Sudan: Humanitarian Bulletin | Issue 5 | 6 – 12 February 2017 [EN/AR]

HIGHLIGHTS

• About 80,000 people returned to Umm Dukhun locality, Central Darfur between 2014 and 2016.

• Returnees in Um Dukhun have poor access to basic services—such as water, education, health and nutrition services.

• Over 300,000 South Sudanese refugees have arrived in Sudan since mid-December 2013.

• WFP provided food assistance to 3.9 million people across Sudan in 2016.

FIGURES 2016 HRP

/# people in need in Sudan (2016 HNO) 5.8 million

/# people in need in Darfur (2016 HNO) 3.3 million

GAM caseload 2.1 million

South Sudanese refugee arrivals in Sudan - since 15 Dec 2013 (registered by UNHCR) - as of 10 Feb 2016: 305,000

Refugees of other nationalities (registered by UNHCR) - as of 31 Oct 2016: 140,626

FUNDING

568.4 million US$ received in 2016

59% Reported funding (as of 12 February 2017)

About 80,000 people returned to Umm Dukhun locality, Central Darfur, between 2014 and 2016
From 18 to 25 January, an inter-agency team from the Government of Sudan, UN and national and international NGOs visited 10 return villages in Umm Dukhun locality in Central Darfur. The mission assessed the needs and verified numbers of returnees and host communities in Garaaya, Baltebei, Salale, Sereif, Um Jakaw, Magan, Elsinan, Soreah and Moraya villages.

Umm Dukhun locality has experienced two waves of civilian displacement, the first in 2003 and the second in 2013, following clashes between the Salamat and Misseriya tribes. People mostly fled to refugee camps and settlements in Chad, as well as within Umm Dukhun locality and to other states in Sudan.

According to International Organization for Migration’s (IOM), 80,387 people have returned to their areas of origin in Umm Dukhun locality between 2014 and 2016, the largest number of returns in Sudan to any given locality during that period.

Reasons given by people returning from Chad include reduction of humanitarian assistance in Chad, the change in the school curriculum, restriction of movement within Chad as well as improved security in Umm Dukhun locality.

According to the mission findings, returnees have poor access to basic services such as water, education, health and nutrition services. Returnees also lost their possessions when they fled and return without many belongings and lack income-generating and other livelihood opportunities necessary for effective reintegration in their village. Settlements are scattered within Umm Dukhun, posing a further challenge for the provision of services. In addition, to reduce tensions among/between communities, peace-building and reconciliation interventions are needed.

Over 300,000 South Sudanese refugees in Sudan
The number of South Sudanese refugees in Sudan since December 2013 has surpassed the 300,000 mark and as of 13 February and stands at 305,000 people, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Over 131,000 South Sudanese refugees arrived in Sudan in 2016. The majority of the 2016 influx arrived in East Darfur (49 per cent) and White Nile (25 per cent). Over 85,000 refugees crossed into Sudan in the first six months of 2016, with the largest numbers observed from February to April, with another upsurge in July, according to UNHCR. Over 65% of the refugees are children, with many of them arriving with critical levels of malnutrition.

UNHCR and partners anticipate the continued arrival of South Sudanese refugees into Sudan throughout 2017, given the situation in South Sudan marked by localised fighting and critical levels of food insecurity in areas close to the Sudanese border. The planning figure for 2017 is an estimated 60,000 additional refugees, with the corresponding response outlined in the South Sudan Regional Refugee Response Plan for 2017. UNHCR in Sudan is currently updating its preparedness and contingency plan in consultation with partners to ensure an effective response continues if influxes exceed the current planning figure.