HIGHLIGHTS
Sudan became the 56th member of the SUN movement with national leaders committing to prioritising efforts to address malnutrition.
The impact of climate change on the humanitarian needs of children in Sudan has been highlighted in the UNICEF UK publication Children and Climate Change. The use of solar powered water-pumps to bring water to conflict affected people in Sudan was noted as a progressive climate sensitive approach to humanitarian interventions.
In Fanga Suk, East Jabel Marra, children are finally benefitting from humanitarian assistance including child protection, education, health, nutrition and WASH. The affected 17,875 people had not been reached in this area for four years (since 2011).
By the end of November, there were 428 suspected cases and 119 deaths related to Viral Haemorrhagic Fever (VHF) in all five Darfur states. 65% of recorded cases have been in children under 15 years.
UNICEF supported the government in finalising the Action Plan for the prevention of violations and the protection of children in armed conflict. It is expected that the government will soon identify a date of final signature.
99,311 children (47,825 are girls) are being reached on a daily basis with psychosocial support activities in the main conflict affected areas to foster resilience in a volatile environment.
The UNICEF Sudan humanitarian appeal for 2015 is 59% unfunded.
SITUATION IN NUMBERS
5.4 million people
3.24 million children
# of people targeted by HRP1
Source: HRP 2015. UNICEF estimates 60% are children.
2.5 million people
1.5 million children
# of displaced people in Darfur
Source: OCHA – Humanitarian Bulletin Sudan Issue 47 | 16 – 22 November 2015. 60% of displaced are children.
198,314 people
138,820 children
# of South Sudanese refugees since outbreak of conflict on 15 December 2013
Source: UNHCR Information Sharing Portal, 27 October 2015. 66% of refugees from South Sudan are children, this increases to 70% for those living in the camps.
$116,921,577 (USD)
Total funding requirement in 2015
$ 48,176,062 – Funded in 2015
$ 68,745,515 – Unfunded in 2015
Humanitarian Needs
There have been 428 suspected cases and 119 deaths related to Viral Haemorrhagic Fever (VHF) across all five Darfur states with 65% of cases affecting children under the age of 15. There are currently 23 localities with cases of VHF that have a combined total population of circa four million people. Following renewed access to Fanga Suk in Central Darfur’s conflict affected Jabel Marra area for the first time since 2011, 17,875 people have been found to be in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. A joint UNICEF-Nutrition Sector analysis, as well as a WASH Sector analysis, on the impact of the El Niño oscillation has forecast that the lean season in 2016 will begin two to three months earlier than the usual cycle. This may result in the deterioration of acute malnutrition in Sudan in 2016, in the worsening of the severity of acute malnutrition, in overstretched inpatient centres caring for complicated cases of severe acute malnutrition, and in increased vulnerability to chronic malnutrition. The UN and the government are finalising the discussions around the affected population figures for the HRP 2016.
Humanitarian Leadership and Coordination
UNICEF was part of an interagency assessment mission conducted in Fanga Suk in East Jabel Marra on 11 November. UNICEF responded immediately with child protection, education, health, nutrition and WASH services and supplies. In response to the VHF and malaria cases in Darfur, the UNICEF-led WASH Sector has supported vector control and hygiene promotion. In addition, the WASH Sector has completed a concept note for strengthening sector leadership at state level seeking to establish full time coordinators in North Darfur, South Darfur, Central Darfur and South Kordofan.The UNICEF-led Education Sector diverted critical education supplies from its core pipeline to meet the educational needs of 4,000 refugee children in West Kordofan and White Nile states following the identification of critical gaps. On 23 November, the Child Protection sub-Sector finalised the development of a workshop aimed at harmonising existing child protection assessment tools including rapid assessment, interagency assessment and informal assessment.
Humanitarian Strategy
In order to prepare for, and counter the potential effects of El Niño, all UNICEF-led sectors have developed a probable impact analysis, which will form part of a broader UN multi-sectoral preparedness plan. The nutrition sector is also leading the multi-sectoral strategy to tackle severe malnutrition for incorporation in the Sudan HRP 2016. The Sudan 2015 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) appealing for USD $1.04 billion is 58 per cent funded to date. UNICEF’s appeal of USD $116,921,577 is only 41 per cent funded. UNICEF continues to advocate for humanitarian access to all parts of Jabel Marra, the Nuba Mountains and localities in Blue Nile State.