OCHA Situation Report, Volume 2, Issue 8
Sudan Humanitarian Overview
Report for 1 - 30 September 2006
13 October 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

THIS ISSUE'S HIGHLIGHTS:

- HUMANITARIAN IMPACT IN LRA AREAS
- OVERVIEW OF DARFUR
- CHOLERA/AWD OUTBREAK MAP SUDAN
- CHF FUNDING OVERVIEW; EVENTS CALENDAR


SOUTHERN SUDAN

Humanitarian partners finally have the opportunity to reach and assess 
the needs of communities in areas most impacted by the violence wrought 
by Uganda's Lords Resistance Army (LRA) incursion into Southern Sudan. 
previous redness y Prepa Following the signing of a Cessation of 
Hostilities at the end of August, and the reduction of security 
incidents in the Western and Eastern Equatoria, OCHA Emergency and 
Response (EP&R) team led assessments to the LRA-affected areas Magwi 
County in Eastern Equatoria and Yambio, Ibba andMaridi County inWestern 
Equatora in late September. Visits were also conducted to the two LRA 
assembly sites of Owin -Kibul and Ri-Kwangba. The UN and partners are 
now moving ahead with supporting the communities and LRA-affected areas 
in Southern Sudan.

"This is our opportunity to get into those areas where we have not been 
able to work for a long time," noted Southern Sudan Deputy 
Humanitarian/Resident Coordinator for Southern Sudan David Gressly. Some 
areas of the so-called "LRA triangle" - the region demarcated in the 
area between Nimule, Labone and Juba (see map above) have not had 
regular access to humanitarian services in more than a decade since the 
LRA expanded their presence into Southern Sudan. The humanitarian impact 
on Western Equatoria, particularly around Maridi County, where the LRA 
expanded roughly twelve months ago, is more recent.

Common Humanitarian Funds (see related box on CHF page 6) of US$775,000 
have been made immediately available to start urgent activities in Magwi 
County, the longest effected area in the East. Emergency Response Fund 
monies will be mobilised forWestern Equatoria, where the needs are not 
expected to be as severe. Later, when broader-based humanitarian 
interventions such as repair of school facilities, health training on 
HIV, demining and mine risk education take place, further funding will 
be sought fromthe CHF or the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

According to the assessment team in Magwi County, urgent needs are 
water, seeds and tools, medicines and educational materials. While there 
are many boreholes in the area, most of them are in need of repair. It 
is too early to bring in drilling equipment due to the rainy season 
conditions, but repair and maintenance would have an immediate effect on 
local communities which currently rely onwater fromthe local streams.

1 SEPTEMBER - 30 SEPTEMBER 2006

Since the area is fertile and has received good rain, food aid is not an 
urgent requirement. However, insecurity in the area has prevented 
families have from moving beyond their villages to plant areas large 
enough to support themselves. Distribution of seeds and tools was 
recommended as another immediate intervention. Thirdly, while there are 
some health posts, they have little staff and have had only erratic 
access to drug supplies. UNICEF will coordinate the delivery of Primary 
Health Care Kits.

Discussions are also on-going regarding support to 'nonessentials' - LRA 
non-combatants such as women, children, elderly and the disabled. UNICEF 
has proposed a basic package for care and protection of vulnerable 
populations, including psycho-social activities. Large numbers of women 
and children are not expected to arrive in gathering areas for a matter 
of weeks. While the relocation of the non-essentials has not yet been 
agreed upon, if and when it does take place, humanitarian assistance 
will be provided using funds from the Uganda Country Team.

Support for the LRA combatants themselves will be organised by the 
Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) with support from the Ugandan 
government, which has already pledged US$1 million in funds. The 
assessment team noted that those who have already reached gathering 
points appear to have resources and have been purchasing food and other 
commodities from local communities. "Our intent is to provide support to 
those communities in LRA-affected areas," noted Gressly. "We are not 
providing direct support to the LRA, either in terms of food or other 
humanitarian assistance. We will provide support on a humanitarian basis 
to relocated non-combatants, if and when that process takes place."

The humanitarian community is well aware that, given the 
unpredictability of the talks, it must act fast as the political 
environment could change at any moment. Delivery of assistance will 
begin in early October.

Security: Largely due to the LRA agreement, security incidents in 
Southern Sudan have reached a record low. At a press briefing on 18 
September, Humanitarian Coordinator/Deputy to the Special Representative 
of the Secretary General Manuel Aranda da Silva noted the recent period 
has been the best period since the signing of the CPA. By the end of 
September, there was only one village in Southern Sudan that was not 
accessible (due to cattle raiding) and no humanitarian staff needed to 
be relocated during the month. Areas in Equatoria that had been raised 
to Security Phase 4 due to LRA incursions and violence have now been 
reduced to Phase 3, reducing the need for armed escorts inmany areas . 
This move has increased humanitarian access to areas previously 
inaccessible and therefore underserved. In addition to the recent 
progress with the LRA, the GoSS response to the security concerns of the 
humanitarian community must be credited.

Unfortunately, tribal violence has been rife, causing insecurity and 
requiring the provision of humanitarian assistance. In Lakes State, 
tensions were high after 12 people were killed and 23 injured in the 
unrest following the killing of a tribal chief in Akot. While in Jonglei 
State, approximately 4,400 arms have been voluntarily handed over in 
Akobo, Wuror and Nyirol, the Deputy Governor visited the areas and 
reported that clashes during disarmament prevented people from 
cultivating their farms. State authorities are requesting humanitarian 
agencies to establish presence in the three affected counties.

Rainy Season: During the wet season, agencies focused on planning and 
pre-positioning supplies for underserved areas and returns. While access 
throughout Southern Sudan has continued to improve generally, the wet 
conditions have hampered the provision of humanitarian assistance to 
communities in need.

During September, four separate flood assessments led by OCHA EP&R unit 
have taken place covering different areas of the Nile and tributaries. 
CARE assessed and responded with relief items in Maiwut in early 
September. Joint assessments of areas along the Sobat corridor were also 
conducted. Although no extreme flooding was found, the heavy rains have 
resulted in displacement of population and exacerbated the health 
situation. Findings from an assessment of Old Fangak reported between 
400 to 500 households scattered in several Payams and in and around the 
town. Most urgent needs include provision of NFIs. OCHA EP&R is working 
with partners to respond. Heavy rains in Northern Bahr El Ghazal also 
destroyed dozens of tukuls and flooded roads temporarily cut off Aweil 
town.

Returns: Returns slowed down during the rainy season, though some 
spontaneous returns to state capitals have been reported. Both 
spontaneous and organised are expected to pick up speed in early 
November with the start of the dry season. Operational plans for 
organised and assisted returns will be finalised at a joint HAC/SRRC/UN 
meeting on 4 October. Levels of needed assistance, particularly for 
return communities, are expected to be at least equivalent to 2006.

Meanwhile, UNHCR have so far repatriated 13,200 refugees from Central 
African Republic, Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda. In addition, some 100,000 
refugees who returned spontaneously have been provided with food, seeds 
and non-food items. Refugee return is expected to increase in the coming 
dry season, although numbers of refugees repatriated will depend on the 
funding received. UNHCR's South Sudan operation is currently 
only60%funded.

Also of note:

- Cases of avian influenza have been confirmed in Juba among poultry. 
The Avian Flu Task Force is coordinating response.

- 516 cases of acute jaundice have been reported inWau County since 
February 2006. Center for Disease Control advised the Ministry of Health 
on adequate measure to tackle the disease.

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