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The Humanitarian Situation in Sudan
Background
In 2008, 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, fighting among armed opposition factions, the Sudanese Armed
Forces (SAF), militias, and ethnic groups is ongoing. According to the U.N., clashes have displaced approximately
270,000 to 300,000 people within Darfur and to eastern Chad since January 2008.
The former Government of Sudan and the southern-based Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) continue to
implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) through the joint Government of National Unity (GNU). The
GNU was formed in 2005, the year the parties signed the CPA and officially ended more than two decades of conflict
between the north and the south. During the conflict, famine, fighting, and disease killed more than 2 million people,
forced an estimated 600,000 Sudanese to seek refuge in neighboring countries, and displaced 4 million others within
Sudan. The U.N. estimates that approximately 2.1 million people displaced during the conflict have returned to
Southern Sudan and the Three Areas of Southern Kordofan, Blue Nile, and Abyei since 2005, taxing scarce resources
and weak infrastructure. In eastern Sudan, the GNU and the Eastern Front opposition coalition signed the Eastern
Sudan Peace Agreement in 2006, but the area remains underdeveloped and slow to recover from decades of conflict.
The U.S. Government (USG) is the largest bilateral donor to Sudan and has contributed more than $3 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
16, 2008, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Alberto M. Fernandez renewed the disaster declaration for the complex emergency in
Sudan for FY 2009. The U.S. Mission in Sudan has declared disasters due to the complex emergency on an annual
basis since 1987.
|
Estimated Numbers Affected | Source |
|---|
| Internally Displaced People in Sudan |
From Southern Sudan: 2.7 million
In Darfur: 2.7 million
In Eastern Sudan: 168,000 |
UNHCR (1)- Oct. 2008
OCHA(2) – Oct. 2008
U.N. Sept. 2007 |
| Sudanese Refugees | From Darfur: 250,000
From Southern Sudan: 215,000
Returnees to Southern Sudan: 294,500 |
UNHCR – June 2008
UNHCR - Sept. 2008
UNHCR - Sept. 2008 |
| Refugees in Sudan |
From Eritrea, Ethiopia, Uganda, DRC, and others: 227,664 |
UNHCR – Aug 2008 |
| Humanitarian Funding Provided in FY 2008 | |
| USAID/OFDA(3) Assistance to Sudan and Eastern Chad | $144,802,328 |
| USAID/FFP(4) Assistance to Sudan and Eastern Chad | $116,512,456 |
| State/PRM(5) Assistance to Sudan and Eastern Chad | $1,005,273,400 |
| Total USAID and State Humanitarian Assistance to Sudan and Eastern Chad | $1,266,588,184 |
1 Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees
2 U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
3 USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance
4 USAID’s Office of Food for Peace
5 U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
Current Situation in Darfur
In October, fighting between Sudanese government
forces and armed opposition groups, as well as interethnic
conflict hampered humanitarian access to North
and South Darfur and led to new displacement. In
West Darfur refugee and IDP camps, unrest led to
violence and caused U.N. and non-governmental
organization (NGO) staff members to temporarily
relocate.
In mid-October, the U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan,
Richard S. Williamson, traveled to Khartoum and
Juba, Southern Sudan, to address the ongoing conflict
in Darfur, the implementation of the CPA, and the
Abyei roadmap agreement. While in Sudan, the
Special Envoy met with local officials and U.N.
representatives, reiterating USG support for ending the
conflict in Darfur and implementation of the CPA.
Security and Humanitarian Access
In October, violence and banditry continued to hamper
humanitarian access to IDPs, conflict-affected
populations, and host communities. On October 6,
OCHA reported that in September U.N. agencies were
unable to access 35 percent of the population in
Darfur. According to OCHA, access in September was
the lowest in 2008, primarily due to fighting between
Sudanese government forces and armed opposition
groups, as well as inter-ethnic violence.
In October, banditry targeting humanitarian staff and
other attacks on humanitarian workers continued to
hamper the provision of humanitarian relief throughout
Darfur. According to the U.N., the number of attacks
on humanitarians is increasing, with humanitarian staff
reporting twice as many security-related incidents
during the week of September 22 compared to the
previous week. From January to October 2008,
bandits and armed assailants killed 11 humanitarian
staff members, hijacked 225 vehicles, and temporarily
abducted 170 staff members, compared to 13 killed
staff members, 137 hijacked vehicles, and 147
abducted staff members in all of 2007. Of the 225
hijacked vehicles, 100 were U.N. World Food Program
(WFP)-contracted vehicles. According to the U.N., 41
WFP-contracted drivers remain missing.
Tensions in North Darfur remained high in October
following Sudanese government attacks on villages in
early September. On October 30, U.N.–African Union
Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) officials reported that
unknown assailants killed one UNAMID peacekeeper
and wounded another. According to UNAMID, the
two peacekeepers were assaulted while securing a
water point near Kutum town, North Darfur. Attacks
targeting UNAMID have killed 11 peacekeepers since
January 1, 2008, and limited UNAMID’s ability to
protect IDPs and other vulnerable groups. In October,
IDP camp leaders in North and South Darfur IDP
camps requested an increased UNAMID presence in
and around camps to ensure security and protection of
civilians.
In West Darfur, unrest in Nertiti IDP and Mukjar
refugee camps further constrained humanitarian access
and led to violence against aid agencies. On October
9, Sudanese government forces attacked Nertiti camp,
causing an unknown number of injuries, according to
IDPs. According to the U.N., approximately 300 IDPs
demonstrated in front of Nertiti camp, carrying sticks,
clubs, and knives on October 10. The group sought
UNAMID protection from Sudanese government
attacks, according to an IDP leader. In addition, on
October 14, the U.N. reported that approximately 50 to
70 armed Chadian refugee youth broke into the
UNHCR compound in Mukjar, beating and severely
injuring UNHCR staff and vandalizing U.N. property.
According to the U.N., the youth were protesting food
ration levels in the camp. Following the incident,
UNAMID helicopters relocated 18 U.N. and NGO
staff from Mukjar to El Geneina, West Darfur. In
response to insecurity, UNAMID Deputy Force
Commander visited Nertiti camp and Mukjar and
UNAMID is monitoring the security situation.
Population Movements
On October 26, OCHA reported that violence has
displaced nearly 2.7 million people in Darfur since the
conflict began, an increase from 2.5 million in July.
U.N. agencies and NGOs expect the number of IDPs to
increase in the coming months, following verification
of new IDPs who fled Sudanese government attacks in
North Darfur and inter-ethnic conflict in South Darfur.
According to OCHA, armed conflict and insecurity has
displaced an estimated 270,000 to 300,000 individuals
in Darfur since January 1, 2008.
In October, OCHA, NGOs, and armed opposition
groups reported suspected Maalia ethnic group militia
attacks and inter-ethnic violence in villages near Abu
Dangal village and Muhajeria town, South Darfur.
According to relief agencies and initial OCHA
estimates, violence killed 40 people, displaced between
12,000 and 13,000 others, and destroyed 15 villages.
According to the International Committee of the Red
Cross (ICRC), the majority of displaced individuals are
women and children, who have sought shelter under
trees and in a nearby wadi (seasonal riverbed). ICRC
expressed concern that humanitarian conditions could
rapidly deteriorate with the onset of winter. Due to
limited access to the area, U.N. agencies and
humanitarian organizations have not yet confirmed the
groups involved in the clashes, the extent of the
damage, or the number of civilian casualties. In
response to shelter concerns, ICRC distributed
sleeping mats, clothes, and plastic sheeting to more
than 4,000 conflict-affected individuals in Muhajeria.
On October 18, OCHA reported that Sudanese
government clashes with armed opposition groups in
early September displaced an estimated 24,000 people
from Birmaza and Disa villages, North Darfur, and
destroyed approximately 90 percent of farms in the
area. According to OCHA, the majority of the IDPs
fled to Froug, Um Mahareik, and Wadi Tubus villages,
with smaller numbers seeking shelter to the north of
Bakaore and Birmaza villages. The displaced
population requires food, water, and emergency relief
supplies, according to OCHA. However, the North
Darfur State wali (governor) denied that mass
displacement had occurred in North Darfur and said
that North Darfur is violence free.
Food Security and Nutrition
On October 29, WFP partner German Agro Action
(GAA) announced plans to resume activities in rural
areas of North Darfur following two months of
suspension. In late August, GAA suspended food
deliveries to approximately 450,000 people in North
Darfur following attacks and threats on GAA staff
members. GAA representatives reported that food
distributions will rely heavily on U.N. Humanitarian
Air Service (UNHAS) helicopter transport due to high
levels of vehicular banditry. In FY 2008, USAID
provided $7 million to UNHAS operations to increase
humanitarian access to affected populations in Darfur.
On October 26, WFP, the U.N. Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO), the U.N. Children’s Fund
(UNICEF), and the GNU launched the joint Darfur
Food Security and Livelihoods Assessment (DFSLA)
and the Darfur Nutrition Assessment (DNA). The
DFSLA and the DNA will provide an update on the
food security and nutrition status of displaced and
vulnerable populations in Darfur, as well as
recommend immediate and medium-term program
interventions. According to WFP, insecurity will pose
a significant challenge to the assessments, as most
locations are not currently accessible by road. Despite
concerns, agencies expect to release the final report in
January 2009.
Health
From September 21 to October 16, USAID partner
Medair reported 16 suspected whooping cough cases
in Ardamata IDP camp and 21 suspected cases in Dorti
IDP camp in West Darfur. Whooping cough, or
pertussis, is a highly contagious disease of the
respiratory tract that is spread by close contact with
infected individuals. Medair and Terre des Hommes
are working on identifying new cases and providing
health education. In addition, health NGOs in West
Darfur are planning an immunization campaign in the
coming weeks, as a large number of individuals with
suspected cases are only partially immunized.
On October 6, OCHA reported that in August,
National Immunization Days (NHD) reached all
nationally targeted beneficiaries with polio
vaccinations, although coverage in North Darfur was
lower. According to OCHA, health officials
vaccinated nearly 400 children for polio under the age
of five for the first time in El Geneina, West Darfur.
On August 25, UNICEF, the U.N. World Health
Organization (WHO), the West Darfur Ministry of
Health (MOH), and NGO partners began a national
polio immunization campaign in response to a
confirmed case of polio in a child in El Geneina.
Health organizations and the MOH plan to conduct
additional NHDs in October and November.
CURRENT SITUATION IN SUDAN,
EXCLUDING DARFUR
In October, humanitarian agencies continued to
respond to localized flooding in Southern Sudan and
provided assistance to refugees in Western Equatoria
State. In response to food security concerns, USAID
staff conducted a field visit to Kurmuk County in Blue
Nile State to monitor the humanitarian situation from
October 8 to 14.
Floods
In October, heavy rains caused flooding in Upper Nile,
Jonglei, Unity, and Northern Bahr el Ghazal states in
Southern Sudan. Heavy rainfall in Ethiopia and Sudan
caused streams in Yabus village and Sobat River
tributaries in Upper Nile State to overflow,
exacerbating local flooding that began in early
October. On October 27, the Government of Southern
Sudan (GOSS) reported that floods in Maban County,
Upper Nile, killed 31 people, destroyed 5 bridges, and
damaged crops and water sources. In response, the
Southern Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission
(SSRRC), U.N. agencies, and NGOs conducted an
interagency assessment mission to Maban County to
evaluate humanitarian needs. According to initial
SSRRC estimates, floods affected the entire population
of Maban, representing approximately 150,000 people.
According to OCHA, flood-affected populations
require food, shelter, medicine, and safe drinking
water. In response, the Upper Nile State MOH and
UNICEF distributed medical supplies and water
purification tablets, and NGOs in Maban provided
emergency relief supplies.
In Jonglei State, local officials reported increasing
water levels flooded Baiadit payam in Bor County,
killing four people, destroying houses and gardens,
affecting hundreds of livestock, and causing
displacement. On October 25, the U.N. Resident
Coordinator’s Office (RCO) reported that the floods
had affected more than 9,000 individuals. Local
leaders report deteriorating health conditions, with
increasing cases of water-borne diseases among
children and the elderly. In late October, humanitarian
agencies formed an interagency taskforce to coordinate
the humanitarian response to the floods, including
providing food, emergency relief supplies, and
medicine to affected individuals. USAID supports
health, agriculture and food security, and water,
sanitation, and hygiene programs in Bor County.
Agriculture and Food Security
In response to food security concerns in Kurmuk
County, Blue Nile State, USAID field staff visited
Kurmuk town from October 8 to 14 to assess the food
security situation and monitor humanitarian conditions
in the area. During an October 13 coordination
meeting, WFP reported that returnees and floodaffected
individuals in Kurmuk are having difficulty
coping with the current hunger gap period. In
September, U.N. agencies expressed concern regarding
the food security and health situation of returnees and
flood-affected populations in Blue Nile due to the
impact of floods and low food ration levels.
In mid-September, community leaders reported that
returnees in Gindi, Borfa, and Balila villages in
Kurmuk County had depleted the WFP-provided sixmonth
food ration distributed in May. In response,
WFP conducted food distributions in Balila from
October 6 to 12. During the distribution, a WFP
representative estimated that the health and nutritional
situation in Balila has not significantly deteriorated
since May. According to WFP, populations in Balila
are experiencing reduced coping mechanisms due to
scarce income-generating opportunities, poor road
conditions, and an unproductive early harvest. Despite
reduced coping mechanisms, WFP staff did not find
evidence of a food crisis in the area. WFP expects the
current food gap to last until late November or early
December, when communities anticipate harvesting
sorghum. To date, WFP and NGOs have experienced
difficulty reaching Kurmuk due to heavy rains and
rising river levels. USAID partner Mercy Corps
implements agricultural fairs and economic recovery
activities to improve food security in Kurmuk. To
improve local access to basic health care, USAID also
supports GOAL to operate health clinics in Chali and
Wadega, a two-hour walk from Balila.
On October 25, a Lagawa County official reported an
outbreak of the contagious bovine pleuropneumonia
livestock disease in Abu Junuk village, Southern
Kordofan State. A major threat to cattle in Africa, the
disease is transmitted by direct and repeated contact
between sick and healthy animals. Relief agencies
expressed concern regarding spread of the disease due
to Misseriya ethnic group migration through Abu
Junuk, as well as animal deaths contributing to food
insecurity in Southern Kordofan. According to the
RCO, Lagawa officials have requested that the
International Fund for Agricultural Development
investigate livestock disease cases and respond
appropriately. The U.N. Mission in Sudan Civil
Affairs Section also agreed to advise Misseriya ethnic
group members to take alternative migration routes
around Abu Junuk to avoid livestock loss.
Population Movements
According to UNHCR, suspected Lord’s Resistance
Army attacks in northeast Democratic Republic of the
Congo (DRC) have displaced more than 2,300 DRC
refugees to Western Equatoria State in Southern Sudan
since late September. On October 25, UNHCR
completed the verification of 188 refugees in Sakure,
1,742 people in Gangura, and 386 others in Ukou
payams. To date, U.N. agencies have experienced
difficulty conducting further registrations and
accessing locations hosting refugees due to poor road
conditions and security concerns. Although U.N.
agencies reported the number of refugees crossing the
Sudan–DRC border has decreased, SSRRC reported a
new influx of refugees in Iba County, Western
Equatoria, in mid-October. According to UNHCR,
local communities in Western Equatoria are currently
sharing food stocks with the refugees, but relief
agencies anticipate that the population may exhaust
existing food stocks in the coming weeks. UNHCR is
working with partner agencies and SSRRC to address
urgent food, medical assistance, and shelter needs. In
response to food security concerns, SSRRC distributed
155 bags of sorghum, 13 cartons of oil, 12 bags of
lentils, and 5 bags of salt to affected populations, and
WFP dispatched 40 metric tons (MT) of food to
Yambio County, Western Equatoria, in October.
Returns
On October 24, the International Organization for
Migration (IOM) reported that nearly 1.7 million
individuals have returned to Southern Sudan since the
signing of the CPA in 2005. According to IOM
estimates, the majority of individuals returned to
Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Southern Kordofan
states, with 401,763 and 298,098 returnees,
respectively. IOM reported that approximately 59
percent of all returnees are children and young people
between 5 and 17 years of age. In March 2005, the
Sudan Joint Assessment Mission estimated that
approximately 4 million people had been displaced
from or within Southern Sudan during the 20 years of
north–south conflict.
Health
On October 27, the GOSS, WHO, and UNICEF began
a mass polio vaccination campaign in Southern Sudan.
The campaign plans to vaccinate approximately 2.8
million children under five years of age. Since March,
WHO health officials have reported at least six cases
of polio in Southern Sudan. WHO officials reported
that prior to March health officials had not recorded
cases polio since 2004, when polio affected 12 people.
Polio is spread through contaminated food and water
and is often found in areas without adequate sanitation.
USAID reconstruction programs support the establishment of a foundation for a just and durable peace with the broad participation of the Sudanese people. Activities focus on supporting the peace process, democracy and governance, education, health, and economic growth.
USAID humanitarian programs work to meet immediate needs while simultaneously transitioning to longer-term reconstruction and development activities in areas outside of Darfur. Priorities include assisting individuals displaced by conflict, providing basic services in traditionally underserved areas, and improving food security through increased agricultural production.
USAID food assistance accounted for over 80 percent of the commitments to the UN World Food Program in 2005, and supports ongoing programs with the Red Cross and other nongovernmental organizations. As the leading donor of food assistance to Sudan, USAID targets food aid commodities to the most vulnerable, with particular emphasis on women and children.
USAID Sudan Strategy Statement (pdf,469kb)
USAID Monthly Update - November 2007 (pdf,505kb)
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