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Sudan

Sudan: Humanitarian Situation in Wad Medani, Aj Jazirah State - Flash Update No. 02 (As of 23 January 2025)

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HIGHLIGHTS

  • People in Wad Medani reportedly face significant challenges, including high malnutrition rates, food shortages and widespread health-care needs.
  • Unexploded ordnance contamination is widespread and poses a serious risk to civilians and humanitarians.
  • Local authorities have suspended all organized return plans citing land contamination concerns.
  • UNMAS is working with partners to integrate activities into planned missions and assessments to mainstream mine action activities.
  • Registrations for voluntary returns are ongoing in neighbouring states.
  • WFP has delivered food supplies to Wad Medani town to provide one-month emergency rations to about 21,000 people.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Humanitarian organizations are assisting people in dire need in Wad Medani, the state capital of Aj Jazirah, after the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) retook control of the area on 11 January.

Significant challenges, including high malnutrition rates, food shortages and widespread health-care needs have been reported. Unexploded ordnance (UXO) contamination is reportedly rife and poses a serious risk to civilians and humanitarians. Explosive hazards restrict safe access to affected areas, including homes, roads, medical and educational facilities, water points and electricity stations, as well as other critical infrastructure.

The three roads leading to Wad Medani from Al Managil locality and neighbouring Gedaref and Sennar states are open for public transport. Registrations for voluntary returns are ongoing in Kassala, Gedaref, Merowe and other areas, but return dates are yet to be determined. Local authorities have suspended organized return plans, citing land contamination concerns. However, some displaced people are returning to the Al Harga area, south of Wad Medani.

The Wali (Governor) of the state imposed a curfew in Wad Medani from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. effective 19 January until further notice.

HUMANITARIAN IMPACT AND NEEDS

Food, water, access to sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and health-care services are the most urgent priority needs in Wad Medani. Basic services, including water and electricity, are unavailable in the area. Most solar devices have been stolen, and primary health-care centres have either been looted or destroyed, causing a severe shortage of health services and essential medicines.

The Wad Medani Teaching Hospital is severely damaged and barely functional, with most care units destroyed and all pharmacies looted or destroyed. Most departments are not working except the women's hospital, staffed by one doctor and two assistants. The blood bank has been destroyed and other departments (surgery, psychiatric, ophthalmology, dental and children's) are not operational. Cases of gender-based violence (GBV) have been reported, including severe injuries from sexual assault. The Al Arkawit health centre is functioning relatively well.

Al Managil Hospital, which is receiving injured people from Wad Medani, faces a severe shortage of essential medical supplies, including trauma kits.

Community kitchens are being organized to provide hot meals to people in need.

There are only two operational water wells in Al Arkawit and Al Awda neighbourhoods.

Health partners have reported insect contamination, including Aedes mosquitoes, known vectors for numerous viral infections such as dengue fever, yellow fever and chikungunya, prompting a recommendation to postpone returns.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

On 21 January, the World Food Programme (WFP) delivered 253 metric tons (MT) of mixed food commodities (sorghum, pluses, oil and salt) and 6MT of nutrition supplies to Wad Medani, enough to provide one-month emergency rations to about 21,000 people.

The Logistics Cluster is consolidating details of partners' cargo to be transported from Port Sudan and Kosti to Wad Medani as part of WFP-led truck movements expected in the coming days.

On 21 January, the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) in Al Managil approved plans for an inter-agency assessment to Wad Medani by national and international NGOs operating in Al Managil, scheduled for 25 January.

The UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and its partners plan to deliver training on explosive ordnance awareness to aid workers and technical advice on explosive hazards. UNMAS activities will be integrated into planned missions and assessments. UNMAS will deploy explosive ordnance risk education teams to the affected areas.

The Health and Nutrition clusters and the Federal Ministry of Health plan to establish and rehabilitate health facilities and deploy rapid response teams for immediate interventions, including surveillance, rehabilitation of isolation centres, vaccination access and nutrition support. They plan to conduct a thorough health needs assessment to identify gaps in services, particularly in maternal and child health, nutrition and communicable diseases. They will also expand a wide range of health-care and nutrition services. A minimum package of nutrition supplies has been secured for immediate needs and to support the evolving situation.

The Protection Cluster is finalizing guidance on internally displaced persons (IDP) returns to areas of origin or habitual residence.

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