Sudan – Complex Emergency
Situation Report #1, - (FY) 2009 November 6, 2009
Background
In 2009, Sudan continues to cope with the effects of conflict, displacement, and insecurity countrywide. Since 2003, a
complex emergency in Sudan’s western region of Darfur has affected more than 4.7 million people, including nearly 2.7
million internally displaced persons (IDPs). In Darfur, conflict continues among armed opposition factions, the
Sudanese Armed Forces, militias, and ethnic groups. Simultaneously, humanitarian agencies have experienced reduced
access to affected populations since 2006 due to increased insecurity, targeted attacks against aid workers, and
bureaucratic impediments to program implementation.
The National Congress Party and the southern-based Sudan People’s Liberation Movement continue to implement the
2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) through the joint Government of National Unity (GNU). The formation
of the GNU officially ended more than two decades of north–south conflict. During the conflict, famine, fighting, and
disease killed more than 2 million people, forced an estimated 500,000 Sudanese to seek refuge in neighboring
countries, and displaced an additional 4 million individuals within Sudan. The U.N. estimates that since 2005, more
than 2.2 million people have returned to Southern Sudan and the Three Areas of Southern Kordofan, Blue Nile, and
Abyei, straining scarce resources and weak infrastructure. In eastern Sudan, the GNU and the Eastern Front opposition
coalition signed the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement in 2006. However, humanitarian needs persist in the area, which
has experienced slow recovery following decades of conflict.
Since March 2009, humanitarian agencies have encountered reduced access to affected populations in Darfur and the
Three Areas following the GNU-mandated expulsion of 13 international organizations and closure of three national
humanitarian agencies. Remaining humanitarian organizations, in coordination with the Sudanese government, have
initiated numerous short-term measures and expanded existing programs and areas of operation to prevent a rapid
deterioration of humanitarian conditions in northern Sudan.
The U.S. Government (USG) is the largest bilateral donor to Sudan and has contributed approximately $4.5 billion for
humanitarian programs in Sudan and eastern Chad since FY 2004. The USG continues to support the implementation
of the CPA and joins the international community in seeking a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Darfur. On
October 1, 2009, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Mark L. Asquino renewed the disaster declaration for the complex
emergency in Sudan for FY 2010.
NUMBERS AT A GLANCE
| IDP's in Sudan |
| From Southern Sudan |
2.7 million |
UNHCR1 – 10/08 |
| In Darfur |
2.7 million |
OCHA – 01/09 |
| In Eastern Sudan |
168,000 |
U.N – 09/07 |
| Sudanese Refugees |
| From Darfur |
268,000 |
UNHCR – 6/09 |
| From Southern Sudan |
138,270 |
UNHCR – 2/09 |
| Returnees to Southern Sudan |
327,984 |
UNHCR – 8/09 |
| Refugees in Sudan |
| From Eritrea, Chad, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of the
Congo (DRC), and other nations: |
280,000 |
UNHCR – 06/09 |
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FY 2010 HUMANITARIAN FUNDING PROVIDED TO DATE
| USAID/FFP3 Assistance to Sudan and eastern Chad |
$101,600,000 |
| Total USAID and State Humanitarian Assistance to Sudan and eastern Chad |
$101,600,000 |
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CURRENT SITUATION IN DARFUR
Insecurity and attacks targeting humanitarian workers
continue to hinder the provision of humanitarian
assistance to affected populations in Darfur. Relief
agencies continue to monitor food security, access to
safe drinking water, health concerns, and population
movement throughout Darfur and to provide food and
non-food assistance to affected populations.
On October 25, USAID Acting Administrator Alonzo
Fulgham and USAID/DCHA Acting Assistant
Administrator Susan Reichle traveled to Nyala, South
Darfur as part of a four-day visit to Sudan. The
delegation visited Otash IDP camp and met with IDP
leaders, GNU officials, U.N. agencies, African Union–
U.N. Hybrid Operations in Darfur (UNAMID)
representatives, and USAID non-governmental
organization (NGO) partners operating in South
Darfur. The delegation visited a U.N. World Food
Program (WFP) warehouse and discussed
humanitarian and peacebuilding program
implementation.
Security and Humanitarian Access
On October 18, unidentified kidnappers released two
international NGO GOAL staff to Sudanese
authorities, following 108 days of captivity.
On October 22, unidentified assailants abducted an
International Committee of the Red Cross international
staff member north of El Geneina, West Darfur. The
October 22 abduction represents the fifth kidnapping
incident of international humanitarian staff in Darfur
since March 2009, while two UNAMID civilian staff
members remain hostage following nearly two months
of captivity. Repeated targeting of humanitarian staff
for kidnapping or burglary has significantly limited
humanitarian access to field locations. In an
October 10 meeting with USAID staff, OCHA noted
that 52 international staff worked in remote field
locations in 2008, but only three international staff
remain, reducing humanitarian assistance provision
and program monitoring in rural areas.
On October 28, the High Level Committee (HLC),
comprising GNU, NGO, U.N., and donor
representatives, discussed the concerning trends in
attacks on humanitarian workers. The HLC
established a subcommittee to consider security issues
at the state and federal levels.
Late October violence between individuals from the
Birgit and Zaghawa ethnic groups near Shangil Tobayi
town in North Darfur killed approximately 12 people,
including a Sudanese staff member of an international
NGO. The clashes prompted UNAMID to deploy
monitoring and crisis mitigation missions to the area,
and U.N. sources report that tensions remain high.
According to OCHA, the inter-ethnic violence resulted
from conflict regarding access to a local water source.
Food Security and Emergency Food Assistance
Humanitarian agencies have expressed concerns
regarding deteriorating food security in North and
South Darfur. According to mid-October assessments
by the U.N. Food Security and Livelihoods Cluster in
North Darfur, late and inadequate rains, local pest
infestations, and local water shortages have hampered
agricultural season progress. In addition, the North
Darfur survey noted the need for follow-up
assessments and response in Dar al Salam rural council
in El Fasher locality, Malha and Mallit and Sayeh rural
councils in Mallit locality, and Um Kedada rural
council in Um Kedada locality. In late October, the
U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
reported potential crop failure in five South Darfur
localities due to lack of rain in August and September.
According to FAO, the most vulnerable areas include
localities Nyala, Shearia, and Kass in northern South
Darfur. In addition, food security assessment results
predict a depletion of food supplies available in
markets and an accompanying rise in grain prices.
In response to the worsening food security conditions,
FAO plans to distribute vegetable seeds and treadle
pumps prior to the winter planting season. USAID
staff continue to monitor the food security situation
throughout Darfur and liaise with implementing
partners conducting additional assessments.
In FY 2009, USAID/OFDA provided nearly $6.2
million for agriculture and food security activities in
Darfur.
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
Humanitarian organizations continue to provide safe
drinking water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene
services to populations throughout Darfur. Relief
agencies focus particular attention on highly populated
areas that experience added strain on existing
resources, including the local water table and hygiene
facilities.
Preliminary findings from a joint U.N. agency–North
Darfur Ministry of Agriculture food security
assessment highlight decreasing numbers of functional
water points in North Darfur due to lack of adequate
rainfall. Fewer functional water points may result in
higher concentrations of households and livestock
around remaining water sources, increasing the
potential for resource-related conflict.
In FY 2009, USAID/OFDA provided nearly $13.7
million to support water, sanitation, and hygiene
programs throughout Darfur.
Nutrition
In an October 2 meeting, USAID nutrition partners
highlighted that North Darfur global acute malnutrition
(GAM) rates, which currently range between 19 and
34.5 percent, remain significantly above the U.N.
World Health Organization (WHO) emergency
threshold of 15 percent and the 2007 and 2008 GAM
rates in the same locations.
In response, the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has
begun training nutrition workers in community
management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) standards
to standardize malnutrition treatment practices across
the region. UNICEF is currently exploring alternative
ways of reaching communities in non-GNU-controlled
areas with nutrition messages.
In FY 2009, USAID/OFDA provided more than $6.1
million for Nutrition interventions in Darfur.
Population Movement and Returns
During a USAID field visit to North Darfur, the
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
reported completion of a village assessment of Um
Kedada rural council listing locations and types of
existing services. IOM plans to finalize four additional
assessments of rural councils in North Darfur in the
coming weeks. IOM village assessments provide
detail on humanitarian and social services in the area
surveyed to facilitate GNU and humanitarian agency
planning for potential returnee needs.
CURRENT SITUATION IN SUDAN,
EXCLUDING DARFUR
From October 24 to 27, USAID Acting Administrator
Alonzo Fulgham and USAID/DCHA Acting Assistant
Administrator Susan Reichle traveled to Khartoum and
Juba to meet with USAID partners, other donors, and
with U.N., Government of Southern Sudan, and GNU
representatives. The delegation discussed ongoing
programs, as well as upcoming events such as national
elections scheduled for April 2010, which will impact
USAID humanitarian and development programming.
Security and Humanitarian Access
Attacks throughout October have affected Western
Equatoria State residents’ access to humanitarian
assistance. In a late October report, OCHA noted that
Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) elements have targeted
food distribution points to acquire emergency food
assistance and relief supplies. In mid August, U.N.
agencies and NGOs temporarily suspended
humanitarian activities in Ezo County and relocated
staff to Yambio County as a result of August 12 LRA
attacks on Ezo town. As of late October, humanitarian
workers remained unable to access Ezo County due to
insecurity. Yambio County authorities have registered
more than 5,400 people displaced by recent fighting in
Ezo County, according to OCHA.
Early October inter-ethnic fighting near Bor town,
Jonglei State, and along the border between Jonglei
and Central Equatoria states killed more than 40
people, injured 70 others, and displaced approximately
1,500 individuals to a village south of Bor town,
according to the U.N. Mission in Sudan Returns,
Reintegration, and Recovery Section.
Population Movement and Returns
On October 21, U.N., NGO, and local government
representatives conducted an assessment of Ndolo
Payam, Central Equatoria State. The assessment team
noted that the October violence between Pojulu and
Mundari ethnic groups reportedly killed 29 individuals
and displaced nearly 1,100 others.
According to OCHA, inter-ethnic conflict displaced
more than 16,000 people in Southern Sudan from
October 1 to 20. As of late October, conflict had
displaced approximately 350,000 people in Southern
Sudan in 2009.
Agriculture and Food Security
WFP continues to support food-insecure populations in
Southern Sudan. With USAID support, WFP
commenced airdrops on November 4 to 22 points in
Southern Sudan for the provision of food assistance to
approximately 155,600 beneficiaries inaccessible by
road. WFP’s airdrop effort targets populations in
Jonglei, Upper Nile, and Warab states that remain
inaccessible due to conflict or road conditions.
In September and October, WFP successfully
transported emergency food assistance along the Sobat
River to affected communities in Upper Nile and
Jonglei states. WFP conducted airlifts to affected
areas around Akobo town from June to September to
meet residents’ food needs due to the suspension of
riverine traffic from June to August caused by
insecurity.
In Ezo County, Western Equatoria State, local
government and community organizations have
conducted food distributions for affected residents,
since the county remains inaccessible to humanitarian
workers due to LRA-related insecurity. As of late
October, additional towns and areas within Ezo
Country were adopting similar food distribution
systems.
Nutrition
In late October, USAID partner Save the Children/US
(SC/US) reported that many children discharged from
therapeutic feeding centers in Akobo County, Jonglei
State, have been readmitted after one month, as a result
of family members sharing food intended for
malnourished children. In FY 2009, USAID/OFDA
provided nearly $243,000 to SC/US to improve
children’s nutritional status in Upper Nile and Jonglei
states.
Potentially worsening food security throughout
Southern Sudan increases the likelihood of high
malnutrition rates in affected areas. In late October,
OCHA reported an average Southern Sudan GAM rate
of 16.9 percent, above the emergency threshold of 15
percent. OCHA reported a 26 percent GAM rate for
Warab State, one of the WFP-targeted states for
emergency food assistance airdrops.
Health
On October 11, the U.N. reported at least 200 visceral
leishmaniasis cases in Old Fangak town, Jonglei State,
approximately 100 km southwest of Malakal town,
Upper Nile State. On October 14, WHO delivered
nearly 180 kg of medicines to treat the disease.
WHO and UNICEF continue to monitor incidence of
the disease, the second largest parasitic killer in
humans after malaria.
USAID Sudan Strategy Statement (pdf,469kb)
USAID Monthly Update - October 2009 (pdf,505kb)
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