IRNA Report: Wau Shilluk, 25 January 2014 Initial Rapid Needs Assessment: Wau Shilluk, Malakal County, Upper Nile State 25 January 2014

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1 Initial Rapid Needs Assessment: Wau Shilluk, Malakal County, Upper Nile State 25 January 2014 This IRNA Report is a product of Inter-Agency Assessment mission conducted and information compiled based on the inputs provided by partners on the ground including; government authorities, affected communities/idps and agencies.

2 Situation Overview: Residents of Malakal (primarily of the Shilluk Tribe) have been seeking safe haven in Wau Shilluk in Malakal County since 24 December 2013 according to RRC actors on the ground. Reports of upwards of 17,000 IDPs concentrated in Wau Shilluk reached OCHA on the 19 January 2014 by way of World Vision staff in Kodok (Baliet County) and an IRNA mission was planned. The mission confirmed that There is a large number of IDPs in the area based on the numbers of people occupying public buildings and the very crowded streets and open spaces in the town. The RRC Coordinator that met the IRNA Team on arrival indicated that there were now 45,000 IDPs in Wau Shilluk Boma, with an additional 30,000 distributed across 6 surrounding Bomas. At most the IRNA team could only visually estimate 2,000 3,000 potentially displaced, due to the common patterns of IDP absorption into the host communities and the daily patterns of movement in and out of the town. Regardless of the actual number of displaced people in Wau Shilluk Boma, there is clearly great stress on the host community due to pre-existing conditions, proximity to past intense fighting (Wau Shilluk is less than 20km form Malakal Town) and an IDP population likely larger than that of the community. Given the high population density in the area, a multi sector emergency response is required urgently. Site overview Location Map Wau Shilluk, North Side of White Nile, 20km ENE of Malakal

3 Drivers of Crisis and underlying factors Armed conflict centred on Malakal Town has forced thousands to flee to safety and large numbers have accumulated in Wau Shilluk and the surrounding Bomas placing a serious stress on the host community and impacting already vulnerable IDPs who often fled their homes with very little belongings. Wau Shilluk was highly vulnerable to shock even before the crisis which began December 15 th. In 2013, Malakal County had a cereal deficit of 11,845 metric tons. In early 2014 the County s cereal deficit is projected to slightly decrease to 9,612 metric tons meaning that before the conflict, the county was projected to meet about 67% of its 2014 total cereal requirements 1 Malakal County is considered to be in emergency phase of the IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Scope of crisis and humanitarian profile Population of Malakal County: 143,842(2013) 2 Population of Wau Shilluk Payam: 6,212 (2008) IDPs in Wau Shilluk Boma: 45,000 3 IDPs in Wau Shilluk Payam: 75,000 4 The host communities of Wau Shilluk are riverine, dependent on fisheries, livestock and agricultural livelihood options. Food stocks are rapidly diminishing with the increase in population the market prices for basic commodities have increased drastically. Basic services such as primary healthcare are at the breaking point. Schools are full of displaced families as are other public buildings. Most families fled from Malakal without any belongings, though some women periodically return to Malakal to try and salvage items. The perception is that men are not safe to return to Malakal for unspecified reasons. Most families were not yet confident of returning to Malakal permanently, but intended to when they perceived the situation to be safe. Key Response Priorities FSL: Protect fisheries-based livelihood options by supplying emergency fishing kits to host and IDP communities 15 day assistance for host and IDP population after proper registration Health: Support for the existing PHCU with drugs and staff to serve the needs of the IDPs Nutrition: MUAC screening for the IDPs is urgently needed to determine if a nutrition intervention is needed. Protection: Protection mainstreaming with respective agencies Protection monitoring during emergency response Shelter/NFI: Distribution of full NFI kits to all families. Add two plastic sheets in place of sleeping mats or mattresses. WASH SWAT System: set up and train local people in management and operation of the SWAT Construct emergency latrines Train and carry out hygiene promotion activities Distribute WASH NFIs along with any distribution being carried out. Train and deploy latrine attendants in location. 1 CFSAM November Projected from 2008 census 3 As reported by county RRC, not verified 4 As reported by county RRC, not verified

4 Humanitarian Access Physical access Wau Shilluk is approximately 20 km ENE from Malakal on the North bank of the White Nile. Physical access is primarily via water or air. Access coordination Humanitarian assistance should not be used to create a push and pull factor for this location. It is recommended that extensive engagement be conducted with the community to determine their future plans before assistance is extended. Key Findings Education: The schools are occupied by IDPs, it is not possible to open the schools for children/ education under this circumstances. Programs for Emergency Education targeting both Host Community and IDPs are recommended. Food Security and Livelihoods The IDPs are reportedly in precarious food security situation; especially those without relatives in the area. These IDPs were previously eating 2-3 meals a day but are currently eating only one; courtesy of their host communities. The host communities of Wau Shilluk are riverine communities dependent on fisheries, livestock and agricultural livelihood options. Communities and IDPs continue to fish but both IDPs and host communities are facing shortages of fishing equipment. The host communities reported that given the current IDP situation, they will run out of food in about a week. The market in Wau Shilluk is still functional but except for cow and goat meat and the prices for all other basic commodities have at least doubled. Since the replenishment access point is Kodok, supply lines to which have also reportedly been disrupted, this market too is soon likely to run out of basic commodities. In short, as things stand now, market-based interventions are not an option in Wau Shilluk. To protect fisheries-based livelihood options of particularly the riverine host communities and to some extent the staying IDPs by supplying emergency fishing kits to both communities. Food access will remain a challenge as purchasing power has been eroded even in the event

5 that availability improves. The population, regardless of what their location would be (i.e. in the event they decide to move back to Malakal) needs emergency food assistance for a limited amount of time till availability and access related challenges are overcome. The stress on the host community by the displaced population is also significant; therefore, the host population also requires some form of assistance. 15 day assistance should be extended to the population after a proper registration is conducted and protection actors advise food security partners regarding the intentions of the population vis-a-vis their plans to return to Malakal town Health Health care is being provided by the MOH with support from IMA World Health through the Rapid Result Fund. Currently there are 6 health care workers at the PHCU in Wau Shilluk (2 medical assistants, 1 clinical officer and 2 nurses). All of the health workers are IDPs who are from Malakal, except one of the medical assistants who is from Wau Shilluk. The clinic received their last supply of drugs in December before the conflict started. This supply of drugs is now almost finished because of the influx of IDPs. According to the health staff the current supply of drugs will only last for a few days. There is no Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) or Zinc at the clinic, which are both needed for treatment of diarrhoea of children or RDT s for testing for malaria. From January the clinic staff saw 419 patients in their out-patient department, mainly seeing cases of diarrhoea and malaria. The staff is overwhelmed with the number of patients and report working from morning to night to see all of the patients. The clinic staff only reported one suspect case of Kala Azar, but did not report any other cases of outbreak diseases, such as measles or cholera. However, the sanitation situation is grim with open defecation and people drinking water straight from the River Nile. There is a functional cold chain at the PHCU. IDP women that were interviewed stated that the main illnesses are diarrhoea, malaria and headaches. They reported that they did not go to the PHCU because there were no medications there. The PHCU urgently needs medical supplies, including drugs and RDT s for malaria. They also need human resources to help with the influx of patients from the IDPs. Nutrition There is no nutrition programming in Wau Shilluk. MUAC tapes and tally sheets were left behind for the health staff to start screening the IDPs. Women at interviewed at a school housing IDPs said that they did not have enough food to eat as the money they brought with them from Malakal was now gone and they could not purchase food in the market. The women said that they share food with other families.

6 Exhaustive MUAC screening of IDP children under 5 and Pregnant and Lactating Women (PLW) Shelter + NFI Families have fled to the area from Malakal. Most families fled without any belongings, though some women may have returned to Malakal to try and salvage some of their belongings. Most families were not yet confident of returning to Malakal. The displaced families identified priority needs of shelter, blankets and mosquito nets. People are sleeping in the open or in collective centres such as the school largely without sleeping mats and as the location is by the river they reported a lot of mosquitoes after dark. Women were sleeping on kangas that they spread on the floor. Some families had bought jerry cans in the market, though supply in the local market will not be sufficient to meet the needs of the entire displaced population. Families also appeared to be sharing cooking utensils. Distribution of full NFI kits is recommended with the suggestion to substitute sleeping mats with two plastic sheets, which families can modify and use either for sleeping or creating an emergency shelter. Even though families are likely to return to Malakal once the security situation stabilises, it appears that a number of them have lost their possessions in the town and local markets in the city are unlikely to recover in the immediate future. The host community in Wau Shilluk should be included in a distribution. The host community is much smaller than the number of IDPs who have settled in the area. Distribution of hygiene items such as soap could accompany an NFI distribution in the area. Protection Livelihood opportunities are not available for displaced people, which increases the likelihood of SGBV and child protection concerns Incidents were reported that threatened the safety and security of the host and IDP population Some IDPs resides with host community. However, the resources of the host community are limited and will deplete, which poses risks in the area of food-security, health and WASH for members of the host community, in particular those hosting IDP s. The large majority sought shelter in schools, churches and other public buildings. Those without shelter are particular vulnerable. The majority are women, children, elderly, and people with special needs who require assistance in the area of food, WASH, health and psychosocial support. If the security and safety situation improves in Malakal, female IDPs without their children plan to return. However, protection concerns remain if they return to Malakal.

7 Monitoring safety and security of IDPs when returning to Malakal Protection mainstreaming among respective agencies Advocating with respective authorities in Makalal on ensuring the safety and security of IDP s willing to return Child Protection Key findings The following information is from interviews with a nurse and a lady working for the Ministry of Health in Malakal: A lot of violated children and women, beaten up, shot at and raped during the fighting and while escaping. Large number of UASC and missing children. Many of them are staying on their own, spending the days in the market area and comings to the school and other IDP concentration sites at night. Many sick children with fever and diarrhoea prevalent. Many anxious children. The shelling is coming back to them during the night and it is difficult for mothers to leave their children to search for food and water, the children are afraid to be left by their mothers. FTR program with Registration of Unaccompanied and Separated Children (UASC) and missing children, family tracing and a foster care network. Child friendly Spaces with structured psychosocial support activities, recreational activities and more targeted and specialized programs for traumatized children. Community based Child Protection networks/ committees for awareness raising and outreach work in the community. Mother to mother support groups for mothers with traumatized/ violated children. SGBV programs targeting Child Survivors. WASH Water supply: No boreholes in the area. The location is very close to the river and families were collecting water directly from there. There appeared to be no distinction between bathing areas and the locations where water for household consumption was being collected. Sanitation: the community does not have access to latrines. Latrines in the health clinic and school were locked and are insufficient for the scale of the displacement. Open defecation in grounds surrounding the settlement appears to be the norm. No construction material was observed in the area and will have to be transported from Malakal or other locations. GPS coordinates for location:

8 Wau Shilluk School: N E Wau Shilluk Clinic: N E Water supply: setting up a water treatment system/swat this can continue to support host community needs, should the displaced families subsequently move back to Malakal. At the moment host community members are also collecting water directly from the Nile. It is recommended that agencies that are responding work with local authorities and community members to recruit and train SWAT operators. SWAT to include at least 4 T-Tanks, 6 bladder tanks and 8 tap stands (with six taps each). Construct emergency V-type trench latrines, taking into account the soil conditions in the area. Include WASH NFIs in any distribution being carried out. Carry out hygiene promotion activities among community members in the area. Next steps Based on the Humanitarian priorities identified, the following Cluster Responses are committed: Cluster Priority actions Human and material resources required Responsible Entity By when FSL Protect and save Fisheriesbased livelihoods of riverine host communities and IDPs Provide emergency food assistance, at least 2,100 kcal/p/day Emergency Food Security Assessment (EFSA) 1,000 emergency fishing kits (75% for host communities and 25% for IDPs) 5 can only be determined via registration FAO/Yaress WFP WFP By 10 Feb 2014 TBD TBD Health provide medical supplies, including drugs to PHCU Assist with human resources to increase the capacity of the PHCU medical supplies, drugs trained health staff (clinical officers, nurses, etc) WHO/IMA/Medair Medair to facilitate with transport as needed Medair/health care workers among IDPs ASAP ASAP Nutrition Exhaustive MUAC screening of IDP children under 5 and Pregnant and Lactating Women (PLW) Staff trained in MUAC screening and tally sheets Current health workers/support from nutrition cluster partners/medair ASAP Protection Protection mainstreaming NP ASAP 5 The IDPS are likely to return to Malakal as soon as peace returns.

9 among respective agencies in case of an emergency response Advocacy with respective authorities in Malakal on ensuring the safety and security of IDP s willing to return Protection monitoring in Wau Shilluk during an emergency response Child Protection FTR, Registration of Unaccompanied and Separated Children, family tracing and foster care network Psycho Social programs through CFS. Targeted activities for traumatized children SGBV response for Child Survivors Implementing partners/ trained Child Protection Staff on ground Locate spaces for CFS, tents, fencing, latrines, water points and CFS kits. Trained CFS and PSS staff Trained social workers, CB networks and coordination with health partners CPSC identify partners for implementation ASAP Shelter / NFI Distribution of full NFI kits to all families Blankets, mosquito nets, kitchen kits, jerry cans, 2 plastic sheets ES/NFI Cluster (Medair/World Vision/IOM) ASAP WASH Set up water treatment system/swat Construct emergency latrines Distribute WASH NFIs Carry out hygiene promotion activities SWAT system components, timber and latrine slabs, plastic sheets, hygiene promotion material, soap WASH Cluster Medair/Solidarites ASAP Assessment information IRNA stands for Initial Rapid Needs Assessment. Initial: Serves as a first look at locations where immediate emergency humanitarian response is anticipated, and determines immediate priorities for intervention registration and targeting of caseload can be required as follow-up, or blanket distribution of aid can be actioned directly.

10 Rapid: Deployed quickly, from a list of pre-trained and pre-qualified humanitarian personnel Needs Assessment: The IRNA is an Inter-agency and inter-cluster process using an ICWG-endorsed tool, reporting format and methodology namely The IRNA form, and the IRNA Reporting Template. The IRNA was endorsed by the South Sudan Inter Cluster Working Group (ICWG) and launched in November 2012, combined with training of humanitarian actors at Juba and state level. The IRNA mission to Wau Shilluk was conducted over two days (23-24 January 2014). The resulting analysis was based on a combination of specialist and generalist key informant interviews, male and female community group discussions, direct observation, review of secondary data and the expert judgement of sectoral specialists on the IRNA team. The assessment was conducted by the following team: Cluster Name Org phone Save the Harriet.Holder@savethechildren.org Child Harriet Holder Children Protection Randi Saure CPSC randi.saure@savethechildren.org Rehan Zahid WFP rehan.zahid@wfp.org FSL Dalmar Ainashe FAO dalmar.ainashe@fao.org Health / Nutrition NFI Protection WASH Heidi Giesbrecht Medair erthealth-southsudan@medair.org Latifa Dusuman Medair latifa.dusuman@southsudan.medair.org Viren Falcao Medair pcjuba-southsudan@medair.org Rich Moseanko World Vision rich_moseanko@wvi.org Marika Guderian Nonviolent Peaceforce mguderian@nonviolentpeaceforce.org Alex Wafula Medair alex.wafula@southsudan.medair.org Luga Henry Lodu Solidarites lugahenry@yahoo.com OCHA Herbert Tatham OCHA tatham@un.org

11 Annex - Mine Action: IRNA Report: Wau Shilluk, 25 January 2014

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