OCHA Situation Report Week 43
Southern Sudan: Humanitarian Action, Recovery, and Development
31 October 2007


Summary

- 416 Sudanese refugees return to Southern Sudan, the highest return in 
the past seven weeks

- Jonglei state MoH reports outbreak of 7 cases of measles. Lakes state 
also reports measles outbreak.

- Floods assessment in Panyang payam, Duk County (Jonglei State) finds 
that 1180 HHs in 19 villages are affected by floods.

- IOM survey of intentions in Nimule, Kajo Keji and Laborne (Central and 
Eastern Equatoria) indicate that between 80% and 95% of IDP HHs 
interviewed intend to return mainly to home areas in Jonglei state.

Focus on stability and security

- The UN community is carefully watching PalmTree hotel in Rumbek 
(Lakes) following a shooting incident reported around the hotel on 
21/10/07.

- The general security situation in Northern Bahr-El-Ghazal remains calm 
despite tension at the borders especially in Meriam.

- Reports confirmed armed clash between SAF and SPLA in Rumaker on 
October 17. UNMIS Sector Commander and the Chief of staff from Juba 
visited Rumaker.

- The anticipated forced disarmament of the Murle in Pibor county 
(Jonglei) appears to be on hold following the political crisis triggered 
by the GoSS withdrawal from GoNU.

- Tensions in border states are increasing with reports of violent 
incidents and a build up of troops in the Aweil East.

Current issues

- As the rains continue to subside and the water level starts to reduce 
areas are becoming increasingly accessible for provision of assistance.

- Outbreaks of measles increase and AWD is expected in the coming weeks.

Population movements and returns

Returns (IDPs)(1)

- An IOM survey of intentions conducted in Nimule, Kajo Keji and Laborne 
(Central and Eastern Equatoria) indicate that 95% of IDP HHs interviewed 
in Laborne, 80% of the IDPs surveyed in Nimule and over 90% of IDPs 
surveyed in Kajo Keji intend to return to their home areas, mainly in 
Jonglei state (North Bor county and South Bor county). Based on these 
results and road conditions, and in coordination with RRR, SSRRC and 
government authorities, IOM South Sudan is intensifying plans and moving 
towards an implementation phase. Planning figure for the South/South 
returns are to move 20,000 from Nimule, Kajo Keji and Laborne Corridors.

- IOM, RRR, government authorities and UNJLC have sent a team to do a 
road assessment Juba-Bor-South Bor-North Bor (Central 
Equatoria-Jonglei). RRR will choose the priority payams, IOM will 
identify drop off points in South and North Bor counties (one or two per 
payam) and UNJLC will assist with the road assessments producing maps.

- IOM supports the SSRRC in tracking Spontaneous Returnees. A summary of 
the latest September Spontaneous Tracking Report is as follows:

Total returnees tracked during September 2007: 3,691

Total female HoH tracked during September 2007: 314

Percentage of female HoH tracked during September 2007: 50.48 (%)

Average size of the family: 5

Children under 5 years old: 879 (23.82%)

Vulnerable individuals: 119 (3.22%)

- Community Services completed the distribution of education kits from a 
U.S. donor, in Morobo County (Central Equatoria). 1,066 students (663 
male and 403 female) and 155 teachers (143 male and 12 female) in 19 
schools benefited from the distribution (UNHCR).

- The results of a food security assessment mission by CRS, UNHCR and 
local authorities in Panykwara payam (Eastern Equatoria) show acute 
moderate malnutrition among 35 returnee children.

Refugees(2)

- From 21-27 October UNHCR assisted the return of 416 Sudanese refugees 
to Southern Sudan. 409 persons came from Uganda to Eastern and Central 
Equatoria States under the organized voluntary repatriation programme. 
Under the assisted self-repatriation programme, 1 person returned from 
Ethiopia to Upper Nile State and 6 individuals came from Egypt to 
Central Equatoria, Khartoum, Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Western Bahr el 
Ghazal States.

- This week has seen the highest return in the past seven weeks, and 
significant repatriation has occurred through the Nimule corridor 
recently established. Returns have been affected by the rainy season as 
the final destinations of voluntary returnees are still inaccessible.

- On 22 October, UNHCR Uganda and South Sudan participated in a 
cross-border meeting to review the repatriation through the Kajo Keji, 
Nimule and Kapoeta corridors. Protection issues such as national 
identity cards, land and property rights and family tracing were 
discussed.

Needs and response by sector

Coordination and Common Services

- OCHA EP&R, RCO, IFRC and SSRRC conducted a floods assessment in 
Panyang payam, Duk County (Jonglei State) for the first time since the 
beginning of the floods and found that 1180 HHs in 19 villages are 
affected by floods.

- A rapid assessment was carried out in Pibor town, Pibor County 
(Jonglei) on 22 October. A follow up assessment to Gumuruk and Lekongole 
payams is scheduled for this week.

- UNICEF on 24 October led a joint monitoring mission of UN agencies and 
GoSS staff to Lakes state.

- Jonglei state authority, GOSS and local leaders conducted a week-long 
reconciliationconference in Fangak County.

- A total of 16 SSRRC directors, deputy directors and senior management 
participated in a disaster management and contingency planning workshop 
on 23 October 2008. Among the participants female representation was 
12.5% while 87.5% were males.

- Disaster management project sheet for 2008 was developed and submitted 
to OCHA head of office. Activities for 2008 will include Disaster 
management training and capacity building at GoSS and state level; 
support GoSS to conduct vulnerability assessment and preparation of 
disaster management strategy and national operational guidelines.

Health and Nutrition

- EPI acceleration campaigns were conducted in Mundri East, West and 
Maridi Counties in West Equatoria (UNICEF)

- EPI campaign for the eradication of Polio began in earnest Monday 29 
October in Northern Bahr el Ghazal. WHO staff is on the ground to manage 
the campaign.

- 24 Primary Health Care Unit (PHCU) kits were provided to Save the 
Children-US by UNICEF who will use them to provide basic health care to 
about 72,000 people for 3 months.

Disease outbreaks

- According to Jonglei state MoH, an outbreak of 7 cases of measles - 4 
in Padak and 3 in Bor - has been reported.

- An outbreak of measles has been reported in Yirol (Lakes) and 
surrounding areas, particularly in the cattle camps, with several 
deaths. A consortium of Red Cross is currently responding with support 
from UNICEF and WHO.

- Tearfund is responding to a Measles outbreak in Wuror County where 
about 17 cases of Measles were reported. They are targeting 1,000 
children in that area.

- An assessment by Tearfund of Majok-Nyinthiu district of Aweil 
discovered 2 suspected Measles cases. UNICEF will provide 2,000 doses of 
Measles vaccine in order to prevent further spread of the disease.

- WHO in Torit is arranging for an UNMIS flight to Nanyangachor to 
assess the situation concerning the Measles outbreak in Kapoeta East.

- WHO is predicting a major outbreak of Meningitis in the coming dry 
season, hence the need for epidemic preparedness. The Ministry of 
Health-GoSS, in coordination with WHO, are procuring 400,000 doses of 
Meningitis vaccines as buffer stock pre-positioned in Juba.

- Tests confirmed that the reported suspected cases of Yellow Fever in 
three states of Northern Sudan (White Nile, Sinnar, and Gazeera) in the 
previous week were Rift Valley Fever (hemorrhagic fever). It was noted 
that two cases reported at Kosti Hospital in White Nile State, are 
originating from Upper Nile State (Renk and Juda) in Southern Sudan.

Water and Sanitation

- Peace Wind Japan plans are underway to drill 20 boreholes in Mackuach, 
Kolnyang, and Anyidi as well as 20 more in Ayod County (Jonglei).

- 5 water points drilled in Ibba County (W. Equatoria) by IAS providing 
access to safe drinking water to 2,500 people as well as 3 platforms 
re-constructed by RWD O&M team in St. Mary, Napuri and Hai Israel, all 
of them in Yambio payam (UNICEF)

- The flood Assessments to Panyang Payam, Duk County (Jonglei) on 22 - 
25 October found that the payam has 14 boreholes which is not sufficient 
to cover the needs of the population hence many are resorting to 
drinking from stagnate ponds.

Food Security

- A WFP verification was conducted to find out the food requirements of 
flood affected populations in Aweillaic, Yargot, and Maduany areas 
(Northern Bahr el Ghazal). Preliminary findings indicated that the flood 
affected population in Aweillaic, Maduany, and Mangok need some food 
assistance.

- The flood Assessments to Panyang Payam found that the most affected 
villages are Kuakiir, Magok and Nguit. Key findings suggest significant 
damage to crops which will impact short/medium term food security.

Education

- A Community Girls Schools construction programme in West Equatoria has 
been revised. Bulk procurement of materials will be managed by UNICEF 
while the MoE will be responsible for work implementation, with support 
from Ministry of Physical Infrastructures.

Governance

- The Lakes State Plan and Budget was presented by the Ministry of 
Finance on 25 October to the Legislature. The Legislature symbolically 
refused to accept the presentation in the house from the re-instated 
Minister of Finance whom they had 'sacked' but who was later re-instated 
by the Governor.

- The 2008 State Sector Work Plan for the Ministry of Social Welfare in 
Northern Bar El Ghazal has been completed on 22 October. The State 
minister of Social Welfare, ministry staff, different UN agencies and 
INGOs working in the sector participated in the workshop. UNDP 
Governance unit is assisting different ministries of the state 
government to prepare budgets and planning for 2008.

- A Women's Conference on Community Reconciliation, Consolidation and 
Child Protection was held in Yambio 25-27 October, with over 100 women 
in attendance from the 10 counties of the Western Equatoria State. The 
conference was organized by the Ministry of Social Development with 
support from UNICEF.

Mine Action

- 893 people received information on landmines and Unexploded Ordnance 
(UXO) in Upper Nile and 47 community members were trained as community 
agents in Mine Risk Education (MRE) in Malakal (UNICEF)

- MRE awareness and distribution of MRE materials took place in Panawach 
and Yirol West in Lakes state (UNICEF)

Disclaimer: The information in this report is consolidated from OCHA 
field reports, UN agencies, RCO at state level, NGOs, and other 
humanitarian partners. The report is subject to availability of data and 
does not claim to be exhaustive or fully verified.

If you have inputs for the next edition, or questions/comments to the 
current, please contact: Jens Laerke, Reports Officer a.i., OCHA, Juba, 
South Sudan. Email: laerke@un.org

Notes:

(1) Four organized IDP return operations are planned for 2007 to/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 (4) from the Equatoria 
States to other locations in the Equatoria States and to Jonglei State.

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


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