Humanitarian Action in Darfur

Weekly Bulletin No. 16

22 May 2008

Population movements

 

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During the last week the International Organization for Migration (IOM) conducted the verification of 3,300 heads of

household (HH) of new arrivals at Zam Zam IDP Camp (North Darfur), who predominately come from Muhajaria in

South Darfur. The verification details will be cross checked against the first verification of the same group of IDPs

and the Registration database. Given the current security situation in Darfur following the Omdurman attacks,

activities are limited especially when they require movement.

Needs and response by sector

Education

North Darfur

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In collaboration with UNICEF, the State Ministry of Education (SMoE) released 60 desks and benches, 14

blackboards, 525 girls school uniforms, and 72 metal poles — the for construction of four semi-permanent

classrooms in the girls school in Abu Deleik — benefiting 1,191 school children.

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With UNICEF support, the SMoE contracted three women’s groups — which train and employ IDP women and

adolescents — in the tailoring of over 8,000 girls’ school uniforms as a strategy to empower women in livelihood

activities as well as in education.

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In collaboration with UNICEF, the SMoE is currently conducting training for 100 headmasters in rural schools on

child friendly schools management, including early childhood development services and psychosocial support

services in basic schools.

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The SMoE disabled department — with support from UNICEF — completed the training of 50 teachers (from El

Fasher town and the IDP Camps, Dar Elsalam, El Fasher rural, Mallit, Tina, Kaleimando, Um Baru, Tawilla, Korma

and El Sereaf localities) in teaching and caring for children with special needs.

South Darfur

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On 14 May, the SMoE in south Darfur announced the 2008 grade eight examination results, which UNICEF

supported with the cost of 2,000 IDP students examination fees.

West Darfur

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UNICEF provided the SMoH nomadic section, with 700 sitting mats, 50 boxes of chalk, 155 classroom kits, and 250

pupil kit Grade 1-4 for the early dispatch to remote localities (Garcella, Mukjar and Um Dukun) so as to avoid

transportation difficulties during the rainy season.

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UNICEF released 210 roles of cloth, 60 plastic sheets and, 130 sitting mats to Solidarites benefiting 9,050 children

in Nertiti (Jabal Marra).

Food Security and Livelihoods

North Darfur

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Oxfam distributed 2,500 goats and 50,000 kilograms of animal fodder to 500 IDP households in Kabkabiya town.

All of the goats were vaccinated against pox and other diseases.

West Darfur

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UNHCR, in discussion with UNFPA, plans to construct a small shelter for the hand grinding mill in Abuzar II IDP

Camp.

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In Mornei, UNHCR continued to assist refugee patients — referred from Um Shalaya — with food assistance. For

those who were referred to El Geneina, assistance with transportation was provided. In total, four patients were

referred to El Geneina while three were treated locally in Mornei.

Key overall developments

According to UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, Hilde Johnson, in a press briefing held on Wednesday 21 March,

“Humanitarian space and access are being challenged by increased attacks on aid agencies and staff, and theft of

supplies and equipment. These attacks serve only to worsen the condition of Darfurians. For example, the hijacking

of the North Darfur State Water Corporation’s drilling rig by an armed group in March means that 180,000 people

may not have access to clean water this year. We call on all parties to respect humanitarian principles.”

Health and Nutrition

North Darfur

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Oxfam carried out a series of new clean-up campaigns in Abu Shouk IDP Camp, mobilising nearly 6,000 women,

children and men from the camp.

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In Kabkabiya IDP Camp, Oxfam distributed 3,518 jerry cans to 1,759 newly arrived households (two jerry cans per

household).

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The World Health Organization (WHO) provided insecticides — as well as well as tools and equipment — to the State

Ministry of Health (SMoH)’s malaria control programme, for larva and adult mosquito control in preparation for the

rainy season. Distribution will take place in IDP camps in El Fasher locality and to the El Fasher teaching hospital for

environmental health activities.

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WHO — with the support of he European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) — provided technical

support and laboratory supplies to El Fasher Teaching hospital and Maternity hospital.

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WHO in collaboration with the SMoH, UNICEF and other partners have started to conduct the mapping of all

functional hand dug wells.

South Darfur

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WHO conducted a rapid assessment on solid waste management and water quality in Nyala Teaching Hospital.

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In collaboration with the SMoH and NGOs, WHO completed resource mapping for the acute water diarrhoea (AWD)

Preparedness and Response Plan for 2008.

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WHO — in collaboration with Medecins Sans Frontieres-Holland (MSF-H) and Humedica — have designated oral

rehydration therapy (ORT) corners and rehabilitated the cholera treatment centre in Kalma and El Salam IDP

Camps. The training of 10 health staff on surveillance, case definition and management of epidemic prone disease,

as well as sample collection and transport has taken place at the Nurley Heath Center.

West Darfur

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WHO — with support received from ECHO — has donated essential drugs and supplies to El Geneina and Zalingei

hospitals in preparation for the rainy season. Donations for other hospitals are in process.

Non-Food Items (NFIs)

West Darfur

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In Riyad IDP Camp, the Office for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in El Geneina

provided NFIs to two new mothers who were widowed and had no social support ties within the community.

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On 7 April, UNHCR in Mornei visited Sisi IDP Camp with the NGO CONCERN and undertook an assessment following

the 27 March fire that affected 43 families in the camp. Blankets, tarpaulins, jerry can, clothes and cooking sets

were distributed. Fire awareness and prevention sessions were also conducted.

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UNHCR in Mukjar has undertaken NFI support with kitchen sets etc for all new refugee registrations as well as for

the homes that were damaged by fires in Bindisi.

Protection and Human Rights

North Darfur

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Oxfam trained 645 women in Kabkabiya on how to manufacture fuel efficient stoves that would cut down on the

amount of wood that women need to gather.

West Darfur

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During the reporting period UNHCR – in collaboration with the Zalingei Fire Department – conducted two training

workshops on fire risks, prevention and response in Zalingei for local INGO staff.

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According to UNHCR, 94 new arrivals from Chad were registered in Um Shalaya during April.

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UNHCR teams completed Extremely Vulnerable Individuals (EVI) identification in several villages south of Habila —

including Goz Hariya, Sala, Eyur, and Mangarsa — in preparation for the upcoming NFI distribution, while Intersos

teams completed EVI identification in areas west of Habila.

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UNHCR – in collaboration with UNICEF – conducted two workshops on psychosocial support for women and children

affected by armed conflict. The first workshop was held at UNHCR in Mukjar on 13-14 April. The twenty-four

participants who attended were primarily community health workers, nurses and mid wives. The second workshop

involved 31 participants and was conducted in the Garsila locality from 16-17 April.

Water and Sanitation

North Darfur

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In Shangil Tobayi, Oxfam has recently repaired or replaced 70 water point taps, constructed 27 new latrines, and

built 10 new bathing units.

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In Abu Shouk IDP Camp, UNICEF supported IDPs to repair three hand pumps. UNICEF also continued providing

chlorinated water supplies for 55,904 IDPs through the operation and management of 29 hand pumps and five

motorized systems and mobilized camp based hygiene promoters to conduct 1,087 household visits and to clean

3,927 jerry cans in the camp.

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In As Salaam IDP Camp, UNICEF continued providing chlorinated water supplies for 18,500 persons through the

operation and management of 17 hand pumps and two motorized systems.

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In El Fasher rural areas, the State Water Corporation (SWC) – with UNICEF support – trained seven water yard

technicians on the operation and management of submersible pumps and generators. UNICEF also provided

support to the rural communities to rehabilitate 18 hand pumps

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UNICEF supported IDP hand pump technicians to repair four hand pumps in Kassab IDP Camp.

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In collaboration with sector partners, UNICEF mobilized the local community to conduct one garbage collection and

disposal campaign in Kassab IDP Camp.

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UNICEF mobilized IDPs to conduct a garbage collection campaign and to clean 1,750 latrines In Zam Zam IDP

Camp.

South Darfur

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The SWC — with support from UNICEF — is continuing the routine operation and maintenance of 30 motorized water

schemes located in Kalma, Otash, Mossei, Kass, Al Salam, Al Neem, Khor Omar and Al Ferdous IDP Camps. All

operation and maintenance activities are carried out by trained IDP community staff.

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The SWC — with support from UNICEF — is continuing chlorination activities for all water supplied by motorized

system to improve access and quality to safe drinking water.

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The drilling of 50 wells by UNICEF has been completed in East Jabal Mara. Once all hand pump installations are

completed, the system is believed to benefit 20,000 individuals.

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In Mossei IDP Camp, the SWC — with support from UNICEF — conducted two general cleaning up campaigns with 65

participants.

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In Otash IDP Camp, the SWC — with financial support from UNICEF — conducted three water dialogues on better

handling of drinking water.

West Darfur

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UNICEF drilled seven boreholes (three in Grsila, three in Nertiti and one in Hajar Abiat). Water samples have been

sent Geneina for analysis. Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) also drilled two boreholes in Nertiti.

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UNICEF rehabilitated six hand pumps (four in Nertiti, one in Tadamon Damra, and one In Garsilla) to provide water

supply for 3,000 people.

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The SMoH — with UNICEF support — chlorinated eight open dug wells in Zalingei town providing safe water to

16,000 people.

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NCA rehabilitated five hand pumps (two in Terij, two in Kanon and one in Zalingei) to provide safe drinking water for

2,500 people.

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UNICEF supported access to improved water sources for 52,000 beneficiaries through the operation and

maintenance of 17 motorized water schemes in west Darfur.

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The SMoH removed three tons of solid waste out of Zalingei town which will help prevent environmentally related

diseases for 450 households in Zalingei.

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UNICEF conducted three hygiene campaigns in Dorti and Ardamata IDP Camps benefiting 1,881 households.

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NCA conducted three cleaning campaign in Abata, Tamar, and Androw, benefiting 630 households.