Humanitarian Action, Recovery, and Development in Southern Sudan Weekly Bulletin - 26 Mar to 01 Apr 2007

(As this is the last week of the month, this report may contain information related to earlier weeks, for those activities reported on a monthly basis).

Summary

- Security situation stable, but cattle raids and looting incidents reported in the Equatoria states.

- UNFPA gears up to conduct advocacy, in preparation for pilot census planned for the second half of April.

- Returns of IDPs ongoing, with caseloads identified for two new potential organized movements.

- Annual global plan for distribution of seeds and tools completed under FAO leadership.

- This year's first round of immunization against polio launched, targeting an estimated 500,000 children.

Focus on stability and security

- The national President of Sudan and the President of Southern Sudan have renewed on 27 March their commitment to never renew armed hostilities, and to work for the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

- Security incidents have been reported in Eastern Equatoria as well as Western Equatoria, allegedly including cattle raids and looting. According to some observers, the Ugandan opposition group "Lord's Resistance Army" may be involved in some of these incidents.

- Tensions have been reported in Kajo-Keji County (Central Equatoria) near the Ugandan border, related to local construction of a road, which has allegedly caused displacement of some communities. Humanitarian organizations on the ground are assessing the situation and needs.

Population census

In preparation of the pilot census to be conducted in Southern Sudan over the second half of April, two census advocacy experts of the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) have been deployed to Juba. In close cooperation with other United Nations agencies and partners, they will support the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) in devising and implementing advocacy campaigns.

Population movements and returns

Internally displaced persons (IDPs)(1)

- In the organized return operation from Khartoum and surrounding areas, this week saw the first convoys reach Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State, with a total of 353 individuals arriving on 27 March. All previous convoys this year had travelled to Unity State instead.

- The organized return from South Darfur to Northern Bahr el-Ghazal is ongoing, with this year's sixth and seventh convoys arriving this week, on 26 and 29 March respectively, carrying 602 and 614 individuals respectively. All returnees, after crossing the Kiir River, were moved to their payams [districts] of origin.

- In the organized movement of IDPs from Wau County (Western Bahr el-Ghazal) to Warrap State, two convoys arrived this week (the third and fourth of the year), with 64 individuals arrive in Kwajok on 23 March, and 249 on 27 March. Registration is ongoing, with approximately 6,000 individuals desiring to return. Registration has now been extended to those IDPs in Wau County wishing to return to Lakes State.

- United Nations agencies, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and partners, completed assessments this week to identify IDPs in Juba who qualify for transport assistance. IDPs have been prioritized based on their preparedness to return, distance to the place of return, and other criteria. On the basis of this exercise, preparations are underway for organized return operations from Juba to Mundri (Western Equatoria) for a group of approximately 800 IDPs.

Refugees(2)

- Last week [18 to 24 March], organized voluntary repatriation continued from the Central African Republic (CAR), Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda, with the return of 104, 2,124, 168, and 1,021 individuals respectively.

- During the same period, assisted self-repatriation occurred from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Egypt, involving 13 and 37 individuals respectively.

- United Nations agencies, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and partners, have continued to provide onward transportation to over 400 individuals currently in Boma (Jonglei State), who had spontaneously returned last January from Dimma Camp in Ethiopia, after reportedly walking for three days. Between 23 and 29 March, 214 individuals were airlifted to Pibor, Pieri, Maiwut, Malualkon, and Udier.

Needs and response by sector

Education

- The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has delivered 444 boxes of textbooks and exercise books, as well as 234 student kits, 234 teacher's kits, 36 recreational kits, and 36 head teacher kits, to schools in Wuror County (Jonglei State), overall benefiting over 25,000 children.

Food Security and Livelihoods

- Under the leadership of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the global plan for seeds and tools distribution for 2007 has been completed this week. A total of 120,000 households are expected to benefit from distribution of 1,843 metric tonnes (MT) of seeds (sorghum, groundnuts, maize, sesame) and 360,000 pieces of hand tools (rakes, sickles, machetes, malodas, hoes). Between 60% and 80% of this aid is meant to address the needs of returnees, thereby contributing not only to their livelihoods, but also to the recovery of the areas of return.

- Following the Government's lifting of a ban against people gathering in one place, which had been ordered in February in order to prevent the spread of meningitis, the World Food Programme (WFP) is gearing up for food distribution in Northern Bahr el-Ghazal, which had been suspended due to the ban.

Governance and Rule of Law

- The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in support of local government, started this week in Yei County (Central Equatoria State) the training of 59 local government administrators from the Equatoria states and Jonglei State. A parallel training of 80 local government administrators is underway in Rumbek (Lakes State). The trainings are expected to last 21 days, and will introduce participants to basic planning, budgeting, and programme management skills.

- United Nations agencies in support of the GoSS Prisons Service and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, concluded on 28 March training for prisons officers in the domain of budgeting and finance management, targeting 24 prison officers from all states.

Health and Nutrition

Meningitis

- Last week [ending 25 March], 272 cases of suspected meningitis were reported, leading to 21 known deaths. The case fatality rate (CFR) of the week was 7.72%, higher than the average CFR of 6.51% recorded since the beginning of the year, but much lower than 11.86% recorded during the previous week. The outbreak is now under much better control, than it was two weeks ago.

- In Lakes State, the state health authorities have requested the GoSS Ministry of Health (MoH) to provide 96,000 doses of vaccines for mass vaccination. The request has been approved and the vaccines are to reach Rumbek next week, for an immediate start of the vaccination campaign.

Acute watery diarrhoea (AWD)

- During last week [ending 25 March], 570 suspected cases of AWD were reported, leading to 12 known deaths. The week's CFR of 2.11% is only slightly lower than the average CFR of 2.82% observed since the beginning of the year.

- This week in Malakal County, UNICEF supplied 40 cartons of Ringer Lactate (IV fluids) and six cartons of oral dehydration salts (ORS) to the MoH, and five cartoons of ORS to the NGO "GOAL Ireland", respectively for the local "cholera treatment centre", and for outpatient treatment at local clinics.

Other

- United Nations agencies and NGOs, in support of the GoSS, launched this year's first round of National Immunization Days against poliomyelitis on 26 March. An estimated 500,000 children aged under five were targeted across Southern Sudan.

- A total of 818 women of child-bearing age were vaccinated against tetanus in Yambio (Western Equatoria), and each of them received a bed net for the prevention of malaria.

Non-food items (NFIs) and Emergency Shelter

- In Raja County (Western Bahr el-Ghazal), 200 non-food items (NFI) kits including kitchen sets, were delivered to vulnerable households among IDPs and the host communities, under UNICEF leadership.

Water and Sanitation

- As a preventive measure against the current AWD outbreak, UNICEF has supported the completion of two emergency safe water treatment plants in Malakal, to be operated and managed by local government for a period of six months, supplying an average 40,000 litres per day. Three additional emergency treatment plants are also being set up by the NGOs Solidarités and Medair, with UNICEF's support.

- Thanks to spare parts and maintenance provided by UNICEF, six hand pumps have been successfully repaired this week in Western Bahr el-Ghazal State.

Notes

(1) Four types of organized IDP movements are planned for 2007 in Southern Sudan: (1) from northern Sudan to Southern Sudan; (2) from South Darfur to Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State; (3) from Wau County (Western Bahr el-Ghazal State) to Warrap State and possibly to Lakes State; and (4) from the Equatoria states to Jonglei State and to Mundri County (Western Equatoria).

(2) Organized repatriation of refugees in 2007 is due to happen mainly from five countries: CAR, DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda.

If you have inputs for the next edition, or questions and comments on this one, please contact:

Maurizio Giuliano, Public Information Officer, United Nations, Juba, Sudan, Email: giuliano@un.org, Telephone: +249-91-2179084

Melissa Phillips, Coordination and Information Officer, United Nations, Juba, Sudan, Email: phillipsm@un.org, Telephone: +249-91-2501652