with UNICEF, the SMoE also released 52 blackboards, 1,000 plastic seating mats, six (6) pupil kits, 31 recreation kits, and 11 geometry sets to El Sayah rural schools benefiting 3,000 school age children (50% girls). UNICEF also released 61 recreation kits, 200 pencil boxes, 500 English textbooks, 82 education pupil kits, 615 pens, 82 blackboards and 2,048 seating mats to basic schools in Mellit locality, benefiting 4,100 school age children (50% girls).

South Darfur

- UNICEF supplied the NGO Samaritan's Purse with 6,850 text books, 160 pupils' desks, benches and 206 plastic sheets which will reach 27,400 students in Shaeria, Tulus and Eastern Jebel Marra. UNICEF also supplied Humedica with 875 text books and 300 ruled exercise books for schools in Al Salam and El Serif IDP Camps benefiting 3,500 students.

- In Edd al Fursan, World Vision trained five (5) parent teacher associations (PTAs) - 48 members - to strengthen their capacity to manage their schools. Also, 26 teachers were trained on child friendly teaching techniques.

Food Security and Livelihoods

South Darfur

- World Vision provided food rations to 108,355 beneficiaries; registered 363 IDPs from Sania Delaba for food rations; and supported the establishment of 30 food aid management committees.

- Care to 195 children was provided by World Vision to support five (5) women's income generating activities (baking) at its community center in Al Salam IDP Camp.

- Six (6) women - equipped by World Vision with knowledge and basic inputs to produce quality fodder - continued harvesting their first crop of fodder at a farm around Nyala. In Edd al Fursan, World Vision established fodder farms and selected 16 farmers to be trained and supported with inputs and equipped to produce quality fodder.

- World Vision trained 204 farmers on crop harvest systems - ways of harvest to reduce crops lost; how to store crops; and pest and diseases control through local treatment - in the locations of Aldelaib (40 farmers), Sika Haded (40 farmers), Haialwadi (54 farmers), and Nori (70 farmers).

- World Vision trained 20 women on the importance of vegetables and cultivation ways in Brango. Also, each woman received the following vegetables seeds: one and a half (1.5) ounces of radish, six (6) ounces of onions, three (3) ounces of Jews mellow and one (1) ounce of carrot.

- World Vision set up a seed bank system to enable farmers to access quality seeds. So far 878 farmers are benefiting from the system.

- Training on tree seedling care was conducted by World Vision for 500 farmers and 2,000 seedlings were distributed. World Vision also conducted coaching and mentoring visits to boost the farmers' knowledge of tree seedling care.

- Non-local inputs for beginning poultry production were given to 54 women by World Vision, from which 3,784 eggs were produced.

- World Vision began the construction of a structure for a water harvesting scheme in Galdi village. The structure will provide water during the dry season for a women's agricultural project in the area. It will also be used to train other farmers on the use of water harvesting schemes. In addition, World Vision began the construction of five (5) cattle trenches for the vaccination of livestock in the area.

Health and Nutrition

North Darfur

- The World Health Organization (WHO) - in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health (SMoH) - is following up on two (2) cases of suspected measles reported last week from ZamZam IDP Camp. All necessary measures have been taken in the four (4) clinics currently functioning to ensure a high index of alertness.

- WHO conducted an 11 day training on Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) for 21 medical doctors. Sixteen (16) of the 21 participants will proceed with an additional six (6) days training of trainers (ToT) training for facilitators. Upon completion of the course the number of facilitators at the state level will reach 24 and who will assist with all technical aspects of IMCI implementation in the future.

- WHO supported the El Fasher Teaching Hospital with medical and pharmaceutical items in order to continue providing free services to IDPs. WHO supported the maternity hospital with 5,000 examination gloves and 20 boxes of suture materials.

South Darfur

- With UNICEF and the State Ministry of Health (SMoH) support, the Sudanese Popular Committee for Relief (SPCR) conducted HIV awareness raising activities in seven (7) Nyala IDP camps that reached 8,604 youth.

- The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is supporting the rehabilitation of the fistula center in Nyala teaching hospital south Darfur. Fistula is a child bearing injury and leads to mortalities and morbidities among women and mothers.

- World Vision distributed 30 mosquito Insecticide treated nets (ITNs) to pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under five (5) years at Eraida. It also offered training on the importance of breastfeeding, malaria prevention, care of ITNs and nutrition.

- World Vision provided medical aid to 169 people at its primary health care centre in Galdi and completed the construction of an incinerator.

- World Vision established three (3) Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) corners at its primary health care centres in Otash, El Geneina and Galdi. The ORT corners are aimed at reducing the risk of the cholera epidemic and dehydration among vulnerable people, especially children under five (5) years and women.

- World Vision immunized 145 children in Otash and de-wormed 20 in Old Serif. It also provided vitamin supplementation to 381 beneficiaries and immunized 78 mothers.

- World Vision provided malaria treatment to 107 people, diarrhoea treatment to 117, ante-natal care to 313 pregnant women, immunization to 212 children below one (1) year, and sensitization sessions on prevention and treatment of diarrhoea, malaria, respiratory illnesses and pregnancy complications to 4,374 people.

- WHO conducted a training on safe health care waste management targeting 34 participants from Nyala Teaching Hospital, Kass, Tulus and Gredha hospitals.

-WHO supported the SMoH tuberculosis control program to conduct a training on "Tuberculosis case diagnosis, management and reporting" for 15 medical staff working in Gredha IDP Camp and Gredha rural hospital.

- WHO supported the SM0H "Malaria Control Program" to conduct a training on "Malaria case definition, diagnosis and management" in Abo Matareg for 25 medical staff.

West Darfur

- UNFPA is supporting a fistula treatment campaign in Zalingei. The campaign was opened on the 12 November in a big ceremony attended by the Wali adviser for women and children, the Commissioner of West Darfur, and the UNFPA team leader. More than 140 women registered for the campaign and a team of surgeons from Khartoum and Darfur sorted out the cases and started the operations.

Non-Food Items (NFIs)

North Darfur

- Oxfam distributed cooking sets to 764 newly-displaced households in Kabkabiya and Shangil Tobayi IDP. In addition, Oxfam replenished 17,517 households with jerry cans from the NFI Common Pipeline in the same locations.

South Darfur

- World Vision distributed 30 pieces of plastic sheets in the communities of Algaba (20) and Danganure (10).

West Darfur

- In Armankul, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) replenished 400 households with sleeping mats and women's clothing in preparation for the winterization period.

- Tearfund replenished 2,030 households with blankets from the NFI common pipeline in the Habila, El Geneina and Mukjar localities.

- Following a fire in Krinding 2 IDP Camp, Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) supported five (5) households with women's clothing, plastic sleeping mats and sanitary material from the NFI common pipeline.

Protection and Human Rights

North Darfur

- UNICEF Child Protection conducted a follow up training for Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) social workers on reintegration and monitoring the welfare of demobilized children associated with armed forces and groups (CAAFG).

South Darfur

- UNICEF child protection conducted training on the protection of children during armed conflict focusing on the protection from violence against children and women. Thirty three (33) participants - including seven (7) women - from the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) leaders and members in Gereida took part in the training.

West Darfur

- UNICEF supported the launch of the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) campaign in Zalingei. It started with an orientation session conducted at the commissioner's office. UNICEF supplied 4,000 posters and 750 information sheets to International Rescue Committee (IRC), Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), Mercy Corps, Sudan Development Organisation (SUDO), and the United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) Child Protection unit.

Water and Sanitation

North Darfur

- In El Fasher IDP camps the Water, Environment and Sanitation Department (WES) mobilized IDP hygiene promoters to conduct 470 household visits to disseminate basic hygiene education messages among the IDP communities. WES also supported the training of 15 community leaders on the operation and maintenance of WES services.

- With the support of UNICEF, OXFAM distributed 2,484 soap cartons (111,780 soap bars) in Abu Shouk IDP Camp to maintain personal hygiene and a further 2,276 soap cartons (102,420 soap bars) in As Salaam IDP Camp, as well as 6,888 soap cartons (309,960 soap bars) in Kabkabiya and 2,856 soap cartons (128,520 soap bars) to IDPs in Shangil Tobayi.

- UNICEF supported mothers and children in the El Fasher Therapeutic Feeding Centre (TFC) with 12 soap cartons (540 soap bars). Also - with the support of WES - IDPs in ZamZam IDP Camp received 4,872 soap cartons (219,240 soap bars).

- With WHO support, the SMoH conducted free chlorine residual (FCR) tests for 23 hand dug wells in El Fasher town.

- WHO trained 135 people on water quality control and food safety and vector control methods and classification in the Kutum and Kabkabiya localities.

South Darfur

- UNICEF supported WES to repair and erect the elevated tank in Al Neem IDP Camp to its normal position. This will improve the access of water supply to new arrivals. Also with UNICEF support, WES conducted regular general cleaning campaigns, household visits, hygiene sessions, and water dialogues in Al Salam, Otash, Mossei and all three IDP camps in Ed Daein area, benefiting around 10,000 people.

- World Vision conducted geophysical studies and identified six (6) sites for drilling water wells at Alrahad Abu, Diri Umzaifa, Abujenzeer, Umjanah Umgozain, Alkerainik and Umhabila. It also distributed hygiene kits in the three (3) communities of Umhimaida, Edd Al Nahal and Alkewaikaia.

- The rehabilitation of seven (7) handpumps was conducted by World Vision in the communities of Alkanadik, Albanjadid, Umseada, Raida, Gurmana, Guru, and Deri.

- World Vision completed the drilling of three (3) boreholes in Labas, Yara and Mora villages. Water analysis of the boreholes will be undertaken next week.

- World Vision completed 30 pit latrines within four metres, fabricated 15 slabs, and commenced the lining of the 30 latrines.

- World Vision conducted a sensitization session for 38 community members in Yara Village and 89 households in Duma East on hand washing, food handling and water handling and storage.

- World Vision conducted routine hygiene promotion activities for 500 households in South Darfur. Topics included general safety for water points, cleaning of jerry cans/water containers and environmental cleanliness. Three hundred and seventy (370) cartons of soap were distributed to 3,298 households in Duma as part of hygiene promotion.

- World Vision held hand washing demonstrations to children attending its children's centre in Duma and organized a clean-up campaign in which 170 people took part.

West Darfur

- WES - with the support of UNICEF - maintained 12 hand pumps in Mornei and Nertiti ensuring the provision of safe water for 6,000 people. UNICEF also provided chlorine for disinfection to Mercy Corps and International Rescue Committee (IRC) which will provide 45,626 people with safe drinking water.

- UNICEF/WES reached 505 households with hygiene promotion messages aiming to eliminate water and sanitation related diseases in El Riyad, Ardamata and Dorti IDP Camps.

- With UNICEF support, WES reached 2,100 basic school children with hygiene messages through the distribution of 1,500 posters on hand washing with soap. WES - with UNICEF support - disseminated hygiene promotion messages for 7,490 children targeting child clubs in Ardamata, Dorti and Krinding-I.

- WHO provided 20 Boxes of Hydrogen Sulfate to the NGO Tearfund to do 200 Water quality rapid tests in Beida, Arara and Conga in the southern corridor.

- The SMoH conducted water quality tests in seven (7) water sites in Geneina.

- WHO conducted water quality training in El Geneina for 30 well owners and NGO water experts.

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