OCHA Situation Report No. 38
Sudan: Darfur
30 October 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Key overall developments

- The World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization 
(FAO), UNICEF, and the Government of the Sudan launched the joint Darfur 
Food Security and Livelihoods Assessment (DFSLA) and the Darfur Nutrition 
Assessment (DNA) on 26 October 2008. The assessments will provide an 
update on the food security and nutrition status of displaced and 
vulnerable populations in Darfur, as well as make recommendations on 
immediate and medium term programme interventions. The DNA - led by the 
Ministry of Health (MoH) and UNICEF - will occur in tandem with the DFSLA. 
Data will be collected from 1,575 households in 45 locations across the 
three Darfur states (900 households for the DFSLA and an additional 675 
households for the DNA). Data collection and analysis is expected to be 
completed by mid December, with the final report available by end of 
January 2009. Insecurity will pose a significant challenge in completing 
the assessment this year, as most locations are not accessible by road.

- WFP partner, German Agro Action (GAA), announced that it will resume its 
operations in rural parts of North Darfur, which were suspended at the end 
of August after several banditry acts against its personnel and property.

Needs and response by sector

Education

North Darfur

- The State Ministry of Education (SMoE) - with UNICEF support - released 
recreation kits, pupil kits and classroom kits to El Abbasi IDP Camp in 
Mallet town benefiting over 200 school age children (50% girls).

- Teaching methodology has been the focus for training in Mallit, Malha, 
Kuma, Lait and Teweisha. UNICEF has supported the SMoE in training of 
teachers in English Language Teaching methodologies. The SMoE training 
section will extend the training of teachers to improve teaching 
methodologies for other core subjects as Mathematics, Science and Arabic 
language. In addition - and with coordination UNICEF and the SMoE - the 
NGO Plan Sudan has trained 50 school teachers (68% female) in Mathematics 
teaching methodology.

Food Security and Livelihoods

North Darfur

- WFP food dispatches are ongoing, with 62% of October dispatch plans 
achieved.

- WFP and the SMoE completed introductory Food for Education (FFE) 
training for 235 school administrators and Parent Teacher Association 
representatives in Sayah, Mellit rural and Mellit town. The training was 
carried out in preparation for expanding the FFE programme to schools in 
the area.

South Darfur

- A joint WFP and Samaritan Purse assessment is ongoing in Sania Afandu, 
Marla, Um Tendalti, Caliyate, Hijaar and Um Kunya. The assessment findings 
will inform on the food needs of residents in the area, who have been 
inaccessible over the last six months due to insecurity.

- WFP partner, Solidarite, has completed a rapid assessment in Muhajeria 
and Shaeria, following renewed fighting in September and October. Food 
assistance has been provided to people affected by the conflict. A more 
in-depth needs assessment will be carried out to determine the number of 
people affected and their immediate needs.

- The last round of the Blanket Supplementary Feeding Programme (BSFP) was 
completed last week in Kalma IDP Camp for some 16,000 children under five 
(5). This concludes the BSFP in the camp for this season, which was 
initiated earlier this year to mitigate malnutrition levels that 
traditionally rise during the hunger period. Discussions have started in 
preparation for the 2009 programme.

West Darfur

- WFP food distributions are ongoing as planned, with minimal disruptions 
reported this week. In the Helialat area, food distributions were 
disrupted by ethnic conflict, which resulted in some food being looted. 
Continuing tensions in the northern part of the state and in the east of 
El Geneina meant that access was restricted for WFP and NGO partners, who 
called on local Food Relief Committees (FRC) to facilitate food 
distributions to beneficiaries in some of the locations in these parts. 
These local FRCs - made up of beneficiaries - were set up to manage food 
distributions in the absence of WFP or its NGO partners.

- An inter-agency mission to Hejelija estimated the number of new 
returnees to be between 700 and 1,000. These groups, who have not been 
reached since the beginning of the year due to insecurity, will be 
included in the WFP general food distribution (GFD) caseload as of 
November, following verifications and registrations.

- In preparation for the start of the Food for Care-givers programme in 
Mornei Hospital in November, WFP presented implementation procedures and 
guidelines for the hospital staff.

- In Um Dukhun, Oxfam held the graduation ceremony for the first ever 
project training local women in masonry and building skills. Fifteen (15) 
women took part in the month-long training, which aims to equip them with 
basic skills to provide alternative opportunities to earn an income. All 
graduates were given tools including a wheelbarrow, shovels and picks, to 
help them get started.

Health and Nutrition

North Darfur

- The prevention of HIV/AIDS has been the focus of the training for 120 
school teachers (52% female) by the SMoE- School Health Department. The 
UNICEF supported training took place in Dar El Salaam, Mellit, Kutum and 
El Fasher localities.

- The World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a field visit to Kabkabiya 
to monitor accessibility of IDPs to health care as well as to install a 
new mobile X-Ray machine in order to improve the quality of health 
services provided to IDPs in rural areas.

- WHO supported El Fasher Teaching Hospital with an assortment of drugs to 
ensure the sustainability of free health care service in the hospital.

South Darfur

- In Otash IDP Camp - with UNICEF support - HIV/AIDS awareness raising 
activities was conducted by ten (10) trained peer educators are benefiting 
1,200 youth per month in Children Development Foundation (CDF) Youth 
Friendly Space and Cooperative Housing Foundation (CHF) Women's 
Development Center.

- WHO paid a monitoring visit to the Elwahida site where health staff were 
given orientations about disease surveillance and reporting tools.

West Darfur

- UNICEF - in collaboration with Medecins Sans Frontires (MSF) - released 
1,667 insecticide treated bednets for distribution in ante natal care 
(ANC) clinics in Golo and Kelling as part of on going accelerated child 
survival initiative (ACSI) interventions planned for the Jebel Marra. 
UNICEF also supported Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) training 
for 20 vaccinators in Nertiti.

- With the collaboration of the SMoH and partners, WHO conducted four (4) 
trainings on active case finding and investigation; lab techniques; rapid 
response team; and epidemiological data management.

- WHO is working as facilitator for the integrated management of childhood 
illness workshop on "standard case management". Twelve (12) doctors are 
taking part in the workshop.

- Together with the SMoH, WHO started a three (3) day water quality 
training course for 30 staff from NGOs and the SMoH in Zalingei.

Non-Food Items (NFIs)

North Darfur

- On 25 October, the United Nations Joint Logistic Center (UNJLC) 
participated in an inter-agency rapid assessment mission to Um Rai in the 
Kutum locality to verify reports of conflict-displaced populations 
gathering in the area and to assess needs.

- UNICEF supported partners Oxfam, Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI), 
the State Water Corporation (SWC) and the Ministry of Education to release 
over 32,000 soap bars to coincide with Global hand washing day to school 
children. Schools in Shangil Tobayi, Saraf Omra, Kabkabiya, El Fasher town 
and IDP camp schools, as well as schools in Um Kaddada , al Lait, Tawisha, 
and ZamZam all received soap as part of the Global Hand washing day 
promotion.

South Darfur

- The national NGO National Organisation for Care and Development (NOCD) 
supported a women's centre in Erli in the Kass locality with jerry cans 
and sleeping mats from the NFI Common Pipeline.

West Darfur

- Blankets, sleeping mats and plastic sheeting from the NFI Common 
Pipeline were distributed by the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) in Sisi 
IDP Camp in El Geneina. The distributions were part of a joint-agency 
rapid response, coordinated by the Office for the Coordination of 
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), to a fire which damaged a school and several 
other buildings.

- Over 10,000 children in the Golo administrative area of Jebel Mara will 
benefit from education supplies released by UNICEF including 8,000 
exercise books, 30 recreation kits, 50 pupil kits, 20 teachers kits, 125 
boxes of chalk and 1,500 sitting mats. Five (5) recreation kits and 2,500 
seating mats we released to Mornei and Sisi by UNICEF after the recent 
fire which destroyed the school store, reaching 12,750 children living in 
rural areas.

- Mercy Corps provided the graduates of its income generating activity 
trainings with a generator and welding machine as well as additional 
materials for shelter construction in Mukjar market. Graduates have set up 
market stalls and are selling their products to the local population.

- WHO provided 20 pieces of protective clothing, 20 overalls, boots, masks 
and goggles to El Geneina Hospital.

Water and Sanitation

North Darfur

- Oxfam continued to organise public events and campaigns following the 
Global Hand Washing Day. In Kabkabiya Oxfam and their local partner the 
Kabkabiya Smallholders and Charitable Society (KSCS) brought nearly 1,500 
people together to raise awareness about the importance of hand washing 
and good hygiene practices, particularly among children. Educational drama 
and songs were performed, and soap and water containers were also 
distributed to families.

- The SWC - with UNICEF support - assisted IDPs to repair a hand pump and 
to fix the main pipeline in Abu Shouk IDP Camp. The State Water 
Corporation Water Environment Sanitation (WES) team also supported the 
operation and maintenance of all hand pumps and motorized pumps that serve 
54,000 IDPs.

- In Dar El Salam town, WES and the SWC completed the construction of one 
(1) water yard in Karwa benefiting 5,000 persons and their livestock.

- In collaboration with UNCEF, WHO continued to support SMoH to conduct 
water quality control and monitoring in El Fasher town. The team visited 
46 hand dug wells that all showed free chlorine residual equivalent to 
0.2/mg/l and 0.5mg/l.

South Darfur

- In Al Salam and Otash IDP Camps a total of 37 household latrines were 
constructed and completed benefiting 230 people. Thirty six (36) people 
were also trained on household water management and hygiene issues. With 
UNICEF support the SWC conducted regular general cleaning campaigns, 
household visits, hygiene sessions, and water dialogues in Al Salam, 
Otash, Mossei and all three (3) IDP camps in the Al Daein area. About 
8,000 people have benefited from these activities.

- Building upon the success of Global Handwashing day - UNICEF and 
partners CARE, Action Contre la Faim (ACF), the International Rescue 
Committee (IRC) and the SWC mobilized the communities in Al Salam, Derige, 
and Sekele IDP Camps. Hygiene professionals, Sheiks and teachers discussed 
the significance of handwashing. The communities were entertained by 
dramas about the consequences of un-washed hands. Soap was also 
distributed to the communities.

- Together with the SMoH and CARE, WHO continues providing technical 
support and assisting in water quality monitoring activities in El Serief 
and Al Salam IDP Camps. Samples from water points were collected and 
checked for Free Residual Chorine. Some showed positive results. WHO 
advised all partners to strengthen their hygiene promotion activities.

West Darfur

- The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) rehabilitated five 
(5) broken hand pumps out of the total (40) in Krenik locality.

- Mercy Corps hygiene promotion team in Zalingei conducted seven (7) 
public hygiene campaigns in four (4) IDP camps, which covered diarrhea, 
safe water, children's hygiene, hand washing, malaria, waste collection 
and latrine maintenance, and visited over 8,000 households in Zalingei, 
Mukjar and Um Dukhun to deliver hygiene messages.

- Mercy Corps conducted a hygiene "block competition" for the cleanest 
neighborhood block in Mukjar, and 25 households were invited to score the 
competition. Six (6) Mukjar schools also received 60 pieces of soap from 
Mercy Corps this week.

- Mercy Corps celebrated Global Handwashing Day in Um Dukhun and Zalingei 
- Hassa Hissa IDP Camp - focusing on how, why and when to wash hands 
garnering a large community turnout.

- Mercy Corps introduction of School Health and Environmental Education in 
Darfur (SHEE-D) continued in Zalingei, in two (2) schools in Khamsa Dagaig 
IDP Camp. Teachers and pupils were sensitized on the importance of hand 
washing in coordination with Global Hand Washing Day.

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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