Sudan

On 12 October 1999, the Government of Sudan (GoS) and the Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) both announced separate unilateral 3-month extensions of the ceasefire covering parts of Southern Sudan. This took effect from 15 October. The low-level civil war, however, continues particularly around the oil fields. Large numbers of people continue to be displaced.

Southern Sudan, Non-Gos controlled areas (OLS Southern Sector)

Flight bans and insecurity, as a result of conflicts in parts of Unity, Western Upper Nile and Eastern Equatoria regions are creating an increasingly serious humanitarian situation as only very limited assistance has been provided to these areas. In other areas, including much of Bahr el Ghazal (BEG), the food security situation is improving, and is significantly better than in 1998. Previous issues of the RNIS have described improvements in the nutritional status of populations in BEG. Pockets of food insecurity and malnutrition do, however, still exist.

Unity State/Upper Nile/Jongelei/Equatoria

A combination of GOS flight bans, flight restrictions due to flooded airstrips and also insecurity, resulting from tribal conflicts in parts of Unity, Western Upper Nile and Eastern Equatoria regions, have prevented about 140,000 targeted beneficiaries from receiving urgently needed food assistance. A further 300,000 have not been able to receive basic health, water, sanitation and education services.

In September surveys were undertaken by MSF-B in Wanding and Akobo districts, Jongelei Province (see annex). The results of the surveys are summarised in the table below. No cases of oedema were reported in either location. Certain areas in Wanding District were only accessible by boat, which limited access by survey teams.

Results of nutritional assessments in Jongelei Province

Indicator		Wanding	Akobo
Wasting (<-2 z scores)		21.2%	17.0%
Severe wasting (<-3 z scores)		2.8%	2.0%
CMR (25/12/98 to 9/9/99)		2.7/10,000/day	2.0/10,000/day
Under-five mortality (25/12/98 to 9/9/99)		1.9/10,000/day	2.5/10,000/day
Measles vaccination status
	With card	1.5%	12.2%
	Without card	19.5%	61.7%
Food distribution in August		53.2%	68.7%

The results of the surveys show that the prevalence of malnutrition in these areas was still high in September. Compared to a survey in April of this year, however (when wasting was estimated at 33.4%), the situation has improved. The September survey was completed just after a harvest and a general food distribution. Maize, sorghum, pumpkins, melon, beans, wild fruits, goats and cattle were visible during the survey. The authors of the report suggested that much of the malnutrition seen was due to watery diarrhoea and hence was related to sanitation and poor hygiene. Access to health care was also considered a problem.

Bahr-el-Ghazal (BEG)

The WFP annual needs assessment has found that the outlook in most counties of BEG is more favourable than for the previous two years. People previously displaced by conflict and acute food insecurity have mostly returned home, and become agriculturally productive again. Grain, when available on the market, has generally been affordable for the majority of households and income-earning opportunities have increased in number and returns. Trade routes have opened up to the east as well as to the south (WFP-11/11/99a).

There have, however, been some constraints in all areas to enhancing food and livelihood security. There were not enough seeds for the full utilisation of areas cleared and pest attacks have reduced yields in some areas. More importantly though, has been the flooding in the lowland areas of northern BEG which began earlier than expected. Crops in some areas have been washed away and yields have certainly been reduced throughout. Security has also been problematic in some areas. Although most parts of the region have remained quiet, there have nevertheless been displacements away from the railway line and direct attacks on civilians in parts of northern BEG. These forced people away from their fields and have led to losses of livestock and other assets (WFP -11/11/99a).

Just over 40% of the population in BEG will still require emergency interventions of food aid in 2000. Aweil West and Gogrial Counties are the priorities for emergency food interventions. In Aweil West, the majority of farming households began this year with very little asset wealth and sorghum yields have been effectively reduced to only 20% of expected yields as a result of heavy flooding in the lowlands and heavy rains elsewhere. Compounding this problem has been the steady stream of returnees from northern areas into the county, who are currently estimated at 15% of the total population. WFP has warned that there is a very real danger of a serious decline in the nutritional status of the already weakened and impoverished population in this county. Food distribution targeting mechanisms need to be stepped up and more food is required in more distribution sites (WFP -11/11/99a).

Elsewhere in BEG, extensive floods have affected Gogrial County. In Tonj and Twic Counties, the food security outlook looks positive, although farmers do not yet possess the technical expertise necessary to market their products. In Wau County, production is low due to army worm attack, a dry spell, and insecurity in Marial Wau payam. Further south, in Yirol and Rumbek Counties, the low harvest may be depleted by IDPs in the new area. However, populations can cover their needs through livestock and exchange (OLS-11/99).

The situation in the Lakes Region of BEG is one of increasing stability, expanding livelihood options and market access, and in most cases very promising first season harvests. The only mitigating factor might be the resettlement of previously displaced Dinka from the ‘tit for tat’ raiding that occurred in the area since the Dinka-Nuer split in 1991. These people will have to clear land that has not been farmed for many years and may well need a variety of assistance. Emergency food distributions are not necessary and that support should instead be channelled through FFW schemes. These schemes should aim to help the resettlement of Dinka previously displaced from their home areas following the conflict with the Dinka that began in 1991, as well as building necessary infrastructure to enhance food security and marketing opportunities (WFP-11/11/99a).

Southern Sudan: GoS held areas (OLS Northern Sector)

Juba, Equatoria

Insecurity that prevented the mounting of barge convoys along the Juba corridor thus affecting over 300,000 beneficiaries in the Nile river basin, also meant that no barges have reached Juba (OLS, northern Sector) since May. Limited quantities of food are being airlifted to address the needs of the most vulnerable groups (WFP - 05/11/99, 26/11/99). The humanitarian situation in these areas could become acute if the flight ban is not lifted soon.

In Juba itself, however, the result of a general screening of vulnerable persons has revealed an 84% decrease in the total number of children who have been targeted for nutritional assistance since 1997. This result supports the results of a recent ACF-F study in the town in July (see RNIS 28) and suggests that the nutritional status of the population has improved (WFP -15/11/99).

Wau town

Preliminary findings of a nutritional survey conducted in Wau town by UNICEF indicate that the prevalence of wasting and/or oedema is below 10% for both the host and resident population. The report states, however, that the improvement can be attributed to food assistance, as the IDP’s coping mechanisms are severely restricted by ongoing insecurity (WFP - 15/11/99). This report is not yet available to the RNIS.

Northern Sudan

Khartoum

There continue to be nearly two million displaced southern Sudanese people in camps in and around Khartoum. Approximately 222,000 are living in four official I DP camps, while the remainder are settled in 15 main squatter areas. The ongoing civil war in the south, and to a lesser extent, recurrent drought and floods are the main causes of displacement. Most IDPs depend exclusively on their earning power as casual and domestic labourers, and petty traders to generate the income they require to purchase food. The majority of IDPs do manage to survive by depending on a combination of income and food sources, including food assistance. Approximately 13% of camp I DP food needs are met through WFP food assistance. Environmental conditions within the camps are reported to be poor (OLS, 11/99).

Targeted food assistance is provided to the most vulnerable IDPs whose dwellings on squatter land were demolished by the government in ongoing urban planning activities. This programme is co-ordinated by ADRA and WFP and reaches approximately 50,000 beneficiaries a month. In addition, WFP distributes food to NGOs operating supplementary feeding centres in I DP camps and squatter areas in Greater Khartoum (WFP - 04/11/99b).

ADRA’s supplementary feeding programmes are being scaled down in Khartoum and thus the role of WFP in this area is being redefined. However, the worst-affected camp, Mayo, which has a population of approximately 36,000 IDPs, has been identified as potentially needing assistance during the hunger gap in 2000, depending on needs assessment during this critical period (WFP -06/12/99).

No nutritional surveys have been conducted among the IDPs in Khartoum State during 1999. This marks a gap in information, as urban IDPs, who are totally dependent on unreliable casual labour as the source of their livelihood, are extremely vulnerable, and therefore require constant monitoring (WFP-06/12/99).

White Nile

The State Government is planning to survey the two displaced camps in Kosti with a view to resettling some of the 41,000 IDPs on alternative land. New IDPs from Upper Nile and Unity States arrived in Kosti in October. Agriculture and seasonal employment are the main survival mechanisms for the displaced and resident populations in squatter regions (OLS - 11/99). A committee has been formed to allocate 10,000 feddan of agricultural land to the IDPs in the camp (WFP - 04/11/99a, 15/11/99). The most recent survey of the nutritional status of the IDPs in these camps estimated the prevalence of wasting at 29.4% (see RNIS 27).

Transitional Zone

South Darfur

A high prevalence of wasting among the IDPs in the camps around Ed Daein was reported in RNIS 28. OLS now estimates that there will be a 45% food deficit for 40,000 IDPs, living in Ed Daein province, and a 55% deficit for the 13,500 IDPs living in Nyala province. OLS recommends a full ration during the hunger gap (May to September) and 50% rations for April and October for all these IDPs. Food will also be provided for a limited number of vulnerable persons in the host community. A pilot project to promote self-reliance is targeting 400 IDP families with food as part of an agricultural package (OLS - 11/99).

South Kordofan

Flood damage in Kadugli town resulted in the displacement of about 5,000 people. A joint UN/GoS/INGO team identified 1,789 persons to be in need of food aid. The criteria for selection of beneficiaries based on complete destruction of houses coupled with loss of food stocks and agricultural crops. A food-for-work project has been designed to clear canals in order to avoid future floods in Kadugli town. GoS and NGOs in the area provided shelter material to the recently displaced (WFP -11/11/99).

The OLS needs-assessment estimate 81,500 IDPs in South Kordofan (Abyei, An Nahud, Kadugli, Dilling and Greater Rashad) will require a 50% food ration during the hunger gap (May to August). Insecurity around the “peace villages” limits household farm size, and also limits access to wild food and trade. Over the years the ownership of livestock has decreased, partly as it is a liability as it attracts armed cattle raiders, This affects children’s access to milk and therefore their nutritional status. Despite the dangers, some 40% of the displaced own goats and 10% own cattle (OLS-11/99).

Nuba Mountains

The Nuba Mountains cover an area of roughly 30,000 square miles in South Kordofan State and have been a zone of conflict between GoS and SPLM since 1985. The SPLM control some 20% of South Kordofan in the mainly mountainous zones. The GoS controlled area contains most of the state’s urban centres, and also several areas of extensive rain-fed mechanised farming. An interagency mission to the Nuba Mountains took place in September/October of this year. The main findings are summarised below.

The Nuba Mountains were self-sufficient in terms of agriculture before the war, but during the past 10 years self-sufficiency has been eroded. The population has been driven from the fertile clay plains by insecurity and is currently cultivating lands in the mountains or in peripheral areas. Reduced to cultivating small crops, dependent on hand cultivation and with a chronic lack of agricultural inputs such as seeds, tools and fertilisers, few households are able to produce much more than 25% of their food needs. Livestock herds have been severely depleted, thus eliminating a traditional coping mechanism in poor crop seasons. Wild food collection was reported to be an important supplement to the population’s diet, especially in SPLM areas (UN-08/11/99).

No information on the anthropometric status of the population was given, although a very high incidence of goitre was reported. The mission determined that there is not a critical food shortage at the moment, although there will be a sizeable food deficit between May and September 2000 (UN-08/11/99).

There are large IDP populations in both GoS and SPLM controlled areas, although the populations are generally displaced over short distances. In SPLM areas this has usually been from fertile plains into the mountains. In these areas the IDPs do not appear to fare worse than the residents and they all have access to at least some land. In the GoS areas, there is a high concentration of IDPs on the periphery of towns and, in contrast to the rural IDPs, the urban IDPs are living in very poor conditions with little access to income generating activities and limited assistance from the humanitarian community (UN - 08/11/99).

Further findings included: very limited and inadequately supplied health facilities, particularly in SPLM areas, poor immunisation coverage and only a limited availability of clean water. Access is also a problem, as there are virtually no roads in the area (UN -11/11/99).

Red Sea State

The Red Sea/South Tokar region has been badly affected by conflict in recent years. The conflict has created massive displacement. OLS reports that the nutritional situation of the population remains fragile, and that it is expected that malnutrition will increase (OLS -11/99).

Refugees

UNHCR assisted 147.300 Eritrean and 12,000 Ethiopian refugees living in camps in eastern Sudan. An estimated 232,000 urban refugees also received limited assistance. A further 9,000 Ugandan and Congolese refugees live in southern Sudan. Arrangements to repatriate Eritrean and refugees have not materialised because of the Ethiopia-Eritrea border conflict, the prevailing state of relations between Sudan and Eritrea, and the “unwillingness” of Eritrea “to take back its nationals” according to the Secretary General’s report (IRIN-02/11/99).

No new information on the nutritional situation of these refugees is available. The most recent data (from June 1999) indicated that the nutritional situation of these refugees was satisfactory and that CMR and under-five mortality rates were acceptable (see RNIS 28).

Recommendations and Priorities:

In Southern Sudan:

· Just over 30% of the population will still need emergency interventions of food aid in the coming year as a result poor harvests, extensive and damaging flooding, drought and insecurity, all of which are localised. 16,729 MT of food aid is needed to combat hunger and ensure no further asset depletion. Aweil West and Gogrial Counties in Southern Sudan are the priorities for continued emergency interventions

· In addition, a further 7,787 MT is needed to ensure that the largely positive trends are reinforced so that longer-term food security can be attainable. This food should help promote agricultural activities as well as food-for-work schemes, support to education and health services, training programmes etc.

· Provide safe water to these populations in order to reduce the incidence of diarrhoeal diseases,

· Provide fishing equipment (fish were plentiful in the river but the population are currently unable to catch them).

· Monitor the nutritional situation closely and conduct a food security assessment.

· Conduct a nutritional survey or food security assessment among the IDPs outside Khartoum as soon as possible.

· Distribute iodised salt to prevent goitre.

· Provide food assistance next year during the “hunger-gap”.

· Expand and improve the health sector, particularly in the SPLM-controlled areas.

· Introduce micro-credit facilities to the region to increase levels of self-reliance.

· Improve roads to allow greater access to markets and increased trade and commerce.