U N I T E D   N A T I O N S
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network for Central and Eastern Africa

Tel: +254 2 622147
Fax: +254 2 622129
e-mail: irin@ocha.unon.org


HORN OF AFRICA
IRIN-HOA Weekly Round-Up 377
19 - 25 May 2007


CONTENTS:

SUDAN: Risk of health crisis in impoverished south
SUDAN: Census delayed but politically 'critical'
SUDAN: Growing anger over elusive peace dividend in Southern Sudan
SUDAN: Fresh clashes in Darfur blamed on government
SOMALIA: Economic pressures rising with influx of IDPs
ERITREA: War displaced families resettled, says government


ALSO SEE:

SUDAN: Funding fails to meet humanitarian needs
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=72293

ETHIOPIA: New programme boosts village health service delivery
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=72371


SUDAN: Risk of health crisis in impoverished south

The increased movement of people within Southern Sudan, including the 
return of hundreds of thousands of former refugees and internally 
displaced persons, could create a public health crisis across the 
impoverished region, a humanitarian official has warned.

"[The year] 2006 saw huge cholera outbreaks that affected all 10 states 
in Southern Sudan," said Nicolas Louis, technical adviser with the 
European Commission's Humanitarian Office, which has set up a permanent 
office in the capital, Juba, to help address rising humanitarian needs 
during the transition period.

He said ECHO had set aside 24.7 million Euros (US$33.2 million) to be 
disbursed as grants to fund various humanitarian needs in Southern Sudan 
in 2007. Priority sectors include healthcare, food security, water and 
sanitation and security.

Full report
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=72347


SUDAN: Census delayed but politically 'critical'

A key milestone in Sudan's north-south peace process is the census, 
planned for November this year, but continuing logistical and political 
complications may lead to further delays, observers say.

The results of a 'pilot census', conducted in April, are being discussed 
by a technical committee, which includes the northern and southern 
institutions in charge, the Central Bureau of Statistics and the 
Southern Sudan Commission for Census, Statistics and Evaluation.

Technical procedures, the timetable and a review of a politically 
sensitive question about origin will be reconsidered.

Full report
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=72348


SUDAN: Growing anger over elusive peace dividend in Southern Sudan

Anthony Bol Madut, governor of Warrap state in Southern Sudan, could not 
hide his frustration when he met representatives of European donors on a 
visit to the remote poverty-stricken region.

"People are dying of cholera in Gogrial and we do not even have roads to 
take medicines to them," said Madut, emphasising what he considers the 
neglect of Southern Sudan since the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. 
The accord formally ended civil war between the northern-based Sudanese 
government and former southern rebels of the Sudan People's Liberation 
Movement/Army.

Donors and the Sudanese government had promised to make available 
considerable resources to rebuild the south. There is, however, 
widespread anger in the region as people wait for what appears to be an 
elusive peace dividend.

Full report
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=72261


SUDAN: Fresh clashes in Darfur blamed on government

A Sudan Liberation Movement faction has blamed Sudanese government 
forces for fresh attacks on its positions in North Darfur, saying aerial 
bombardment had been employed against its fighters.

Sudanese government forces clashed with rebels over the weekend in the 
Rockero area of North Darfur state, the United Nations Mission in Sudan 
reported, adding that it was unable to estimate the number of casualties 
following the violence.

A spokesman for the faction, Jar Al Nabi Abdal Karim, said government 
forces had resumed attacks in the area, citing other incidents in Malam 
al Hosh and in the Jabal Moon region. At least five people died, he 
added.

Full report
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=72290


SOMALIA: Economic pressures rising with influx of IDPs

The Somali conflict has severely disrupted economic activities, 
increased competition for already overburdened social services and 
limited food availability for both host and displaced communities, an 
early warning agency has said.

Aid workers estimate that about 400,000 people have fled the capital, 
Mogadishu, since February to seek shelter in other regions of the 
country. As a result, many host communities have more than doubled in 
size.

"The conflict and displacement have severely disrupted economic 
activities, which is particularly [affecting] poor urban households that 
rely on petty trade and casual labour as their main sources of income," 
the Famine Early Warning Systems Network said in a joint statement with 
the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization/Food Security 
Analysis Unit.

Full report
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=72317


ERITREA: War displaced families resettled, says government

Several thousand families who were forced to abandon their homes during 
the 1998-2000 war between Eritrea and Ethiopia have returned to their 
home villages, the Eritrean government said.

According to a statement, more than 3,400 families returned to the 
Gash-Barka region, including 2,000 returnees from Golij, Tebeldiya, 
Gergef, Sabunait, Tessenei and other areas, who had been resettled in 
Omhajer, Ayterf and its surroundings.

Another 928 families from the Adi-Baare makeshift camp in Shambuko 
sub-zone returned to Binbina, Adi-Maelel and Tologumja, while 498 
families had returned to Anagulu, Barentu sub-zone. One thousand others, 
originally from the Gerset area, had also been resettled, the statement 
added.

Full report
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=72332


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