Sudan - OLS: August 1996
Sudan - OLS: August 1996
Monthly Information Report
Operation Lifeline Sudan
August 1996
OLS Programmes Update
Household Food Security
The Famine Early Warning System (FEWS) reports good rains
occurred over most parts of southern Sudan during August.
Itreportedthatareasin Eastern Equatoria that
experienced drought in May-June received good rains during
July and that some parts of Eastern and Western Equatoria
are still sowing late season crops.The majority of
farmers in Jonglei, Upper Nile and Bahr el Ghazal, where
rains were delayed, are just beginning to harvest first
season crops. However, OLS NGOs report flooding along the
Pibor River mainly on the east bank, from the area of
Nyandit all the way up to Akobo. The flooding was reported
to be significant, but not as severe as the flooding in the
Pochalla area which dramatically affected 15,000-18,000
people.
Pochalla
On 8 August, the Government of Sudan gave approval for
relief flightstoPochalla,whereanestimated
15,000-25,000 people were reported to be badly affected by
flooding.The FEWS bulletin for July stated that the
Pochalla area had experienced the worst flooding in 50
years and that food security would be severely affected by
rain water coming from the Ethiopian highlands. The OLS
Coordinator and UNICEF Chief of Operations visited the area
and reported that: The village of Pochalla was not flooded,
but the fields bordering the town and the fruit and
vegetable plantations along the edge of the Akobo River
were flooded and largely destroyed. Papaya trees and other
ruined crops lie rotting near the river banks. At the edge
ofthe village, corn fields have become swamps. Paths
leading out of the village to the north, east and south are
still deep in mud and standing water. It is necessary to
walk and wade for several hours in order to reach the areas
that are said to be the most severely affected.
Immediately following Government flight approval, OLS sent
anassessmentteamintotheareaand scheduled
interventions.Five airdrops with the recently approved
Hercules C-130 aircraft took place on the following Tuesday
and Wednesday, delivering an estimated 83 metric tonnes of
food aid. Medical and other relief supplies were also
provided.
The interventions -- led by WFP, MSF, UNICEF, SCF-UK, and
the NSCC -- have continued throughout the month with inputs
offood and non-food items such as blankets, water
bladders, medicines, primary health care kits, and oral
rehydration salts. WFP has now distributed some 124
metrictonnes of relief food as 40-day rations and
recommends continued inputs of items such as fishing
equipment and clothes.
The OLS assessment team recommended continuation of food
aid to the end of December. Another monitoring assessment
willtakeplace in September-October to cross-check
prospects for a second crop harvest in December.
WFP interventions-assessments
WFP reports that activities during August focused primarily
on food aid deliveries. Deliveries in Bahr el Ghazal were
completedtoGogrial, Baar, and Pakor with ongoing
deliveries toAkonandTuralei. Deliveriesto
Jonglei-Upper Nile regions took place in Akobo, Pochalla,
Panyagor, Ayod and Motot.Deliveries to Equatoria took
place in Narus where a headcount was also conducted on 20
August.In total, 1,594 MTs was delivered to 218,958
beneficiaries around southern Sudan.
Four food economy monitoring assessments were conducted in
northern Bahr el Ghazal, Eastern Equatoria and Jonglei,
with one preliminary emergency assessment taking place in
Pochalla.
Small livestock:OLS continued small livestock work in
parts of southern Sudan, with a UNICEF Small Livestock
Officer visiting areas in Western Equatoria, western Upper
Nile, and Lakes.She reported that the following was
accomplished:
- In Yambio, 14 community members were trained in the care
of pigs, while nine rabbit farmers were visited. The
Livestock Officer also visited a new fish pond and trained
a supervisor for it.In Kotobi, 25 crews of poultry
workers were trained.
- Planning for a Community Development Association (CDA)
poultryproject took place in Narus as well as an
orientation to problems with poultry production. There
will be visits in the future to determine the level of
community dialogue and to build a demonstration oultry
house. Training is scheduled to take place in September.
- In Nhialdiu, 12 people (six women and six community
animal health workers) were trained in poultry management.
- In Tonj, 17 Animal Health Auxilaries were trained in
poultry management, and blood samples were collected for
rinderpest sampling in the cattle camps of Thiet and
Marial.
Among other highlights
WVI completed an assessment this week of Gogrial County and
plans to intervene in the non-food, emergency relief, and
primary health care sectors.
Two UNICEF livestock vaccination teams visited Tonj County
to do an accelerated vaccination programme. The teams --
in Ananatak and Thiet Payams -- were working to vaccinate
as many cattle as possible while the cattle were on high
ground and easier to access.
OXFAM-UKreportedvaccinating17,000 cattle against
rinderpest in Malek Payam, Rumbek County, following a
training for paravets.
UNICEF hosted a food security workshop in Lokichokio on
27-28 August in order to coordinate activities with all OLS
NGOs working in household food security programmes. A
report will be made available in the coming month.
Water and Environmental Sanitation
A UN water staff member visited a workshop for SRRA County
Secretariesin New Cush as the first step in developing a
comprehensive training strategy for water programmes in
SRRA areas.The objective was to jointly identify needs
and develop a training workplan.
After this was accomplished, the UN water representative
and SRRA secretaries invited NGOs working with water
projects to participate in the refining and implementation
of the workplan.
This ongoing process aims to coordinate identified needs
with the capacities of the agencies operating in each area.
The first training based on the list that was developed has
already taken place in Narus, Eastern Equatoria, where UN
water has a camp that is used as a training facility. The
training focused on pump maintenance of recently drilled
wells and was led by OLS NGO Action Contre la Faim and
supported by UNICEF. There were 15participants from
Mughale, Labone and Rumbek.
Based on the workplan, the following training schedule was
developed:
WATER SECTOR - TRAINING TIME TABLE (Plan for Aug-Dec 1996)
DateConducted LocationTypeTrainees
NGOs involved
by
19-8UN water, NarusPump
2-9 ACF technician 15
ACF
16-9UN water NarusPump
30-9 technician 15
DOT
7-10UN water Narus orPump
19-10 west bank technician 15
ACF
7-10UN water LasoaPump
19-10(?) technician 15
no agency
1-10WVINabagok Technician 20
WVI
15-10
28-10UN water AkakPump
16-11 technician 20
ACF
28-10 UN water NarusTeam leader
17DOT,ACF,
16-11 (?)
CRS
26-11 SCF (?)Modor, Pump20
SCF
8-12Panthoutechnician
26-11 UN water Yambio or Team leader 16
NCA, AAH,
15-12 (?)Maridi
ACF, CARE,
WVI
16-12 UN water NarusPump
29-12 (?)technician15
DOT
Coordination meetings
An ongoing part of the OLS water programme in 1996 has
been coordination and networking with the various
agencies involved. In an effort to strengthen this, UN
water hosted two coordination-networking meetings during
August and conducted a survey of water-related needs.
A water coordination meeting was held on 14 August in
Lokichokio which dealt with transport requirements
through 1997, cargo prioritisation, reporting from NGOs
on UNICEF materials used, and training activities.
Special emphasis was placed on cargo prioritisation for
NGOs actively supporting the guinea work eradication
programme. The meeting was attended by OLS NGOs ADRA,
CARE, Carter Centre, CCM, COSV, IRC, MEDAIR, OXFAM,
SCF-UK, SRRA, RASS, and other agencies working with
water-related projects.
A second meeting was held 15 August in Lokichokio as an
open forum for discussion between NGOs and UNICEF.
Discussion centred around basic hydrogeology and water
quality analysis, as well as discussion on general water
issues. The subject of reporting was again discussed and
agencies affirmed their commitment to regular reporting.
These reports will be the basis of improved coordination
and will be made available to OLS Agencies through the
Resource Centre in Lokichokio.These forums may become
a regular, but ad hoc, networking device dependent on
feedback from OLS Agencies.
Among other highlights
A UNICEF water team member visited the internally
displaced camps in the Maridi area. UNICEF water
personnel also traveled to Nyal to assist COSV and RASS
with a well-digging project and visited Mogok to review
progress made toward the provision of safe water
supplies in the area.Pump maintenance was performed by
UN water in Akobo, Pochalla, Ayod, and Mading.
NCA reports that hand pumps were repaired in East and
West Lopit, that four pit latrines were constructed with
pit latrine digging kits distributed, and that a water
assessment was carried out in a remote village of West
Lopit. They also report that two village pump
maintenance teams were trained in Laraga village and that
ACF drilled a borehole for NCA in Imuluha village.
Displaced
According to the August FEWS Bulletin, thousands of
people have crossed from the eastern to the western side
of the Yei River, in Mundri County, as a result of
fighting in the last three weeks. A recent WFP assessment
team sent to Kotobi and Bari has confirmed the
displacement of some 6,000 people, although OXFAM reports
that it is difficult to assess the exact numbers as the
people have not settled in a central area. Food and
relief needs are being handled by WFP and NGOs on the
ground, and the influx of displaced is being monitored.
Health and Nutrition
Workshops
On 7-9 August, 24 participants representing most of the
medical OLS NGOs, UNICEF, and Sudanese counterparts met
in Lokichokio for a nutrition coordination workshop.
Issues discussed covered nutrition as a whole, surveys
and assessments, programmes focused on feeding at
hospitals, and a review of previous nutrition work. Also
discussed was the issue of iodine, iron, and Vitamin A
deficiencies. NGOs involved committed themselves to
assessing the nutritional status in their areas of
operation. Initial surveys are planned in Ganyliel,
Nhialdiu and New Cush.
The Carter Centre and UNICEF hosted a two-day quarterly
workshop on 28-29 August in Lokichokio for guinea worm
coordination. The workshop was attended by 16 NGO
representatives, most accompanied by their SRRA or RASS
counterparts. The workshop focused on programme
performance updates and planning for 1997.
It was reported that as of the end of July 1996, southern
Sudan has 30,425 cases of guinea worm in approximately
3400 endemic villages, with half of the cases reported
from northern Bahr el Ghazal. This represents an
increase from the 2000 villages reported as endemic in
1995.
The workshop also discussed problems with delays in
delivery of supplies to the field which were attributed
in part to the significant increase in demand, as well as
the usual problems of transport and insecurity.
Planning has started much earlier than last year in an
effort to better meet the needs of the implementing NGOs.
All of the NGOs have been invited to the 1996 Guinea Worm
Programme Review Meeting in Nairobi on 23-26 September.
The Sudan programme will be presented on the first day of
the meeting.
Among other highlights
OLS NGO HealthNet International has been working in Leer
this month to manage an outbreak of measles.
Approximately 22 suspected cases have been reported in
July and August. There are three EPI teams engaged in
active case finding in surrounding villages and two EPI
teams providing outreach services. UNICEF is providing
overall coordination with HNI supervising on the ground.
After a programme evaluation by UNICEF, CMA, IRC and
RASS, CMA has been designated to provide primary health
care for the Zeraf Island area. The handover took place
on 15 August from IRC and established a permanant site in
Manajang from which they will access the surrounding
primary health care units.
NCA reports that their EPI teams covered 41 village
stations and that 30 PHCC-PHCUs were functioning in the
areas of Loronyo, Longiro and parts of Lafon. They also
report that the first group of CHW students at the Ikotos
school have completed their second term and have left to
do practical work in their home areas.
Education-Children in Especially Difficult Circumstances
Leaders workshop:On 12-15 August, UNICEF led a workshop
in New Cush for 31 SRRA secretaries and community leaders
(16 men and 15 women) from SPLM-held areas of southern
Sudan.The broad objective of the workshop was to define
and explore the concepts of gender and development, to
analyze different roles played by men, women, girls, and
boys in their communities, to encourage participants to
reflect on how their roles as leaders could influence
genderawareness, and to identify possible ways for
participants to proactively promote gender awareness.
The workshop ended with many participants expressing a new
understanding of and commitment to gender sensitivity. One
participant said, I have learned that we (men) have been
oppressing our wives at home. The participants voiced a
desire to see more workshops take place in order to raise
awareness of gender issues and a need for a core group of
community-basedtrainersthat could promote capacity
building initiatives and dissemination of gender-related
principles.
Gender issues
A Senior UNICEF Gender Advisor from New York visited Kenya
and Sudan this month. She attended meetings with Sudanese
womens organisations NESWA, Sudanese Womens Voice for
Peace, the Diocese of Torit, South Sudan Law Society, and
New Sudan Womens Federation.The meetings dealt with
issues of sharing information on peace initiatives, peace
education, conflict resolution and management, seeking ways
to cooperate and link their work with OLS humanitarian
principles, seeking to promote peace in southern Sudan, and
seeking to reflect gender issues and concerns in their
work.The UNICEF Advisor also attended a meeting dealing
withgenderissues in emergency operations and the
development of gender sensitive programming.
One of the conclusions of the workshops relating to
gender was the recommendation for a closer link between
womens organisations in Nairobi and in southern Sudan.
SWAN, a Sudanese womens organisation, has qualified
Sudanese women who are available for short-term
assignments such as training in tailoring, agriculture or
teacher training. They can be contacted by calling:
Carla Togun or Pauline Riak at Nbo. 560329, 571726 or
(fax)561357.
Among other highlights
The process is nearing completion for the reunification
of 168 unaccompanied minors from New Cush to their home
areas of Tonj, Rumbek and Yirol. Radda Barnen has
completed documentation of the social history of the
children and will assist with the reunification which is
scheduled to take place in September.
Radda Barnen conducted two workshops in Leer this month
on school-based psychological support to children living
in situations of armed conflict. They report an increase
in the use of creative and recreational activities
including traditional songs and dance in school
programmes.
Radda Barnen has also conducted the first pre-primary
teachers training course for 22 women teachers in Akot.
The pre-primary programme, functioning in both Akot and
Leer, is part of a wider strategy developed by Radda
Barnen to support community based educational initiatives
aiming to bring women into mainstream development
activities.
NCA is conducting ongoing adult education in Leer with
222 students, 210 women and 12 men, in three locations in
the area. Five additional villages are requesting adult
education programmes and the students pay an annual fee
to support the teachers, some of whom are volunteers.
NCA also reports that the womens restaurant-fish shop in
Leer has re-opened.
NCA reports that a new adult education class in Ikotos
has 64 women of which 15 can count and know the English
alphabet.
Teacher training continued this month with ADRA
conducting a Level I teacher training course in Maridi
and SCF-UK conducting a vernacular language-Level II
teacher training course in Bararud. The training courses
in Labone and Akot were postponed.
Teacher Training Schedule September - December 1996
SeptemberNatingaLevel IIINPA
SeptemberPanyagorLevel I ACROSS
SeptemberKotobi Level I MRDA-ICRI
SeptemberMalual Kon Level I SCF-UK
SeptemberLokutokLevel IINCA
SeptemberChukudumLevel IIIDOT
OctoberMapel Supervisors SCF-UK
OctoberAkotLevel IIRADDA
BARNEN
OctoberKotobi Level I MRDA-ICRI
OctoberMankienLevel IIADRA
OctoberIkotos Level IIINCA
NovemberAkoboLevel IIACROSS
NovemberTamburaTOT and
Level IIDioc.
Yambio-Tambura
NovemberLeerLevel IIIRADDA
BARNEN
NovemberCueiLevel I MEDAIR
NovemberKotobi TOT and
Level III
MRDA-ICRI
NovemberNyalLevel IIPCOS
NovemberIkotos Supervisors NCA
DecemberLafonLevel I NCA
Humanitarian Principles and Capacity Building
On 12-15 August NSCC and OLS conducted a workshop in
Lokichokio on Humanitarian Principles and the Church in
southern Sudan. The objective of the workshop, as
expressed by the facilitators and the participants, was
to work toward a better understanding of Christianity in
relation to humanitarian principles and define areas of
common agreement.
The workshop began with participants expressing hope for
Sudan and the desire for a dialogue regarding peace and
justice. They also expressed the need to explore
Christian values in order to gain an understanding of
what to teach with regard to protecting women, children
and other vulnerable groups.
The plenary defined humanitarianism as the concern and
dedication, love, care and respect for the welfare of
human beings, as well as the concept of social justice
and the obligations and duties that follow. Through
discussion on these topics, it was decided that
Christians should use their talents and resources in the
service of the community. Among other things, the
participants agreed that the Church must take an active
role in standing up for the rights of the oppressed and
marginalised -- to be a voice for the voiceless.
The workshop then focused on OLS and its role in
humanitarian assistance. The mandate of OLS was
reiterated together with the principles of neutrality and
impartiality that OLS operates under.
Among other highlights
The Capacity Building section hosted the second 6-week
course on development education-leadership training which
included SRRA representatives and community leaders from
SPLM-held areas.
The UNICEF Capacity Building section and RASS held a
three-day organisational development workshop which
looked at its internal vision, mission and structures.
The Fashoda Relief and Rehabilitation Association, the
humanitarian wing of the PLSA-United, has a newly
appointed Liaison Officer stationed in Lokichokio. He
can be contacted through the FRRA office in Nairobi or
directly in Lokichokio.
The Sudanese Association of Voluntary Agencies (SAVA),
launched in July, have appointed Mr. Kosti Manibe as its
first Chief Executive Officer. He can be contacted on
Nairobi 711618 or (fax) no. 221783.
Security
1 August - Staff from OLS Agencies ACROSS, MSF-Belgium,
VSF-Belgium and WFP were relocated from Akobo to
Lokichokio due to tensions in the town.
The OLS Security Advisor visited Akobo on 18 August,
found the area to be secure, and a UNICEF Ground Rules
team remained there to hold workshops with civil and
military authorities on the OLS Ground Rules and
humanitarian principles. NGOs have also returned to the
area and report that programmes have resumed.
7 August - The OLS Security Advisor visited Ayod and Yuai
in order to assess the level of stability in those areas.
He met with the local authorities in both locations and
was satisfied with the situation. Two WFP staff and one
UNICEF water team member were left in Ayod that day to
begin work.
17 August - The MSF-Belgium compound in Maridi was broken
into by four armed men and all personal items were stolen
from a Kenyan lab technician working for the NGO. One of
the men has been arrested and local authorities are
investigating.
23 August - The village of Kotobi, 15km southwest of
Mundri, was attacked at 0925 hours Sudan local time. OLS
NGOs MSF-Belgium and OXFAM-UK reported that two
helicopter gunships fired rockets and sprayed machine-gun
fire around the area killing five people and wounding 45
others. Two MSF-Belgium staff remained in Kotobi to
assist the wounded and later joined the OXFAM-UK staff in
Maridi where they had moved following the attack. The
OLS Security Advisor traveled to the area on 26 August to
assess the damage and reported that two churches were
destroyed and an MSF-Belgium vehicle was fired upon.He
also held a meeting in Maridi with the NGOs operating in
the area and briefed them on new safety measures to be
adopted in this type of attack. OXFAM-UK has sent a team
to Kotobi to assess the needs of the civilians affected
by this attack.
25 August - Two WFP staff were relocated from Pakor due
to fighting near Panliet.
26 August - Staff from WFP and FEWS working in Akon were
relocated as a precautionary measure due to its proximity
to Pakor.
17-28 August - Six Diocese of Rumbek missionaries (three
Australian nuns, one Sudanese priest, one US priest, and
one Italian brother) were released unharmed on 28 August
after being held prisoner for 11 days in Mapurdit, some
35km from Akot. They were returned to their compound,
stayed for one night, and five of them flew to Nairobi on
30 August. The missionaries have been running a primary
school and dispensary in Mapourdit.
30 August - Four shots were fired into the OLS compound
in Lokichokio narrowly missing the three occupants of an
African Expeditions tent. The shots seemed to be fired
toward the OLS radio room and a protective wall is now
being built behind it. Investigations regarding the
shooting are underway.
Flights
OLS received clearance from the Government of Sudan for
the August 1996 Lokichokio flight schedule into southern
Sudan with the following exceptions:
The zone south of the Juba-Torit-Kapoeta and
Juba-Yei-Kajo Keji line was not approved.
Aboung, Acumcum, Akak, Boma, Chukudum, Ikotos,
Labone, Loronyo, Malualkon, Nimule,
Nyamlell, Pariang and Yomciir were not approved.
Mayen Abun and Lietnhom can be accessed from
Khartoum only.
Pochalla, which was initially denied clearance, received
approval on 8 August. In total, approval was granted for
125 locations in southern Sudan during August.
Clearance for the August flight schedule was granted
without exception by both RASS and SRRA.
The following aircraft were available during the month of
August.
AircraftTypeCargoContracted
Status
by
5Y-ZBW
(UN-ECHO7) CARAVAN800 KGS ECHO
ACTIVE
5Y-HAA
(UN-ECHO8) CARAVAN800 KGS ECHO
ACTIVE
5Y-ZBR
(UN-C5)CARAVAN800 KGSUNICEF ACTIVE
5Y-TAS
(UN-C16)CARAVAN800 KGSWFP ACTIVE
5Y-KEG TWIN
(UN-FK10)OTTER 1200 KGSUNICEF
ACTIVE
5H-BAF
(UN-B4)BUFFALO7.5 MTsWFP ACTIVE
5Y-TAJ
(UN-B5)BUFFALO7.5 MTsWFP ACTIVE
5Y-NCF
(UN-M19)CARAVAN800 KGSMSF-HOLLAND-OLS
ACTIVE
5Y-ZBZ
(UN-C14)CARAVAN800 KGSMEDAIR-OLS
ACTIVE
5Y-BKJ
(UN-S18)CARAVAN800 KGSSCF-OLS ACTIVE
ZS-JVL HERCULES
(UN-F14)C-130 16.2 MTsWFP
ACTIVE
List of Abbreviations
AAHAktion Afrika Hilfe
ACROSS Association of Christian Resource Organisations
Serving Sudan
ADRAAdventist Development and Relief Agency
AICAfrican Inland Church
ACFAction Contre la Faim
ANVAssociation of Napata Volunteers
ARCAmerican Refugee Committee
BCGBacille Calmette Guerin (TB vaccine)
CAHWCommunity Animal Health Worker
CARECooperative for American Relief Everywhere
CCMComitato Collaborazione medica
CEDCChildren in Especially Difficult Circumstances
CHWCommunity Health Worker
CIDACanadian International Development Agency
CMAChristian Mission Aid
COSVCoordinating Committee for Voluntary Service
CRRSCush Relief and Rehabilitation Society
CRSCatholic Relief Services
DOTDiocese of Torit
DPTDiphteria Pertussis Tetanus
ECHOEuropean Community Humanitarian Office
EPIExpanded Programme fo Immunisation
FEWSFamine Early Warning System
FFWFood For Work
GAAGerman Agro Action
GOSGovernment of Sudan
HHFSHousehold Food Security
IARAIslamic African Relief Agency
ICRCInternational Committee of the Red Cross
ICRIInternational Child Reseach Institute
IMCInternational Medical Corps
IRCInternational Rescue Committee
LWFLutheran World Federation
MDMMedecins du Monde
MEDIC Medical Emergency Development
International Committee
MRDAMundri Relief and Development Association
MSFMedecins sans Frontieres
MTsMetric tonnes
NCANorwegian Church Aid
NGONon-Governmental Organisation
NPANorwegian Peoples Aid
NSCCNew Sudan Council of Churches
OLSOperation Lifeline Sudan
ORSOral Rehydration Salts
PCOSPresbyterian Church of Sudan
PHCCPrimary Health Care Centre
PHCUPrimary Health Care Unit
RASSRelief Association of South Sudan
RRCRelief and Rehabilitations Commission
SCFSave the Children Fund
SDRSwiss Disaster Relief
SMCSudan Medical Care
SPLA-M Sudan Peoples Liberation Army-Movement
SRRASudan Relief and Rehabilitation Association
SSFSave Sudan Fund
SSIA-M South Sudan Independence Army-Movement
SUPRAIDSudan Production Aid
TBATradtional Birth Assistant
UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees
UNICEF United Nations Childrens Fund
USAID United States Agency for International
Development
VSFVeterinaries sans Frontieres
WESWater and Environmental Sanitation
WFPWorld Food Programme
WIDWomen in Development
WVIWorld Vision International
y
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Complex Emergency Division (CED) New York
Mr. Anthony Raby
Tel.: (1 212) 963.1376
Fax:(1 212) 963.1388
E-Mail:dhagva at dha.unicc.org
Inter-Agency Support Branch (IASB)Geneva
Ms. Deborah Saidy
Ms. Maria Keating
Tel.: (41 22) 788.6384-788.6385
Fax:(41 22) 788.6386
E-Mail:Deborah.Saidy at dha.unicc.org
Press to Contact- Geneva:
Ms. Madeleine Moulin-Acevedo
Tel.: (41 22) 917.2856
Fax:(41 22) 917.0023
Telex: 414242 DHA CH
E-Mail:dhagva at dha.unicc.org