OCHA Situation Report
Southern Sudan
Humanitarian Action, Recovery, and Development
26 March to 1 April 2007
6 April 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

(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
Solidarites 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

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International              web: www.cidi.org
    Disaster Information          listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
                                guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -