Sudan
HIGHLIGHTS
ANALYSIS (1 hour ago)
Sudan Humanitarian Update, October 2022
HIGHLIGHTS
At least 258 people were killed, another 385 injured and more than 55,000 people displaced in parts of Blue Nile and West Kordofan due to inter-communal violence in October.
In Blue Nile, the latest wave of violence has displaced over 97,000 people from and within the state since July 2022.
Several security incidents affecting humanitarian organisations were reported from parts of Darfur and other states. Since January 2022, about 115 incidents affecting humanitarian action were reported.
The number of malaria cases surpassed the threshold levels in 12 states by October 2022.
Health ministry and humanitarian organisations are tackling the outbreaks of measles, dengue fever and Hepatitis E.
The 2022 Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) was 38 per cent funded as of 31 October 2022.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
An uptick of inter-communal violence during October resulted in civilian casualties and displacement in parts of the Blue Nile and Kordofan states. The latest estimates from IOM indicate that over 21,000 people were displaced from West Kordofan, and since July 2022 close to 100,000 people have been displaced from and within the Blue Nile. Since the beginning of 2022, about 265,273 people have been displaced, 829 people were killed and another 973 were injured due to inter-communal localized conflict and violence. Over the past month, several security incidents impacted humanitarian staff and operations, raising concerns about the safety of aid workers and humanitarian access in the field. The number of malaria cases in 2022 so far exceeded the total number of cases in 2021 and exceeded the threshold in 12 states. The outbreaks of communicable diseases are a significant concern, with health partners supporting the health authorities to tackle those outbreaks.
Inter-communal conflict in Blue Nile, West Kordofan and North Darfur
Inter-communal violence that spread into the Blue Nile’s Ar Rusyaris locality from Wad Al Mahi in July, renewed on 13 October in Dam town 6 (Village 6), leaving at least 359 people dead and another 469 injured, as of 28 October. There are also almost 12,700 reported cases of lost goods, livestock, and/or cattle, according to the International Organization for Migration Displacement Tracking Matrix (IOM DTM). According to unconfirmed reports the conflict renewed when two Hamaji people were killed near Dam Town 6 in Wad Al Mahi locality due to a dispute over land issues. This led to clashes between the Hausa community and other tribes in the Dam town areas (Dam towns 6 and 7) that lasted until 16 October. IOM reported that conflicts between members of Hausa and Funj (Hamaj) tribes spilt over to the Geisan locality between 24 and 26 October, with many Hausa IDPs from those locations reportedly escorted by security forces to Sennar and White Nile states. No fighting has been reported since 26 October and the security situation has improved. Most shops and markets are currently open in Ed Damazine town.
IOM reported that since the start of violence in July, about 97,100 IDPs (15,636 Households) had been displaced across Blue Nile (50.2 per cent), Sennar (29.8 per cent), White Nile (13.8 per cent), Al Jazirah (3.4 per cent), Gedaref (2.2 per cent), Khartoum (0.5 per cent), and Red Sea (0.1 per cent) states. The IDP caseload was originally displaced from Ar Rusayris (53.9 per cent), Wad Al Mahi (20.6 per cent), Geisan (19.1 per cent), and Ed Damazine (6.4 per cent) localities in Blue Nile. IOM field teams indicate that IDPs within the Blue Nile state are largely of Hausa origin, with a notable proportion of the caseload being of Jabalaween, Fallatah, Berta, Hamaj, and Ragareeg origin. The IDP caseload located in the remaining states are of Hausa origin.
On 27 October 2022, an inter-agency needs assessment was carried out at 10 schools in Ar Rusayris locality and Ed Damazine town hosting an estimated 34,000 new IDPs. About 3,600 IDPs received non-food relief items, hygiene and sanitation supplies, while 11,370 IDPs had access to safe water from the piped water network at some schools.
In West Kordofan, about 21,000 people fled their homes in the Al Lagowa locality and were displaced to 25 locations in West Kordofan and South Kordofan between 4-18 October, IOM reports. The displaced people sought shelter in Al Lagowa (47 per cent) and Keilak (4 per cent) localities in West Kordofan, Kadugli (29 per cent) and Dilling (15 per cent) localities in South Kordofan, and Sheikan (5 per cent) locality in North Kordofan. IOM received unverified reports of approximately 15,000 people (3,000 families) displaced into the mountains, about 10 km east of Al Lagowa town. Field teams will assess the needs of affected people in these areas once the security situation allows.
Furthermore, there are unverified reports that an additional estimated 3,000 people moved to Aj Jazirah and Khartoum states. DTM field teams estimate that, in triangulation with other sources, at least 58 people were killed with a further 89 sustained injuries. A total of 7,148 cases of lost goods, livestock, and/or cattle have been reported.
In North Darfur, tensions between security forces and community leaders in Sortony IDP camp, North Darfur State escalated in and around the wider Sortony area in Kebkabiya locality between 2 – 3 October. In response to the heightened tensions, field teams report that from 4 October 2022, an estimated 5,000 people fled from Sortony IDP camp and were displaced to Kaguro, Owry, Tagous, and Bureh in Kebkabiya locality, North Darfur, and to Barri, Aro, Fala, and Solow in Shamal Jabal Marrah locality, Central Darfur. There have been no reports of deaths or injuries. The area is currently not accessible to humanitarian organizations.
Overall, since the beginning of 2022, an estimated 265,273 people across the country have been displaced due to localized conflict and insecurity. In addition, 829 people were killed, and another 973 were injured. The majority of the displaced are in Blue Nile (97,094), West Darfur (93779), South Darfur (24,176) and North Darfur (14,733). In addition, between January and October 2022, 115 security incidents impacting the United Nations and non-governmental organizations were reported across the country, including armed attacks, bodily assault, break-ins, robbery, and verbal harassment.
Increase in criminal incidents affecting humanitarian action
Several security incidents that impacted humanitarian organizations and their operations and other incidents were reported in parts of Darfur and other areas over the past month.
Security incidents in West Darfur
On 6 October, four armed perpetrators ambushed a vehicle rented by an international NGO. They robbed the staff of their mobile phones and cash in Sirba locality, about 45 km north of Ag Geneina town, West Darfur.
On 9 October, five armed perpetrators ambushed three vehicles rented by an international NGO. They robbed the staff and drivers of their mobile phones and cash, 10 km north of Habila town (about 91 km south of Ag Geneina town). No casualties were reported and both incidents were reported to the police. Targeting of humanitarian staff is a major concern for INGO partners who have started moving to the field without armed escorts in the past few months.
Looting of a WFP warehouse in Gedaref
About 18 metric tons of food supplies at a WFP warehouse in Al Saraf Al Ahmar in Galabat Ash-Shargiah locality, Gedaref State were looted by some residents in the area, while food distribution was ongoing. The incident has been reported to the police.
Former UNAMID compound in Kebkabiya, North Darfur looted
On the morning of 4 October, a large group of residents from different neighbourhoods of Kebkabiya town, North Darfur State forcefully entered the former United Nations – African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) compound, which was handed over to El Fasher University, and started looting the compound. Security forces shot at the perpetrators, injuring two but failed to stop the looting. The security forces reportedly recovered some of the items and equipment.
Nomads deliberately destroy farms in North Darfur
In North Darfur, there have been reports of nomads deliberately releasing livestock (camel, sheep and cattle) to graze in farms in the Konjara area of Tawila locality and near Zamzam IDP camp in El Fasher locality. In both incidents, authorities deployed joint security forces to protect the farms. The destruction of farms will affect the harvest and thus lead to food insecurity. This will increase the number of people who will require humanitarian food assistance and may lead to an increase in malnutrition.
Health Update
The increasing trend of malaria cases as well as outbreaks of measles, dengue fever and Hepatitis E are key concerns for health sector partners, with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other health sector partners providing support to the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) response to these outbreaks and tackle concerns.
Malaria cases on the rise
From January to early October 2022, over 1.7 million malaria cases were reported across Sudan, surpassing the epidemic threshold in 12 States. The number of cases this year has exceeded the number registered during 2021, according to the Federal Ministry of Health (FM). In 2021, 1.7 million cases of malaria were reported. Health sector partners and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and malaria support FMoH with medicines and medical supplies.
Eighteen monkeypox cases confirmed
As of 15 October, FMoH reported 185 suspected cases of monkeypox, including 18 confirmed cases. West Darfur accounts for eight confirmed cases, North Darfur three cases, Khartoum two, and Central Darfur and Kassala one case each.
Measles, dengue fever and Hepatitis E outbreaks
FMoH reported that by 21 October 2,708 suspected measles cases were recorded, including 1,038 confirmed cases, with outbreaks ongoing in Kassala, North Kordofan and Gedaref states. In addition, 1,068 cases of dengue fever (including eight deaths) were reported as of 26 October 2022. Cases are still being reported from 28 localities in eight states. Meanwhile, 2,733 suspected cases of Hepatitis E and 24 associated deaths were reported by 28 October 2022. WHO and health partners are providing support for awareness-raising, vaccination and vector-control activities.
Funding
The 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) is $61.4 million less funded this year than last year. By the end of October 2022, the 2022 HRP received $747.2 million, out of a total requirement of $1.94 billion (38.6 per cent funded). In October 2021, the 2021 HRP was funded at $712.3 million, out of a total requirement of $1.94 billion (36.7 per cent funded).
The Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SHF) has a current balance of US$10 million. It allocated almost $55 million in the first half of the year, as it allocated in all of 2021. This was due to numerous emergencies, which required life-saving response funding.
Due to severe funding shortfall for nutrition activities, the World Food Programme (WFP) will be forced to reduce its intervention from 165 localities to 45, effective for the 2022 cycle (mid-October to end of December). This will affect 783 of its supported nutrition centres, impacting the lifesaving treatment and increasing the risk of severe malnutrition and potential death among 50 per cent of the current 1.7 million children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and pregnant and breastfeeding women (PLW) WFP is supporting. WFP coordinates with the nutrition sector, partners, and core donors to urgently mobilise resources.
Previous updates:
Sudan Humanitarian Update, September 2022
Sudan Humanitarian Update, July – August 2022
Sudan Humanitarian Update, June 2022
Sudan Humanitarian Update, May 2022
Sudan Humanitarian Update, April 2022
Sudan Humanitarian Update, March 2022
Sudan Humanitarian Update, February 2022
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