Key Developments
WHO announced the preliminary findings of the Darfur mortality survey for the period November through May. According to the survey, mortality has significantly declined but the health of the people remains extremely fragile. The full report will be issued next month. For more details, please see accompanying press release.
Security Issues
South Darfur
On 27 June, 52 livestock that were stolen from the Tarjem tribe were recovered and returned to the owners by the GoS. In a related development, another 52 livestock were reported stolen from Hamda village by unknown persons suspected to have come from Gawatlaban. Reports were also received about an increase in SLA fighters at Um Baghoum who conduct regular combat mobile patrols in the general area. These SLA activities are causing panic and fear to returnees at Damat and Kebeshere villages.
A national NGO reported that one of their teams with four staff members went missing on 24 June in Al Mazroub (Adilla locality).
On the night of 25 June, five armed men on camels and horses surrounded a well near Kalma camp, and fired several shots in the ground, forcing the guards and operators of an INGO to flee.
AU CivPol has deployed a team of eight men in El Salam camp on a 24 hour basis. Nonetheless, the security situation around the camp remains unstable. An INGO team was threatened by two armed men on 26 June while working on a borehole north of the camp. While the staff members managed to escape, the INGO decided not to send further teams to El Salam until conditions are ripe.
Protection Issues
West Darfur
During the interagency meeting on 27 June, the Wali announced that he had ordered the GoS security committee to ensure that abandoned land belonging to IDPs was not to be appropriated by others. He urged humanitarian agencies to report the occupation of land so that the GoS could intervene. Over the past weeks, various abandoned villages in the Geneina area were reported occupied by nomads.
On 21 and 22 June, GoS reportedly organized the movement of 410 IDP families from Hamedeiya and Khamse Dagaig to five different villages, without previously informing UNHCR as required by the LoU. UNHCR sent a team to Zalingei on 25 June to investigate the situation.
South Darfur
The second MCM meeting took place on 27 June. HAC said it would look into the possibility of opening a transit centre in Nyala for Kalma IDPs willing to return to their places of origin. This would ease the verification process for the IOM-VMU team as the situation in Kalma camp remains very tense.
Political Affairs
On 27 June, Parliament formed five committees to study the draft interim constitution sent by President Al-Bashir. The Constitution was submitted to the SPLM/A National Liberation Council for endorsement, at the same time. Despite the last minute inclusion of the NDA in the National Constitutional Review Commission, several key parties remained outside the process including, amongst others, the Umma National Party (UNP) and the Sudanese Communist Party. However, according to press reports, President Al-Bashir and First Vice-President Taha met the Sudanese Communist Party leader, Mohamed Nugud, on 26 June where discussions centred on the political situation in Sudan and the unification of its political forces. Separately, on 26 June the National Congress Party signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a splinter group of the main UNP, the Umma Party for Renewal and Reform, led by Mubarak Al-Fadil and former assistant to President Al-Bashir. The signing is not expected to significantly alter the current political dynamics in Sudan.
In Abuja, although some progress was made at the talks following the adoption of a more conciliatory approach by the JEM on the Declaration of Principles, internal splits continued to plague the SLM/A, which issued a statement condemning AU contacts with "an SLM/A group other than the legally recognised official negotiating team headed by the chief negotiator," adding that whatever happened in such meetings did not represent the official position of the SLM/A.
Civil Affairs
Following the murder of a Zaghawa individual in South Darfur, prompting cattle-rustling on the part of his tribesmen, Arab tribes of Southern Darfur (Salamaat, Habbanyya, Terjem and others) agreed not to retaliate immediately against the Zaghawa. They opted instead to resort to AU mediation, signalling an increased recognition and respect for the AU's mediation role.
Humanitarian Affairs
General Humanitarian
South Darfur
WVI has finalized the registration of 10,830 IDPs and members of the host communities affected by food shortages in 12 locations in Reheed al Birdi.
North Darfur
The MoH completed a 10-day vector control campaign in Abu Shouk camp.
Food/NFIs
West Darfur
There is increasing concern regarding the nutrition level of children under-five years of age in West Darfur. In a recently concluded nutrition survey, conducted by the MoH and partners around four camps in Geneina, the Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) was 16.9% and Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) was 1.5%. This malnutrition rate has grown notwithstanding the consistent delivery of WFP rations, which are fortified and include CSB. Several organizations are supporting nutrition programmes around the state. Issues of ration sharing and high default rate of mothers from the nutrition programmes are said to be contributing factors to the high levels of malnutrition rate.
WFP received a petition on 26 June with 52,000 signatures from IDPs in Mornei who have agreed to be re-registered. Mornei is one of the camps that have strongly resisted re-registration, with corrupt sheikhs inciting the IDPs not to participate in the process. Last week, only 17,000 of an estimated 80 to 90,000 IDPs had been registered. Only registered IDPs are scheduled to receive next month's food ration.
Health
West Darfur
SC-US reported that 73.5% and 76.7% of children in Sirba have not been immunized against measles and tuberculosis respectively. The MoH will launch a vaccination campaign in the area.