Date: Wed, 2 Aug 95 08:31:08 EDT
From: incident@vita.org (Disaster Information Administrator)
To: event@vita.org
Subject: Sudan: Civil OFDA-03
U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
SUDAN - Civil Strife/Displaced Persons
Situation Report #3, Fiscal Year (FY) 1995 July 31, 1995
Background
Fighting began in 1983 between the Government of Sudan (GOS) and
the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) when the southern-based
rebels demanded more influence in the government and protested
the GOS efforts to "Islamize" the Christian and animist south.
In 1991, the SPLA split into factions, and intensified fighting
between the SPLA factions erupted in areas of the south.
Civilians throughout the south and the transitional zone (the
area of southern Darfur, southern Kordofan, northern Bahr el
Ghazal, and the northern Upper Nile States) are directly affected
by aerial bombings by the GOS and forced relocations due to
fighting. Ongoing insecurity and population displacement in the
south and the transitional zone, as well as near Khartoum, have
not only interrupted or destroyed most of the indigenous trading
and productive systems, but have also been a major impediment to
relief efforts. The United Nations (U.N.) and numerous
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) within and outside the
framework of Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) are delivering relief
assistance by airlifts, airdrops, barges, trains, and truck
convoys. In more secure areas of southern Sudan, efforts to
rehabilitate and restore self-sufficiency have begun.
Numbers Affected
According to U.N. assessments carried out in late 1994, an
estimated 4.25 million war-affected Sudanese will require some
form of relief assistance, including 3.6 million in southern
Sudan, 350,000 in the transitional zone, and 300,000 in camps
outside of Khartoum. As a result of an improved food security
situation, the numbers of Sudanese requiring food assistance in
1995 is approximately 1.1 million: 720,000 displaced/affected
in southern Sudan; 95,000 displaced in the transitional zone; and
240,000 displaced in the camps outside of Khartoum. Sudanese are
continuing to flee from southern Sudan because of insecurity and
civil strife. Currently, there are an estimated 553,000 Sudanese
refugees: 26,000 in the Central African Republic; 330,000 in
Uganda; 50,000 in Ethiopia; 118,000 in Zaire; and 29,000 in
Kenya. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR), as of March 1995, Sudan hosted an estimated
600,000 refugees: 400,000 from Eritrea and 200,000 from
Ethiopia. UNHCR estimated that over the course of 1995, 50,000
Eritrean and 50,000 Ethiopian refugees will be voluntarily
repatriated. By June 8, over 24,000 Eritreans had been
repatriated under UNHCR's pilot repatriation project. An
additional 100,000 Eritreans were scheduled to return to their
country between September 1995 and August 1996. Repatriation of
the Ethiopian refugees is moving very slowly.
Total U.S. Government (USG) Assistance for
Fiscal Year 1995 (to date) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$41,982,803
Current Situation
The GOS has imposed severe new restrictions on Operation Lifeline
Sudan (OLS) relief deliveries for southern Sudan, including
barring C-130 flights. The C-130 is the principal aircraft used
to deliver relief supplies. In addition, the GOS has told donors
that the headquarters for OLS southern Sudan should be moved
from Lokichokio, Kenya, to Sudan. Donors have strongly protested
both steps. The GOS has also banned the head of OLS southern
Sudan from traveling in Sudan. A complete review and assessment
of OLS is scheduled to take place in the fall.
The second cease fire brokered by former U.S. President Jimmy
Carter will expire at the end of July. Former President Carter
traveled to Sudan July 19-23 where he obtained informal
agreement to extend the cease fire for several weeks. Although
the cease fire is holding in many areas, localized fighting
continues in southern Sudan. Bahr el Ghazal has been
particularly problematic. Militias and SPLA troops continue to
engage in skirmishes while NGOs complain of harassment by local
authorities and militias.
At the end of May, the GOS took captive two Italian relief
workers and a Sudanese (an SPLA official) who flew to Pariang, in
Upper Nile, without authorization. In return, the SPLA took
three WFP staff and two GOS officials hostage in Chukudum, in
Eastern Equatoria. The GOS released the Sudanese in early July
and the two Italian doctors on July 18. The SPLA subsequently
released all five of its captives a few days later.
Insecurity along the border with Uganda has disrupted relief
deliveries. A few NGOs have continued to work in the area, but
most NGOs and UN agencies have temporarily halted operations
along the Gulu-Aroya-Moyo corridor. In both June and July,
relief activities around Akobo, in Jonglei, were temporarily
disrupted due to reported militia activity.
Last year's harvests were reported to be the best in five years
in many areas of Sudan, especially in Eastern and Western
Equatoria and in northern Sudan. The good harvests caused a
significant drop in World Food Program (WFP) planning figures for
food aid beneficiaries in early 1995. The surplus from last year
should enable many areas to get through the dry season, which has
brought harsh conditions to southeastern Sudan, and in particular
to Jonglei, where Akobo, Waat, and Ayod are experiencing drought
conditions.
Political/Military Situation
A limited cease fire was negotiated by former President Carter to
permit a guinea worm eradication program in areas contested
between the GOS and the SPLA. In late May, in a violation of the
cease fire, the GOS attacked and captured Pariang, a town in
Upper Nile. Nonetheless, the cease fire has been extended
unofficially and will probably expire in late September.
On May 16, the GOS arrested Sadiq el Mahdi, former prime minister
of Sudan, and head of the opposition Umma Party. Mr. El Mahdi is
still in the custody of the GOS, which has not filed any official
charges against him.
In June, the national Eritrean political party hosted a meeting
of the Sudanese opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in
Asmara. The meeting united members of several different
opposition groups who agreed to a new leadership structure for
the NDA and to a five-point strategy for the future of Sudan.
The Eritrean Government broke off diplomatic relations with the
GOS in December 1994, but relations between the Government of
Eritrea and the GOS continue to deteriorate.
Relations between Egypt and the GOS have also markedly
deteriorated in recent weeks. Following the June 26
assassination attempt on Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak,
Egyptian officials accused the Sudanese government of involvement
in the attempt. There have been skirmishes between Egyptian
military forces and Sudanese police in the disputed border area
of Hala'ib. Diplomatic relations have also soured; among other
incidents, both Egyptian officials in Khartoum and Sudanese
officials in Cairo have been attacked and beaten in recent weeks
and the diplomatic corps in both capitals have been reduced to
very small numbers.
Considerable tensions remain along the Sudan-Uganda border.
Uganda broke off diplomatic relations with the GOS in April 1995
Relief Efforts
Relief efforts continue to be hampered by insecurity in several
areas of Sudan. There is increased concern particularly
regarding the safety of humanitarian relief planes in southern
Sudan.
Since May, the Sudanese Government has been progressively
restricting OLS southern Sudan operations. In early May, the GOS
barred the UN from flying to 12 locations: Maiwut, Pariang,
Pagak, Mayen Abun, Akon, Lietnam, Chukudum, Ikotos, Boma, Pakok,
and Nimule. The ban persisted throughout May and was accompanied
by increasing GOS rigidity regarding any deviation from the
flight schedule established each month for the following month.
In June, the GOS lifted the ban on flights to Mayen Abun, Akon,
Kongor, and Lietnam, but insisted that UN flights to these sites
must go through Khartoum, while ICRC flights would have to go
through Juba. This demand effectively cancelled the flights
because of the complications involved in establishing the new
routes.
In July, the GOS once again banned flights into several locations
(Chukudum, Bomo, Ikotos, Nimule, Pakak, and Mongala) and rerouted
other flights so that they would have to originate from Sudan and
not Kenya. The GOS also banned the use of C-130 aircraft for
transport of relief supplies. The C-130s carry 89-100 per cent
of all food transported to southern Sudan, and are especially
critical during the rainy season which is now beginning. As all
of these restrictions
are in violation of the agreements signed by the UN, the GOS, and
the SPLA, the donor community has strongly protested the GOS
position. As of mid-July, the aircraft were still flying despite
the GOS ruling; however, the Belgian government has temporarily
withdrawn its C-130 from OLS South and the UN has announced its
intention to stop flying.
For over a year, WFP in Southern Sudan has been experimenting
with a new approach to estimating food needs and to targeting
food aid. The food economy model for needs assessments involves
a more comprehensive evaluation of a community's food resources,
its coping mechanisms, and its economic strategies. On the
targeting and distribution side, WFP organizes community based
relief committees, generally comprising 13 members (7 women and 6
men) who are responsible for setting eligibility criteria and for
organizing food distributions. Field observers report that the
new assessment, targeting, and distribution systems have enabled
led to significant decreases in relief deliveries.
These more accurate targeting techniques have enabled WFP to
lower estimates for cereal requirements for FY 1995 for southern
Sudan from 21,557 MT to 15,911 MT. In April, May, and June a
total of 6,394 MT was delivered by air to locations in southern
Sudan, while 1,963 was delivered by road. To date, WFP has
delivered a total of 5,300 MT of food by barge to locations in
southern Sudan in FY 1995. A seventh barge was scheduled to make
3,600 MT of food deliveries along the Juba-Adok corridor in July.
Surpluses from last year's harvest have provided a cushion
against a bad season in many areas. Nonetheless there is growing
concern about a belt extending from Upper Nile down through
Eastern Equatoria into Kenya. Rainfall in June and July has been
far below average and maize and sorghum plantings have already
been adversely affected. If the drought continues, it could bring
serious crop failure.
The European Union (EU) announced a six month extension, until
the beginning of 1996, of air transport services sponsored by the
EU Humanitarian Aid Office. The additional funds will pay for
transportation of relief supplies between Nairobi and Lokichokio,
and Lokichokio and southern Sudan.
NGOs continue to have difficulties carrying out relief activities
in northern Sudan. In Khartoum, the Federal Ministry of Social
Planning had indicated an interest in meeting with NGOs and had
promised a new policy paper on treatment of NGOs. Neither
initiative has been realized, and donors believe that the GOS is,
if anything, dealing more harshly with NGOs, the ICRC, and UN
agencies.
Situation by Region
The South
Equatoria
Security difficulties persist in Equatoria.
In Juba, the GOS has further restricted the movement of
expatriates from ICRC, the UN, and NGOs, and has recently decided
that expatriates can no longer use Juba to exit Sudan, but
instead must go through Khartoum. Relief workers may only travel
between their living quarters and their places of work, and must
get permits to go to outlying villages. Food conditions in Juba
are worsening and there are reports that people have died from
consuming treated seed meant for planting.
After the February SPLA/M raid on Labone, NGOs returned to the
two displaced persons camps in March to reestablish relief operations. In late June, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) workers
were attacked by SPLA soldiers when they attempted to stop the
diversion to Uganda of a CRS truck carrying 7-8 MT of vegoil and
sorghum. In response, CRS shut down operations in Labone until
August and reduced the rations going to Labone because of
continuing diversions. In addition, CRS demanded that the SPLA
commit itself to preventing such diversions before CRS will
reopen its trucking operations.
Relief activity along the corridor from northern Uganda to
southern Sudan has slowed considerably as a result of increasing
security incidents on both sides of the border. The insecurity
has disrupted delivery of relief supplies to Mangalatore
displaced persons (DP) camp. American Refugee Committee (ARC)
will undertake a nutritional survey in Mangalatore in the coming
weeks.
Norwegian Peoples' Aid staff report that thousands of Dinka are
leaving Mundri area camps in Western Equatoria and heading home
to Bor county, and that they need assistance.
Upper Nile
The SPLA/United (SPLA/U), headed by Lam Akol hijacked a WFP barge
on May 8, taking several hostages, and stealing all the personal
property of the crew and passengers, the food, and the UNICEF
seeds and tools on board. The SPLA/U claimed that the barge was
passing through its territory without proper notification and
that therefore it was entitled to take the barge. The SPLA also
complained that the UN was not delivering food to its area, and
that it was entitled to the same treatment as the relief arms of
the SPLM and the SSIM.
UN officials viewed the hijacking of the boat as primarily an
effort by the SPLA/U to gain more political power. UN
representatives told the SPLA/U that it would have to return the
personal and relief items it had stolen, and provide assurance
that the food had been distributed to needy people. In addition,
the UN representatives said that they would try to notify the
SPLA/U of barge movements in the future, and that they would
ensure that the needs of the population in SPLA/U territory were
being met. The UN refused to give the SPLA/U funding to start a
relief agency, or to give in to other SPLA/U demands.
In June, relief workers were evacuated from Akobo, Ayod, Waat,
and Yuai due to insecurity following cattle raids and skirmishes.
In July, the murder of a senior SPLA commander by militia
soldiers led to another evacuation.
Bahr el Ghazal
In June, a GOS supply train was attacked by SPLA near Wau. This
incident provoked a round of fighting that compelled relief
workers to temporarily evacuate the area. Save the Children UK
suspended its operations in northern Bahr el Ghazal in June and
early July due to difficulties with both local authorities and
troops. As of mid-July, SCF/UK was negotiating new ground rules
for its activities with the SPLM authorities.
In contrast to its neighbors to the East, Bahr el Ghazal got
relatively good rains in June and July. Field observers predict
a good harvest if farmers can harvest their crops without
worrying about fighting interrupting them.
Transition Zone
South Kordofan
In May, the South Kordofan Government returned 1,300 MT of food
commodities to SCF/US in exchange for 766 MT of food that had
been stolen in February by the South Kordofan Peace and
Resettlement Agency (PRA). The South Kordofan authorities agreed
to provide SCF/US with a total of 1,600 MT of food, the
equivalent in current market value of the food which had been
stolen. Although the South Kordofan Government took several weeks
to return the food, both it and the GOS showed an unusual degree
of cooperation in helping SCF/US recover the food.
UNICEF has reported an outbreak of measles in DP settlements in
South Kordofan. According to UNICEF, over 80 children have died
and over 300 cases have been observed.
South Darfur
In May, WFP allocated approximately 1,500 MT of food to SCF/UK
for distribution in the Ed Daein camps. This was the first batch
of the 3,790 MT of food that WFP will provide SCF/UK for
distribution in the Ed Daein area over the rainy season from June
to September. SCF/UK is also distributing 1,000 MT of groundnut
seed to farmers among the displaced. The seed is being provided
with the expectation that recipient farmers will return an equal
amount of seed after the harvest. SCF is allocating drug kits to
health centers in local villages. The kits are to be used by
both displaced and the local community and the displaced.
Malaria and diarrhea are the most common diseases in the camp.
OXFAM/UK is putting boreholes in all the camps where water
facilities are considered insufficient. When the boreholes are
completed, OXFAM will leave.
Over 73,000 people currently live in the ten DP camps that are
located in the Ed Daein region in south Darfur. Local
authorities would like the DPs either to leave Ed Daein or to
integrate with their hosts. Local authorities have suggested
that relief may be terminated at the end of the 1995 growing
season; the DPs say they will not go home unless there is
permanent peace
Over the last two months, the Ed Daein camps have reported a
mysterious illness that causes swelling of the legs and neck and
often leads to death. In one camp, 60 people were reported to
have died in 6 weeks. NGOs have been trying to get into the
camps to conduct an assessment, but have met with resistance from
the GOS.
The North
Khartoum
The GOS continues extensive demolition campaigns in the displaced
camps in the Khartoum area. As a result, the displaced camps Dar
al Salam and Jebel Aulia are growing. The influx is straining
the limited health and nutrition services provided by local and
international NGOs. Dar al Salam is located at a distance of 40
kilometers from Khartoum, where there is little access to food,
water, education, markets, and other services. Relocations
impact the ability of the displaced to earn an income because
they are resettled at a distance from Khartoum. The USG has
condemned the demolition campaigns, but more demolitions are
expected since the Minister of Housing announced in December his
intention to remove all unplanned settlements in Khartoum. The
GOS has recently raised fuel prices significantly. The price
hike will cause NGOs working in northern Sudan more hardship as
truks are a more important means of transport there than in the
south.
The Jebel Aulia camp is located in an open area, making it
particularly vulnerable during the rainy season. An early storm
struck the camp on June 9, destroying houses, damaging health
clinics, schools and workshops. Several people were injured. A
recent assessment performed by Adventist Development and Relief
Agency International (ADRA) showed that malnutrition has
increased in the camp over the last four years, despite an
ongoing food aid program. The malnutrition is due to a number of
factors, including political constraints and environmental
conditions. Residents urgently need ways to generate income and
cash.
A recent assessment by an International Rescue Committee (IRC)
team of the DP camp at En Nahud suggested that conditions in the
camp had much improved since the beginning of the year. In
particular, monitoring of feeding programs, camp management and
health care have all gotten better. A shortage of anti-
tubercular drugs has been rectified, but the assessment team
called for better TB diagnosis and follow-up procedures. The
team also recommended that an evaluation of the feeding program
be conducted. There are an estimated 7,500 persons in the camp.
Assistance Provided by the U.S. Government
On October 1, 1994, U.S. Ambassador Donald Petterson renewed the
civil strife/displaced persons disaster in Sudan, determining
that USG relief assistance would be needed for FY 1995. Thus
far in FY 1995, the USG has provided $41,982,803 in relief
assistance. USG relief assistance to Sudan is provided through
USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, USAID's
Office of Food for Peace (FFP), and the State Department's Bureau
for Population, Refugee, and Migration (PRM).
Two BHR/OFDA personal services contractors (PSCs) work in
Khartoum and in the Sudan Field Office in Nairobi, Kenya. The
PSCs monitor and coordinate the distribution activities of WFP,
OLS, other NGOs, and international donors, and report on
humanitarian relief issues.
Summary of USG Assistance FY 1995 (to date)
OFDA Assistance
OFDA plans to make several million dollars worth of grants to
NGOs active in Sudan over the next several weeks. OFDA has
already provided funds to support the following activities in FY
1995:
Program Support (e.g., personnel,
equipment, etc.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $575,059
Medicins Sans Frontiers (MSF)/Belgium in Bahr el
Ghazal to reduce severe malnutrition . . . . . . . . . . $498,260
MSF/France to support an ongoing nutritional
program in Bahr el Ghazal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $184,582
World Vision International and Sudan Protection
Aid to support implementation of household food
security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $207,851
SCF/UK for emergency kits for displaced in
southern Sudan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $500,000
SCF/US for food security in southern Kordofan. . . . . $1,475,430
Lutheran World Federation to rehabilitate roads
in southern Sudan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,516,213
NPA for food security and food delivery in
southern Sudan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,198,600
Action International Contre le Faim (AICF) for
a health care program in Juba . . . . . . . . . . . . . $960,229
AICF for an emergency medical and nutrition
project in Eastern Equatoria. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . $599,494
International Rescue Committee for a health
program in Upper Nile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $465,657
CARE for a food security and economic
self-sufficiency project in western Equatoria. . . . . . $502,064
Catholic Relief Services for food security projects
and food distribution in eastern Equatoria . . . . . . $1,080,489
WFP for food monitoring in southern Sudan. . . . . . . . $704,600
American Refugee Committee for emergency health
in Equatoria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $485,275
Total OFDA Assistance FY95 (to date) . . . . . . . . .$11,953,803
FFP Assistance
For FY 1995, FFP has contributed 58,585 MT of emergency food with
funding for its ocean shipment and internal transportation,
storage, and handling and funding to Adventist Development and
Relief Agency, CRS, NPA, SCF, and WFP. . . . . . . . .$30,029,000
Total FFP Assistance FY95. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$30,029,000
PRM Assistance
In FY 1995, PRM has contributed $44 million to UNHCR's 1995
General Program for Africa. This program includes assistance to
Sudanese refugees and conflict victims. PRM also contributed
$5.6 million to WFP, a portion of which will be used for the
Sudan and for Sudanese refugees.
Total USG Assistance FY95 (to date). . . . . . . . . .$41,982,803
Total USG Assistance from FY 92 - 95 (to date)
FY 1992. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $60,206,109
FY 1993. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $99,694,752
FY 1994. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$94,805,537
FY 1995 (to date). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$41,982,803
Total FY 1992 - 1995 (to date) . . . . . . . . . . . $296,689,201
___________________________________________
Nan Borton
Director
Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance
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