OCHA Situation Report Week 47
Southern Sudan: Humanitarian Action, Recovery, and Development
27 November 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Summary/Highlights

- A mission to assess the humanitarian needs and potential for conflict 
with local communities of a group of some 4,604 Mbororo was carried out 
before they commence movement towards the north (OCHA).

- With facilitation of UNHCR, 204 persons have returned from Kakuma 
Refugee camp in Kenya to Bor town in Jonglei (RCO).

- A graduation ceremony for 89 teachers, 45% of whom are women, took 
place in Wau (Western Bahr El Ghazal) following the completion of an 
Intensive English course (UNICEF).

Focus on stability and security

- UNPOL received unconfirmed reports from local Police that a shooting 
incident took place on 22 November in Busaka village some 18kms from Wau 
town (Western Bahr El Ghazal). Seven unknown armed men went to the 
village, rustled one hundred cattle and killed two male civilians. The 
villagers pursued the attackers and managed to capture them. A team of 
local police officers has been dispatched to the Busaka village to 
verify the report and for possible investigation (UNDSS).

- UN Police received information from local Police that on 21 November 
in the evening, there was an attack on people in Anyidi Payam, Bor 
(Jonglei) by alleged Murles cattle raiders. One person was reportedly 
killed and an unknown number of cows rustled (UNDSS).

- UNMIS Sector 2 commander visited Rumaker (Northern Bahr El Ghazal) and 
advised all UN agencies and INGOs working in the state to avoid 
traveling to areas with tension (RCO).

Current issues

- 883 former SPLA combatants and non-commissioned officers, 101 of whom 
were women, graduated as prison personnel with the Prisons Service of 
Southern Sudan on 21 November in Juba. The 75-days training programme 
was carried out under UNDP's Foundational Support to the Prisons 
Services of Southern Sudan Project and jointly funded with the 
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) of the 
Government of Canada (UNDP).

- The Aswa Bridge 20km north of Nimule (Eastern Equatoria) collapsed 
thereby halting all convoy movement from Uganda through Nimule, UNHCR 
reported. A group of 200 refugees that arrived in Nimule on 16 November 
remained at the way station for one week until it was possible for UNHCR 
to transport them to their final destinations. Another delayed returnee 
group was accommodated in Adjumani; a third convoy in Hoima was put on 
hold. A government contractor temporarily repaired the bridge and UNHCR 
resumed movement on 25 November. UNHCR's new way station in Nimule is on 
track for completion in early December to enable UNHCR to accommodate 
more returnees.

- In collaboration with the State Ministry of Education and Social 
Welfare and the NGO Enfants du Monde, International Child Day was 
celebrated in Wau (Western Bahr El Ghazal) on 20 November with 500 
children from 10 primary schools (UNICEF).

Population movements and returns

Repatriation

UNHCR assisted the return of 207 Sudanese refugees to Southern Sudan in 
week 47. 204 persons came from Kakuma Refugee camp in Kenya to Jonglei 
State under the organized voluntary repatriation programme. Upon 
arrival, WFP provided necessary food. Under the assisted 
self-repatriation programme, three persons came from Uganda to Central 
and Eastern Equatoria states. UNHCR has received a cumulative total of 
161,858 returnees in Southern Sudan and Blue Nile states (UNHCR and 
RCO).

IDP return

- UNJLC, in conjunction with IOM, completed a three days assessment of 
IDP returnee routes in the south-western corner of Eastern Equatoria. 
The routes cannot be recommended due to inadequate roads and damaged 
bridges. Some routes no longer exist (UNJLC).

Needs and response by sector

Coordination and Common Services

- An inter-agency assessment mission including SSRRC, RCO, WFP, IOM, 
WVI, IRC, Internews, and SC-Sweden went to Lieth village in Malualbai 
payam/Aweil East county (Northern Bahr El Ghazal) on 21 November. 890 
IDP households have been registered in Lieth by the Buma administration 
and the IDP leadership. The following sectors were critically examined 
by the mission: Food Aid/Livelihood, Health and Nutrition, NFIs, WES, 
and Education and Child Protection. The IDPs fled from Rumaker, Warguet, 
and Meriem due to tension between SPLA and SAF soldiers in Rumaker on 
16-17 October. SSRRC and WVI were the first to visit Lieth, and WVI 
responded with distribution of 650 NFIs to 650 households. Currently, 
the IDPs need food, clean water, health services, and NFIs. Unless the 
situation is rapidly mitigated, there is concern of an increase in 
diarrheal and respiratory track infections, as well as diseases related 
to malnutrition. About 75% of the IDPs are observed to be women and 
children. A CMC meeting was held in the state Governor's office in Aweil 
on Friday 23 November to discuss the situation of the 890 families 
(RCO).

- OCHA EP&R Field Officer and Disaster Management Officer were in Unity 
State 15-20 November. The main purpose of the mission was to conduct a 
disaster situational analysis that can lead to the development of the 
State contingency plan, secondly to mobilise Emergency Response Teams 
(ERTs) in the State (OCHA).

- An assessment mission consisting of UNMIS RRR and Civil Affairs, IOM 
medical team, Medair, OCHA EP&R, Mbororo chief/representative and SPLA 
Mbororo delegate travelled by road Juba-Liu-Lakamadi. The purpose of the 
mission was for RRR to assess the overall coordination and lobby for 
assistance to transport vulnerable groups; for IOM and Medair to 
determine possible collaboration with/hand over of health intervention 
to Medair; for WFP to verify numbers and distribute food aid; for UNMIS 
Civil Affairs to support/facilitate dialogue between Mbororo and local 
communities; and for OCHA to get a clear understanding of the issues and 
concerns and identify gaps in current/potential humanitarian response. 
OCHA also seeks to be kept informed and coordinate with RCOs in states 
through which Mbororo will be passing i.e. Lakes, Western Upper Nile and 
Upper Nile. Key findings of the mission include:

    The group of Mbororo in question are estimated to number 4,604 with
    180 to 200 cattle camps.

    According to recent IOM reports Mbororo are showing communicable
    diseases which in most cases are preventable and easily treatable.
    Their access to local health services has been somewhat restricted,
    in part as a result of reluctance to provide services to them and in
    part because the Mbororo themselves are reluctant to seek services to
    avoid confrontation with locals. IOM has to date been providing
    health services to the Mbororo. Following this mission, Medair is
    considering to intervene with support to vaccination campaigns.

    There is potential for conflict with communities if Mbororo cattle
    venture into crop fields. Previously, this has caused serious
    tensions.  There are ongoing attempts to bring the two together
    parties together to resolve the issue. There is currently a committee
    made up of Mbororo chiefs, local authorities and chiefs, SPLA
    (assigned to the Mbororo) to work out a deal and compensate farmers.

    Mbororos plan to be in their current location for at least three to
    four weeks to receive further health services, eg. Measles and Polio
    vaccination. Following this, they will commence movement north
    through 1) Lakes State - Yirol County with no or very brief stops 2)
    Western Upper Nile - Madol and Leer - probably with longer stays in
    these locations 3) Upper Nile - Melut and finally to 4) Blue Nile.


Water and Sanitation

- UNICEF issued eight health kits to the NGO Intrahealth Net, who is 
providing Primary Health Care in Wau (Western Bahr El Ghazal). In 
addition, 500 jerry cans, 500 baby potties, 20 cartons of Panga soap and 
500 Oxfam buckets were given to the Combonian Sisters in Wau to 
distribute to community members through their health facilities.

- UNHCR partners are constructing VIP latrines in several areas and 
rehabilitating three boreholes in Kajo Keji County (Central Equatoria).

NFI

- FAO intends to supply fishing twines to flood affected people in 
Pochalla. UNDSS will provide logistical support (RCO).

- UNHCR assisted 400 returnees through the distribution of 50 tents to 
the way station in Magwi (Eastern Equatoria).

Governance

- On Thursday 22 November, the Governor of Jonglei State, H.E Philip 
Thon Leek, opened the State Legislative Assembly after a three months 
break. In his opening speech, he urged President Bashir to fully 
implement the CPA to ease the current misunderstanding between the two 
parties (RCO).

- UNICEF facilitated a two day water committee meeting in Bor town 
(Jonglei). Meetings are held on a quarterly bases and is attended by 
water committee partners (RCO).

- A workshop on Juvenile Justice was conducted for 20 participants from 
the police, social workers and prison staff in Western Bar el-Ghazal 
(UNICEF).

Education

- ALP training for 102 teachers is ongoing in Aweil town (Northern Bahr 
El Ghazal) conducted by the NRC. The teachers are drawn from all five 
counties of the state. NRC has also deployed to Aweil North to train 21 
PTA in NRC-supported schools (RCO).

- A graduation ceremony for 89 teachers, of whom 45% are women, took 
place in Wau (Western Bahr El Ghazal) following the completion of an 
Intensive English course. The course was conducted by Windle Trust 
International and Oxfam Intermon. 60 graduates were supported by UNICEF 
and 29 by Oxfam Intermon (UNICEF).

- Training for 16 County Education Directors and Chief Inspectors of 
Schools on education management was conducted (UNICEF).

- UNHCR distributed education kits to 10 schools in Yei County (Central 
Equatoria) 472 male and 219 female students and teachers received the 
kits (UNHCR).

Mine Action

- Mine Risk Education materials were distributed and awareness raising 
activities were conducted in Rumbek East (Lakes). Over 2,000 people were 
reached (UNICEF).

JL- Wk 47

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 issue, please 
contact: Jens Laerke, Public Information/Reports Officer a.i. Email: 
laerke@un.org

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