15 February 2004 Issue No. 20 HIGHLIGHTS KEY ISSUES OF CONCERN

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1 15 February 2004 Issue No. 20 HIGHLIGHTS Government of Sudan declares unimpeded access to all of Darfur during Presdiential statement issued on 9 February Number of conflict affected reaches 123,000 in Kutum town and 35,000 in Geneina. Following an inter-agency assessment, a joint intervention team composed of World Food Programme (WFP), World Vision International (WVI), Medair, Save The Children Fund UK (SCF-UK) and World Relief delivered and distributed food and non-food items to 6,386 beneficiaries in Pochalla. Upcoming Meetings and Events Ambassador Vraalsen on mission to the Sudan, February 2004 UNDP launch of Human Development Report, 23 February 2004, Khartoum Workshop on the Reconstruction and Recovery of the Health Sector in South Sudan, February 2004, Nairobi Advocacy Workshop on Buruli Ulcers in South Sudan, February 2004, Nairobi Workshop on Sleeping Sickness in South Sudan, 1 3 March 2004 UNFPA launching Sudan Fistula Campaign at Sadjana Youth Centre, Khartoum, 4 March 2004 UNFPA inaugurating Kassala Coordination Office, Kassala, 25 February 2004 KEY ISSUES OF CONCERN Access: Joint Mechanism on Darfur convenes for second time The joint mechanism on Darfur has reconvened to discuss access issues on 9 February The mechanism comprising the Ministries of Foreign and Humanitarian Affairs, humanitarian actors working in Darfur and donors has so far met twice this month. The State Minister for Humanitarian Affairs promised at the meeting that starting 16 February access without military escort would be permitted for all actors to Tina, Kornoi and Umm Baru in North Darfur (formerly SPLM/A controlled areas), and to all areas in South Darfur and to Morni, Zalengi, Geneina and Kulbus in West Darfur. Access to Kutum from El Fasher would continue. On 11 February some international staff were allowed to take a commercial flight to El Fasher. More people affected by conflict in Kutum The number of people affected by the conflict in Kutum is now estimated at 123,000 of which about 100,000 are IDPs. This is by far the largest concentration of IDPs registered in a single site in Darfur during the recent conflict to date. Two inter-agency assessment missions have taken place, one on 29 January and one on 10 February Both assessments confirmed food as the main priority, with the other immediate needs being 1

2 shelter, water supply and sanitation. WFP has distributed 870 metric tons of food to most of the conflict-affected people in cooperation with the Sudanese Red Crescent Society. A number of other humanitarian agencies have committed themselves to providing assistance. The current number of IDPs in and around El Geneina town, West Darfur, is estimated by Medair to be at about 35,000. Update on Returnees in Pochalla A joint intervention team composed of World Food Programme (WFP), World Vision International (WVI), Medair, Save the Children Fund UK (SCF-UK) and World Relief delivered and distributed food and non-food items in Pochalla. 6,386 beneficiaries 1 were targeted. In addition, Medair has begun a sanitation and hygiene promotion programme while World Relief upgraded their health services. Local authorities and beneficiaries were fully involved in the intervention. A post distribution monitoring exercise was undertaken on 1 February 2004, and the intervention team reported that the exercise was peaceful. A small number of returnees and refugees continued to arrive in Pochalla every day and those who arrived after the distribution did not receive assistance. The intervention team recommended the need for a joint assessment of the situation in the area in one or two months time. In addition, close monitoring of the population of new arrivals by World Relief and the Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (SRRC) is in progress. The team also recommended that the provision of services such as health, water, hygiene promotion and the tracing of unaccompanied minors should continue, and that refugees should be settled by the local authorities and SRRC in a designated location to avoid overcrowding KEY ACTIVITIES Ambassador Vraalsen Visits Sudan UN Secretary General Special Envoy for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Eric Vraalsen will visit Sudan from February His mission aims to follow up on the promise made on 9 February 2004 by the Sudanese President to provide access to aid workers so that they can reach millions of suffering civilians in Darfur region. The humanitarian community has been largely unable to assist the three million war affected population because of access issues. Ambassador Vraalsen will discuss with the authorities putting in place an all-inclusive humanitarian ceasefire for Darfur so that aid agencies can have unimpeded access to those in need. During his mission Ambassador Vraalsen will meet with main partners and counterparts and he will visit Darfur. UNHCR meetings in Nairobi on Sudanese and Eritrean Refugees A regional meeting on planning for the repatriation of Sudanese refugees took place in Nairobi, Kenya on 8-9 February The meeting was attended by representatives from all UNHCR offices in countries hosting Sudanese refugees- Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, DR Congo, Central African Republic and Egypt- as well as representatives from UNHCR Headquarters and UNHCR-Sudan. The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sudan and the SRRC Director General attended the meeting. The meeting dealt with a number of issues including situation of IDPs and the repatriation and reintegration of Sudanese refugees. Additionally, a meeting on Eritrean refugees was held in Nairobi on 10 February 2004 and was attended by UNHCR-Sudan, UNHCR-Eritrea, the Africa Bureau and the Department of International Protection (DIP) from UNHCR Headquarters. The meeting dealt with voluntary repatriation to Eritrea, the Refugee Status Determination (RSD) exercise, new Eritrean 1 3,178 refugees, 2,119 returnees and 1,089 host communities 2 EP&R Weekly Update No. 3, 8 February

3 asylum seekers, camp closure and consolidation in eastern Sudan and the rehabilitation of the refugee affected areas. The participants recommended that 30 June 2004 should be set as a cut-off date for organised voluntary repatriation and RSD exercise. However, DIP was entrusted with reviewing the RSD and determining whether to continue or discontinue the exercise after 30 June It was also agreed that the Tripartite Repatriation Commission (TRC) meeting would be held in Geneva in March Juba celebrates National AIDS day: 28 January 2004 The national celebration of AIDS day was held in Juba under the patronage of Vice Presdient Moses Machar. The celebration was jointly organised by Government authorities including Sudan National AIDS Programme (SNAP) and was well attended by partners and counterparts including UN agencies, NGOs including various youth groups and Sudanese People Living with HIV/AIDS, donors and media. The highlight of the celebration was the official inauguration of the first Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) centre in Juba by the Vice President. All the speakers representing actors active in HIV/AIDS in Sudan - stressed the need for increased interventions to fight the epidemic. A drama sponsored by HelpAge International, songs, and a drawing exhibition context complemented the day s celebrations. Veterinary Inputs to Lagawa and Wau FAO provided 2000 units of assorted veterinary drugs to Lagawa locality, West Kordofan to support the community-based animal health delivery services. Additionally, FAO provided 5000 doses of vaccine and another 5000 doses of sheep pox vaccine to Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal State to support the community-based animal health delivery services there. Workshop on Buruli Ulcers World Health Organization (WHO) will hold a workshop on Buruli Ulcers in Nairobi on 26 and 27 February The issues to be discussed include Buruli Ulcers in Mabia Camp and other areas of South Sudan. Interested agencies can get in touch with WHO Nairobi or WHO Lokichoggio for more details 3. Health Coordination Meeting The first Health Coordination meeting for 2004 was held on 15 and 16 January. Among the issues discussed were agency activity updates, Millennium Development Goals, preventative health care strategies, the Early Warning and Response Network (EWARN), behaviour change and strategies for addressing HIV/AIDS 4. Polio Eradication Programme The 2004 National Immunisation Days (NIDs) which were initially planned for March/April 2004 have been postponed to later on in the year due to lack of funding 5. UNICEF WES Database The UNICEF/WES database maintained in Lokichoggio has been updated. Detailed information on water point depth, equipment, type of pump and price estimate is available for many of the water sources. Updates on the functionality of the water source, water quality and repair status are available for Rumbek, Yambio, South Bor, Budi, Rashoda, Latjor Leer, Old Fangak, Payinjiar, Yei, Ayod and Yirol. The database is continuously being updated using information from field surveys, SRRC and NGOs. Further updates on Tambura, Ezo, 3 EP&R Weekly Update No. 3, 8 February UNICEF OLS January 2004 Monthly Report 5 UNICEF OLS January 2004 Monthly Report 3

4 Maridi, Torit, Pibor and the Aweils will be completed in the coming weeks. The end of 2004 targets full coverage of southern Sudan FUNDING NEWS Donor support for activities in light of the Darfur crisis In response to the special appeal issued by UN system in Darfur for Sudan s refugees, the Netherlands has pledged Euro 500,000. The contribution will be channelled through UNHCR. DFID has contributed 1 million sterling pounds to UNICEF for activities in Darfur. This takes the total pledged donor funding for Darfur since the launch of the Greater Darfur Special Initiative on 15 September 2003 to approximately USD 22.7 million, of which an estimated USD 7.2 million has been earmarked for supporting Sudanese refugees in Chad. Swedish contributions to the Transition Funding Modality (TFM) The Sudanese Parties have encouraged the Office of UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordination (UN RC/HC) to deploy the available resources and facilities of the United Nations system to provide practical support to the Sudanese Parties as they move towards a peace agreement. Following consultations with a range of interested parties, including donors, the RC/HC has agreed on behalf of the UN system to offer a modality for financing during the transition period, starting now and lasting until the end of the pre-interim period. This Transition Funding Modality (TFM) involves a Capacity Building Trust Fund (CBTF) for SPLM areas and a Transition Recovery Trust Fund (TRTF) for Government controlled areas with the former being handled by UNICEF and TRTF by UNDP. Sweden has taken a formal decision to support the Transitional Recovery Trust Fund (TRTF) with 1.3 million USD and 2.7 million USD for the Capacity Building Trust Fund (CBTF). Further to this Sweden will support UN coordination with a contribution of 930,000 USD through UNDP. 4. GEOGRAPHICAL NEWS Darfur Update on Access and Security: Humanitarian access to conflict affected areas in Darfur, prior to the government decision lifting the restriction, had reached its lowest point since the September 2003 cease-fire. On 8 February 2004 reports were received of international aid workers stopped from boarding a commercial flight for El-Fasher despite holding valid travel permits, with the message that all travel for international staff to Darfur would be prohibited until further notice. However, humanitarian actors already in Darfur could still move to Kutum in North Darfur, to most of South Darfur and to parts of West Darfur. North Darfur: Some 8,000 people were reportedly forced to flee from El Malam area to Shangil Tubay in North Darfur following reported Janjaweed attacks. Similar attacks were also said to have taken place in Malha, El Syah, Medo, Sendi, and Ushara, North Darfur. Witnesses say that IDPs are still arriving in Kebkabiya, North Darfur, where the number of IDPs by some estimates stands at 76,000 (to be confirmed). 6 UNICEF OLS January 2004 Monthly Report 4

5 Save the Children-UK sent nine staff in four vehicles on 9 February as well as 12 commercial trucks with 184 metric tons of sorghum to the Umm Baru area. However, staff and vehicles are still in Kutum town awaiting permission to proceed. Refugees in Darfur: UNHCR reports that the number of Darfur refugees in Chad has risen to 115,000 and more are still crossing the border. UNHCR is continuing to move the refugees away from the border areas, including Tine town, to safeguard their security. Meanwhile the President of Sudan in his 9 February statement ordered the immediate repatriation of Darfur refugees back to Sudan and the Government of Sudan has requested UNHCR to facilitate the return of some 5,000 Chadian refugees living in El Geneina. IDPs Movement from Kutum to Fata Borno: The State Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, during the 9 February meeting with humanitarian actors, announced that it had been decided to return IDPs from Kutum to Fata Borno (a former IDP location, now deserted following attacks on the town) and to another location called Gouba, while ensuring security in those locations. The State Minister said that the move will be voluntary and civilian protection for the IDPs ensured. Upper Nile Leer: OLS Security has cleared Leer, which has not been accessible since UNICEF Emergency Preparedness and Response (EP&R) and other interested agencies are organising themselves and preparing to visit the location in the second week of February 7. Liech State: WHO Early Warning and Response Network (WHO/EWARN), NGOs and counterparts held a three-day health workers orientation workshop on EWARN in Thonyor, Liech State from 29 to 31 January The workshop was attended by a total of 25 clinical and laboratory health workers and polio eradication staff from a number of health facilities representing NGOs and the local authority. The training focused on basic surveillance, detection, alerting, verification and response techniques to epidemic prone regions and emerging and new diseases. 8 Bimbim: World Food Programme (WFP) has approved supplementary food aid for Kalaazar patients in Bimbim. The condition of the airstrip is, however, hampering deliveries. During the Lokichoggio Coordination Meeting held on 4 February 2003, it was recommended that WFP, Medecins Sans Frontieres Holland (MSF-H) and WHO discuss alternative ways of making the food deliveries 9. MSF-H have reported that the number of new cases of Kalaazar being admitted for treatment in Bimbim is decreasing. In addition, very few cases of the disease have been discovered during active searches in the surrounding villages 10. Pajut: On January 15, 2004, Sudan Medical Care (SMC) reported a suspected Whooping Cough outbreak in Pajut, Northern Jonglei. 20 cases and one death were reported. WHO and its partners responded and sent in a verification team. Drugs were supplied by SMC 11. Bahr El Ghazal Tonj County: On January 21, 2004, Oxfam GB reported a suspected measles outbreak in Abarkou, Tonj County. The WHO/EWARN Public Health Coordinator led a joint WHO and 7 EP&R Weekly Update No. 3, 8 February WHO Southern Sudan Health Update, January EP&R Update No. 3, 8 February WHO Southern Sudan Health Update, January WHO Southern Sudan Health Update, January

6 OXFAM verification and response team and began a mass vaccination of the unaffected villages. The vaccination exercise is still on going 12. Rumbek - Sustainable Return Workshop: The Office of UN RC/HC, namely the Information, Planning and Review Service and the Area Coordinator for Bahr El Ghazal, in partnership with national authorities have conducted a two-day county workshop on sustainable return on 9 10 February The main objective of the workshop was to strengthen preparedness of national authorities and other partners to support probable population movements in the region. The workshop was a success as it was well attended by partners and counterparts and led to an update of maps and action points towards supporting joint programming and planning. UNICEF drilled four boreholes in Cuibet County and five in Rumbek County 13. Equatoria Terekeka County: On January 25, 2004, WHO received reports of a suspected meningitis outbreak in Tali, Terekeka County. 20 cases and seven deaths were reported. The African Medical Research Foundation (AMREF) confirmed the disease, and WHO provided laboratory support, vaccines and drug supplies 14. Measles Outbreak: The total number of measles cases and deaths recorded from the reports received from December 20, 2003 to February 5,2004 were 258 and 5 respectively. WHO/EWARN conducted an assessment from January 13-16, 2004 in Ikotos, Isoke, Keyalla and Lohutok. The outbreak was confirmed. Active case findings and management were done once and were limited to only a few locations in Imotong and Lomohidang payams. Passive case detection and management was carried out in Ikotos and Isoke health centres. Based on the assessment reports and updates on measles outbreak in the whole of South Sudan, WHO/EMRO and CDC are sending in experts to South Sudan to investigate the outbreak, identify areas of transmission and evaluate the capacity for implementation of a comprehensive vaccination campaign. WHO is coordinating the process with agencies, local authorities and counterparts on the ground. Blue Nile Returnees in Blue Nile: An assessment mission composed of WFP, IRW and HAC visited Gesan locality on 22 and 23 January and registered 201 families (1,260 individuals) having returned from the refugee camps in Ethiopia to Blue Nile State. The returnees are living in an open space without shelter and blankets and face common diseases including eye and skin infections and respiratory illness. WFP distributed 17 metric tons of food to the returnees. The mission recommendations included: close monitoring of the number of refugees and IDPs returning into the area and organising a joint assessment to address the needs of the returnees. The mission also urged the rapid delivery of medicine, shelter materials and drinking water. Kurmuk: ROOF 15, working in Kurmuk county, reported that the influx of returnees into Kurmuk County is also high and has been ongoing since November 2003 (following the signing of the security agreement). ZOA Refugee Care in Ethiopia confirmed that refugees are leaving the camps there to return to southern Blue Nile. 12 WHO Southern Sudan Health Update, January UNICEF OLS January 2004 Monthly Report 14 WHO Southern Sudan Health Update, January National NGO 6

7 Nuba Mountains UNICEF Study on FGM: UNICEF is currently undertaking a study with children on attitudes towards female genital mutilation (FGM) in the Nuba Mountains. It is hoped that this study will complement recent research by Norwegian Church Aid (NCA). The study will also find out from female children the means by which practices of FGM can be changed 16. UNICEF drilled four new water points at four community centre sites. Drilling of 16 new water points by the Diocese of El Obeid (DOE) is in progress 17. Mine Risk Education Programme: SRC is starting a Mine Risk Education (MRE) programme in 10 villages in GoS controlled areas and 10 in SPLM controlled areas in Lagawa and Dilling. The training sessions will be conducted in IDP villages, schools and bus stations as people arrive 18. Returnees: Returnees continue to arrive in Nuba Mountains. Five lorries carrying IDPs returned to Turra village, Kombor payam in Rashad County. The returnees managed to bring some personal belongings but no food stocks TRAINING AND SURVEYS Training courses FAO in collaboration with PACE conducted 2 training courses during January/February for women groups in Wau. The training was provided for WOTAP women group and Women Self Help Group and involved a total of 40 women. The courses, each lasting six days, were on poultry husbandry and covered poultry feeding, housing, diseases and general poultry management. Teacher Training 79 teachers from Rumbek, Cueibet, Tonj and Yirol have enrolled on the UNICEF-supported distance teacher education course at IDEAS. The trainees include four women who have joined a four-year diploma in Primary Education Programme. 30 teachers have already completed the first stage of the programme 20. IN FOCUS Visit to UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator to Rumbek, Southern Sudan January 2004 UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sudan Dr. Mukesh Kapila visited Rumbek capital of the SPLM-controlled Bahr El Ghazal region. The poorest and most drought prone region in the South, Bahr El Ghazal is also anticipated to be the destination of large numbers of returnee populations. The main objective of the visit is to strengthen linkages with region and county, and to advance urgent operational planning for returning IDPs and refugees. During his mission the RC/HC attended the UNDP-sponsored Stakeholders Consultative Meeting on Local Government and Civil Administration, which aimed at sensitising authorities and the assistance community on the forthcoming Joint Assessment Mission to the Sudan, 16 UNICEF OLS January 2004 Monthly Report 17 UNICEF OLS January 2004 Monthly Report 18 Nuba Mountains Field Bi-Weekly Update No 9, January Nuba Mountains Field Bi-Weekly Update No 9, January UNICEF OLS January 2004 Monthly Report 7

8 and to look into UN inter-agency issues including shared facilities and anticipated expansion of our presence and programmes. Dr. Kapila met with national authorities including the Acting Governor of Bahr El Ghazal, Commissioner of Rumbek County, Commissioner of SRRC, the Chief Justice, Governors/Deputies of other SPLM regions present in Rumbek for the Governance workshop, and other SPLM officials. Additionally, the RC/HC met with UN agencies and other partners active on the ground. Several issues of concern were raised during the visit including increasing the number of women s participating in governance structures, returnees and support to HIV/AIDs programming in the region. 8