OCHA Situation Report No. 27
Sudan: Darfur
7 August 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Key overall developments

A spokeswoman for the medical charity organization Medecins Sans
Frontieres (MSF) Spain - who were evacuated from two locations in the
western Sudanese state of North Darfur after several violent assaults,
including two in one week, when armed men entered the MSF - Spain
compounds at night - said that MSF staff may return to the area if they
are assured improved security on the ground.

In August, the World Food Programme (WFP) is increasing cereal rations for
general food distribution (GFD) beneficiaries in Darfur. The revised
rations will provide 75% of the daily kilo calorie (k-cal) requirement, an
increase from the 60% daily k-cal value delivered in May and June.

Needs and response by sector

Education

North Darfur

Child Friendly Community Initiatives (CFCI) - supported by UNICEF -
completed the construction of eight (8) permanent new classrooms and
completed four (4) partially built classrooms and two (2) offices in Abu
Zerega CFCI village. The completion of a further six (6) semi-permanent
classrooms (now at the roofing stage) and school latrines in both the boys
and girls schools, are expected to reach over 1,000 children in Abu
Zerega.

The El Fasher Rural Development Network - supported by UNICEF - completed
the construction of 10 new permanent classrooms in Tawilla and El Fasher
Rural village schools providing access to education for over 500 children.

With the rainy season underway in parts of Darfur, UNICEF released 104
plastic sheets to German Agro Action (GAA) for rain-proofing of temporary
classrooms in five (5) schools. The schools in Abbas (Girls and Boys),
Wama, Hillif Donki and Hillif Saniya Schools in Mellit locality support a
total of 2,469 children.

South Darfur

The South Darfur State Ministry of Education (SMoE) - in collaboration
with UNICEF - has completed the construction of three (3) classrooms and
the rehabilitation of another three (3) classrooms in Umdebekrat School in
Rehead Elbirdi which were affected by floods. At Kalma IDP Camp 2,000
school kits were distributed to the IDP school students by Child
Development Foundation (CDF) in partnership with UNICEF and the Government
of Japan.

West Darfur

The recent completion of six (6) classrooms in Adikong village - that were
built with UNICEF support - will benefit 360 children from the village.
Meanwhile, education supplies were released to Tear Fund by UNICEF, which
included 60 pupil kits (GR5-8), 11 recreational kits, 64 stationery kits
for adolescents, and two (2) classroom kits for Beida and Wadi Salih
areas.

Food Security and Livelihoods

North Darfur

After several months of preparations, the World Food Programme (WFP)
Blanket Supplementary Feeding Programme (BSFP) will start in August, with
an overall plan to reach over 200,000 children under-five in North Darfur.
The programme aims to prevent a deterioration in the nutritional status
through the provision of a nutritious premix of corn-soya blend, dry skim
milk, sugar and vegetable oil to children-under five whose families
already benefit from the General Food Distribution programme. The
programme is expected to run throughout the hunger period.

South Darfur

With support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), The Afac
Almustagble for Women Organization has conducted a series of workshops on
the usage and design of solar stoves - made from cardboard, aluminum
papers, and black painted saucepans - in the IDP Camps of Otash, Bill,
Sakali. Forty two women were been trained and supported with solar stoves.
The cheap solar stoves are meant to contribute in saving the environment
and preventing gender-based violence (GBV).

UNFPA supported The Afac Almustagble for Women Organization in providing
skills training in pottery making and marketing. Thirty IDP women were
trained and provided with financial support to continue benefiting from
this livelihood project.

With the support of UNFPA, the Ahlam Charity Organization has organized
regular literacy education programmes targeting 50 Hakamats and assisting
them in Income Generating Activities (IGA) for which revolving funds have
been allocated for six month period.

A Tearfund nutrition survey in June in Ed Daein found high Global Acute
Malnutrition (GAM) and severe acute malnutrition (SAM) rates of 24.2% and
2.9% respectively, compared to last year's 29.7% and 4.4%. The survey
cited disease - such as acute respiratory illness (ARI), diarrhoea,
malaria etc - as the main contributing factor. The nutrition working group
partners are analyzing the results to determine further action required.
Meanwhile, the WFP-supported BSFP, in effect since March 2008, continues
to reach over 14,000 children under-five in Ed Daein.

West Darfur

WFP delivered 106 metric tons of food to 57 schools in El Geneina town
this week in support of over 48,000 school children under the Food for
Education programme.

Health and Nutrition

North Darfur

UNFPA distributed 126 Reproductive Health kits to the international NGOs
International Rescue Committee (IRC), GOAL International, Relief
International (RI), Partner Aid International (PIA), Malteser and Mercy
Corps Malaysia.

South Darfur

UNICEF supported the Therapeutic Feeding Centres (TFCs) in Kalma, Al Salam
IDP Camps and Nyala town with 1,035 mosquito nets. Malaria can be a
complication in the selective feeding programmes for malnourished children
therefore prevention in the form of insecticide treated bed nets is an
effective way to mitigate the risk of malarial disease.

UNICEF supported Medicins Sans Frontiers (MSF)-France with 50 cartons of
nutritional paste to use the Adilla nutrition programme.

West Darfur

UNICEF released a total of 18 Primary Health Care Kits (PHC) to
International Medical Corps (IMC) supported clinics in two (2) IDP camps
around El Geneina.

Non-Food Items (NFIs)

South Darfur

According to the United Nations Joint Logistics Centre (UNJLC), the
majority of Common Pipeline distributions this week supported newly
displaced populations in South Darfur. Distributions were carried out by
the NGO Samaritans Purse to a total of 2,183 households. Items distributed
were blankets, sleeping mats, women's clothing, plastic sheeting and jerry
cans.

West Darfur

In El Geneina, Concern distributed NFI Common Pipeline plastic sheets to
support community projects in Aramta, Abujar, Dorti and Kerenek IDP Camps.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) supported 295 IDP households requiring
replenishment in Jama IDP Camp. Items distributed were plastic sheeting,
jerry cans and sleeping mats.

Protection and Human Rights

South Darfur

UNFPA supported the Jebel Mara Charity Organization (JEMCO) to conduct a
training workshop for eight (8) GBV animators who would be working for
UNFPA in the rural areas of Gereida, Feina, Dirbat, Labado, Kalma IDP
Camp, Kass, Toor and Aldean. The GBV animators will be working in the
fields of GBV/reproductive health (RH) trainings and monitoring for GBV
related incidents.

West Darfur

With the support of UNFPA, the Ministry of Social Affairs in the West
Darfur State celebrated World Population Day. In the event the deputy Wali
of West Darfur officially announced the Establishment of the State
Population Council.

Water and Sanitation

West Darfur

The State Water Corporation (SWC) - supported by UNICEF - continued the
routine operation maintenance and chlorination of 17 water schemes in
Mornei, Geneina, Zalingei, Um Shalaya, Trige and Um Kheir reaching
approximately 102,000 beneficiaries. An additional 22,000 people have
access to safe water through the chlorination of 18 water points in
Zalingei town by the State Ministry of Health (SMoH) staff with UNICEF
support.

Hygiene messages on the prevention of diseases associated with the rainy
season in IDP camps reached 772 households. The visits were carried out by
State Water Corporation/Water and Environmental Sanitation (SWC/WES)
department volunteers, who support WES units in Nertiti, Garsila, Dorti,
Riyad and Ardamata IDP Camps.

If you have inputs for the next edition or questions and comments on this
one, or other media and public enquiries, please contact:

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

For other media and public enquiries, you
may also 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

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