OCHA Situation Report
Sudan Humanitarian Overview
Vol 3, Issue 7
Report for September - October 2007
14 November 2007


SOUTHERN SUDAN

Flood update

The flooding that affected all ten states of Southern Sudan has begun to 
subside in most places. The humanitarian focus, however, remains in 
response to immediate humanitarian needs as previously cut-off 
populations increasingly become accessible for provision of assistance. 
Agencies continue to respond to meet immediate needs in areas such as 
health, clean water, food and non-food items. Humanitarian partners and 
United Nations agencies are also looking to the medium term impacts of 
the flooding.

Food security across significant areas of Southern Sudan has suffered 
with crops destroyed and an increased incidence of animal diseases. The 
hunger gap is likely to be extended, particularly in the Eastern flood 
plain and Nile - Sobat corridor and in the Western flood plain where 
flooding occurred from July. Continued cattle raiding in Jonglei state 
and the recent closure of the principal road into Northern Bahr el 
Ghazal from the North may also affect localized access to food.

The WFP led Annual Needs and Livelihoods assessment started in October 
and the FAO led Crop and Food Supply Assessment will be completed in 
November. These should provide the basis of analysis of the impact of 
flooding on food security and recommendations for appropriate 
interventions.

Disease outbreak

Disease outbreaks, particularly Meningitis and Acute Watery Diarrhoea 
(AWD)/Cholera are expected to rise in the coming weeks with the receding 
of flood waters and progression of the dry season. Unconfirmed cases of 
Meningitis began to be reported towards the end of October.

The Cholera Preparedness and Prevention Group is preparing their 
planning and policy document in mid-November for Ministerial review. A 
working group led by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with WHO, 
NGO Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) and OCHA has been formed with the 
dual task of developing a response strategy and applying for contingency 
stock of Meningitis vaccines.

Returns

IOM reported that since 2005, a total of 77,506 IDPs have been supported 
within the framework of the Organized Returns (North-North, North-South, 
South-South movements), Spontaneous Movement Support, and Emergency 
Assistance to Stranded IDPs. The majority of IDPs have moved from North 
to South during 2007, totalling 31,911 IDPs. South-South movement totals 
9,726 IDPs in 2007.

Within the IOM-UNHCR Cost Sharing Partnership on Support to Refugees, a 
total of 37,644 refugees have been assisted since 2005 (11,539 in 2006 
and more than 25,753 up to July 2007). The figures cover Organized 
Returns/Repatriation, Resettlements, and Relocations.

In addition, IOM has given support to 1,647 Stranded Migrants and to 
Return and Reintegration of 394 migrants since operations began in 2005.

An"survey of intentions" conducted in Nimule, Kajo Keji and Laborne 
(Central and Eastern Equatoria) by IOM indicate that 95% of IDP 
households 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 
figures for the South/South returns is to move 20,000 people from 
Nimule, Kajo Keji and Laborne Corridors.

Mine action

During the months of September and October, Mechem, Armor Group, 
Minetech International, and The Development Initiative (the four 
organisations which UNMAO has contracted to survey and demine in 
Southern Sudan) arrived in Juba. They completed the set-up of their 
camps, and training of their locally-hired personnel. A majority of 
teams have now been assessed by UNMAO to ensure that they are working to 
international mine action standards, in terms of safety and quality 
management. Late rains as well as flooding in northern Bahr El Ghazal 
have impeded operations and slowed mobilisation into affected areas. 
However, in the latter part of October, work began on taskings in the 
Juba and Wau areas, and all assets are expected to be fully operational 
and working on GoSS/UN/NGO-prioritised projects by November.

For questions and comments, please contact:

Orla Clinton, Public Information Officer, United Nations, Khartoum, 
Sudan Email: clinton@un.org, Telephone: +249-9-12174454

Imad Hassanein, Media Officer, United Nations, Khartoum, Sudan Email: 
hassaneini@un.org, Telephone: +249-9-12178035

Nahla Zarroug, Information Analyst, United Nations, Khartoum, Sudan 
Email: zarroug@un.org, Telephone: +249-9-12160065

Attachments: 
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=C2EBE2549B282EE7C1257393003AE840&file=Full_Report.pdf

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