Northern Sudan
Khartoum
- The ADRA-IOM team in Kosti reported a total of 2,825 individuals (465 households) passing through the transit hub in spontaneous movements last week, representing a 24% decrease over the previous week. Main destinations were in Upper Nile (58%), followed by Central Equatoria (16%), and Jonglei (7%),
- During the reporting week, the ADRA-IOM team also tracked a total of 13,242 individuals in organized returns, representing a 44% decrease over the previous week. The Abyei 'High Committee for Returns' organized the return of 2,451 individuals to the Abyei Area. Meanwhile, the Warrab State Government co-ordinated the return of 1,321 individuals, Unity transported 413, Northern Bahr el Ghazal 4,796, Western Bahr el Ghazal 3,498, Upper Nile 589, Lakes 102 and Southern Kordofan 72 individuals. Most of these latter movements originated in Khartoum with smaller numbers from Ed Damazin, Sennar and Kosti new wharf.
- On 28 December, pushers Araka and Lado with four passenger and cargo barges left for Juba carrying on board 1,200 individuals (211 households).
- By the close of the reporting period, 2,265 individuals (422 households) remained at the wharf in Kosti awaiting southbound transportation.
Abyei
- So far, a total of 17, 826 individuals returned to Abyei from Khartoum and other states since the start of the Abyei return process on 22 November.
- WFP has distributed food to 10,164 verified returnees, while Save the Children has also distributed none food items to 1,700 households.
- On 29 December, RCSO/ER facilitated a meeting with health partners. The purpose of the meeting was to assess the preparedness of health partners in view of the general health situation of returnees arriving from Khartoum and other northern areas. Last week's assessment indicated that 75% of the admitted cases at Abyei hospital were returnees, wards were overcrowded, children were malnourished and the majority suffered from diarrhea. The meeting agreed on the following: (i) the erection of tents at the hospital to provide additional space for admission; (ii) relocation of some returnee; (iii) UNICEF and GOAL to consider the possibility of constructing temporary latrines at the new location; (iv) WHO to coordinate with Zambian TCC doctors and Egyptian clinic to provide mobile medical services for returnees; (v) WES willing to drill boreholes to improve access to water facilities in the areas of return..
- From 27 December 2010 to 7 January 2011, FAO Emergency and Rehabilitation Coordination Unit has been organizing a 12-day training course on Computer Skills and Data Collection & Management. A total of 30 government technical staff from the State Ministries of Agriculture and Animal Resources of Abyei, South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Kassala states are participating in the training.
- WHO has also organized a five-day training programme for 30 health workers on community disease surveillance, with another 25 health personnel trained on disease outbreak investigation.
Blue Nile
- During 2010, WFP assisted 20,000 children in the framework of School Feeding Programme, while in 2011 the agency envisages to increase the number of children benefitting from the programme to 27,000. In 2011, they will alternate the assistance switching from Relief to Food Aid depending on the situation.
- FAO informed the Integrated Team that the agency had developed a plan of action, outlining a programme of emergency and rehabilitation interventions for northern Sudan from 2010 to 2012. The plan of action complements FAO's ongoing, long-term development activities in northern Sudan. The proposed budget for the plan of action is over US$45 million and is distributed among twelve programme profiles. In line with this programme, FAO in Blue Nile State will adopt means to effectively move away from direct distribution of seeds and tools towards interventions that sustainably build the capacity of farmers, communities and government line ministries.
Southern Kordofan
- With the arrival of 249 returnees from Omdurman and Khartoum during the reporting week, the total of returns to Southern Kordofan in 2010 reached 10,413. Since 2005, 399,382 individuals returned to the state.
- On 29 December, Vet-Care Organization together with SOS Sahel Organization conducted a one-day workshop with the theme "Water & Natural Resources Today and Tomorrow - Evaluatory Vision" targeting pastoralists along three routes (Murhals). The workshop brought together 48 cow owners.