Northern Sudan
- The ADRA-IOM team in Kosti reported a total of 2,812 individuals (507 households) passing through the transit hub in spontaneous movements during the week, a figure comparable to the number for the previous week. Main destinations were in Upper Nile (65%), followed by Central Equatoria (9%) and Jonglei (6%).
- During the reporting week, the ADRA-IOM team also tracked a total of 9,521 individuals in organized returns, representing a 28% decrease compared to last week. The Abyei 'high committee' also organized the return of 129 individuals from Khartoum, while state governments in Unity co-ordinated the return of 2,588 individuals, Western Bahr el Ghazal 30, Northern Bahr el Ghazal 4,176, Southern Kordofan 67 and Lakes 2,466. Most of these latter movements originated in Khartoum.
- On 3 January, the pusher Jemaza left for Juba with five cargo barges carrying 30 individuals (6 households) on board. At the close of the period, 3,211 individuals (600 households) remained at the wharf in Kosti awaiting southbound transport.
Khartoum
- On 6 January, RCSO/ERS attended the Protection Working Group meeting organized by UNHCR to discuss such issues as assessment missions to Kosti, return figures and key protection messages targeting returnees. The meeting agreed to enhance co-ordination of future assessment missions and improve sharing of return statistics.
Abyei
- With support from UNICEF, 1,500 returnee children at the of basic-school level have been registered so far by local education authorities. In addition, 50 teachers are being trained in Agok town.
- Members of Southern Kordofan security committee, led by the state governor, will hold talks today with their counterparts in Abyei on issues concerning migration and settlements in the north.
Southern Kordofan
- A total of 1,869 IDPs returned to the state via Kosti this week from Omdurman and Khartoum, bringing the total for the period from January 2005 to 399,568 individuals.
- The Integrated Team disseminated information on crop destruction and PPR disease, which affects small ruminants, in south Muglad. Bilateral meetings were also held during the week with FAO in Kadugli to liaise with the agriculture and animal resource ministries to reach agreement on appropriate next steps. A crop-destruction assessment is planned to start next week for south Muglad, while FAO was awaiting a report on the use of veterinary vaccines and medicines provided last month to determine if additional quantities will be required.
Darfur
- On 4 January in North Darfur, OCHA led an inter-agency mission to Shangil Tobaya Locality to provide a rapid assessment of the security and humanitarian situations following recent fighting in the area between SLA/MM and SAF. The mission comprised OCHA, UNICEF, WFP, WHO, UNHCR, AHA, HAC, IOM and the Dar-el-Salaam Development Association (DDA). The team managed to assess the humanitarian needs of civilians gathered outside the UNAMID Team Site and hold meetings with community leaders from both Shaddad and Nifasha IDP Camps. A report was expected shortly.
- With support from UNFPA, the reproductive health department within the SMoH last week started midwifery training for rural health visitors, targeting ethnic Arab nomads from across the state.