2007 Work Plan for Sudan presented in Khartoum

US$ 1.8 billion needed for Humanitarian & Recovery assistance

[19 December 2006, KHARTOUM] Sudan will require more than US$1.8 billion dollars to fund humanitarian, recovery and development projects in 2007, according to the UN Work Plan for Sudan, presented jointly today at the Friendship Hall in Khartoum by the country's Deputy Special Representative to the Secretary-General and Humanitarian/Resident Coordinator Manuel Aranda da Silva and representatives from the Sudan's Government of National Unity and the Government of Southern Sudan.

Representing the Government of Sudan were Mr. Al Tigani Salih Fedail, Minister, Ministry of International Cooperation, Mr. Kosti Manibe, Minister, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Haroun, State Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Hassabo Abdel Rahman, Commissioner, Humanitarian Aid Commission and the Right Rev William Chan Achuil, Deputy Chairman, the Southern Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission.

The Work Plan, a planning, funding and coordination document conceived jointly by the UN, NGOs and Government counterparts, was launched to the donor community in Geneva on 14 December. The vast majority of the funds - some US$1.26 billion - will go to fund humanitarian activities for large numbers of the population still in considerable need, with nearly half the amount dedicated to Darfur. Some US$563 million is required to fund recovery and development activities. Sudan's humanitarian operation represents the largest slice of US$3.7 billion appealed by for the UN Secretary-General for humanitarian assistance worldwide in 2007.

The ongoing humanitarian operation in Darfur will require more than US$650 million in 2007. Combined humanitarian and recovery operations in Southern Sudan will require some US$627 million dollars. Significant recovery programmes are planned for the South and the East, while Darfur will continue to be a complex humanitarian emergency in 2007. Nearly four million people have been affected by the conflict and the majority of the two million IDPs in Darfur are expected to remain dependant upon direct food aid.

Compared to 2006, the amount requested for recovery and development has more than doubled from US$212 to US$563 million, reflecting the commitment to projects designed to continue the massive rebuilding of the country's infrastructure and the progress made so far. This shift is especially pronounced in programming for Southern Sudan, where, for the first time, recovery and development programming (US$350 million) exceeds humanitarian activities (US$280 million).

More than 600,000 IDPs and refugees are expected to return this year. Their safe and sustainable return is one of the greatest priorities for Governments of Sudan and the UN and Partners. The number of organised IDP returns will increase nearly tenfold this year, to 200,000, along with the repatriation of roughly 100,000 Sudanese refugees from neighbouring countries. The greatest challenge will be to support returnees to reintegrate into return communities, which are oftentimes equally vulnerable. This year, more than $300 million will go to "Early Reintegration Assistance" to ensure that returns are sustainable. An additional 300,000 IDPs returning on their own will be supported through way stations en route and packages on arrival.

"The investment we are calling for is critical for Sudan's transition from a conflict-afflicted nation dependant upon the provision of humanitarian assistance to a nation increasingly capable of providing for the needs of its population," said Mr. Da Silva. "2007 could be a decisive year for Sudan if peace spreads to all regions."

By mid December, the 2006 Work Plan was 68% funded, with US$1.12 billion in humanitarian assistance and US$125 million in recovery and development committed by donors.

The full document is available at: http://www.unsudanig.org/workplan/

For more information: Ms. Dawn Elizabeth Blalock, OCHA Sudan Spokesperson +249-1-912-174-454 or blalock@un.org