Highlights
The influx of South Sudanese into Sudan that began in late January 2016 amid ongoing conflict and deteriorating food insecurity continues with over 55,000 arrivals into East and South Darfur and West Kordofan states. Of these new arrivals, 43,684 are residing in East Darfur.
Land for establishment of a new site in East Darfur to host the arrivals has been identified. Permission to use the land has been granted by the local community and is now awaiting authorization by state and federal authorities.
On 10 May, an interagency mission started in Abu Jabra, Bahr El Arab and El Ferdous localities in East Darfur. This is the first time partners have been able to access and conduct needs assessments for the new arrivals who have settled in areas outside Khor Omer camp in East Darfur.
In West Kordofan, WFP conducted a rapid verification exercise of newly arrived South Sudanese refugees in El Meriam in preparation for food distribution in May, verifying 1,554 individuals. This is lower than number of arrivals reported by HAC, as many refugees are reportedly scattered in surrounding villages. Food distribution for the verified refugees is set to begin shortly. Food distribution for April did not proceed despite supplies being ready, due to lack of authorization from security authorities.
In White Nile State, the relocation of families to the newly developed Al Waral site commenced on 10 May. In total 2,000 families will be assisted to relocate from the over-congested existing sites to Al Waral site by bus, with about 100 families moved per day.
In Khartoum, arrests of South Sudanese for alleged lack of documentation have continued since first being reported in early April. Many of those being arrested possess registration cards issued by the Sudanese Directorate of Passports and Immigration (IPP). While some individuals have already been released, UNHCR continues to provide legal assistance to those still in detention and advocate with the concerned government counterparts to uphold the validity of the IPP cards.
Operational Context
The ongoing influx of South Sudanese refugees into Sudan has resulted in over 55,000 new arrivals into East Darfur, South Darfur and West Kordofan since late January 2016. The refugees arriving as a part of this influx are mostly coming from Northern Bahr al Ghazal and Warrap states, driven by ongoing conflict and heightened food insecurity resulting from poor harvests, restricted trade, depreciating currency and steeply rising staple food prices. The severe food shortage facing South Sudan is expected to grow even worse during the upcoming lean season, with up to 5.3 million people across the country anticipated to be severely food insecure from May to September. This is nearly double the number of individuals said to have been severely food insecure during the first three months of 2016, when the influx first took shape, marking the most severe lean season to face South Sudan since independence in 2011 according to a recent WFP report. Northern Bahr al Ghazal state, which has experienced relative stability in past years, has also witnessed recent bouts of violence with clashes between the South Sudanese army (SPLA) and armed men reported in late April in the state’s Rumaker area.
East Darfur continues to bear the largest impact of the recent influx with 43,684 total arrivals. In Khor Omer IDP camp, the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) registered 140 new arrivals on average per day between 24 April and 8 May, bringing the number of refugees residing in the camp to 27,458. Nearly all of the new arrivals in Khor Omer have received food rations from WFP and emergency household supplies provided by UNHCR. The unavailability of space is largely hampering further assistance efforts in Khor Omer, including distribution of shelter materials and construction of water and sanitation facilities. Land for establishment of a new site in East Darfur to host the arrivals has been identified and permission to use the land has been granted by the local administration. The decision is awaiting authorization with state and federal authorities. While assistance has not yet reached other areas of arrival in East Darfur, an interagency mission to Abu Jabra, Bahr El Arab and El Ferdous localities began on 10 May, marking the first time partners have been able to access and conduct needs assessments for the new arrivals who have settled in areas outside Khor Omer camp. Together, these three localities host 5,711 of the 16,226 arrivals into East Darfur who are not residing in Khor Omer camp. UNHCR has also initiated a request for opening a field office in East Darfur to facilitate coordination of the refugee response in East Darfur, including development of the new site.
In West Kordofan, WFP upon request by HAC has conducted a rapid verification in El Meriam in preparation for food distribution in May. The exercise verified 1,554 new arrivals, for whom food distribution is set to begin shortly. The situation of refugees in El Meriam is reportedly very poor, with most having fled severe food shortages in South Sudan and having received no humanitarian food assistance since arrival. WFP was unable to distribute food rations for April, despite supplies standing ready, due to lack of security clearance. Local authorities cited concerns about conducting a food distribution targeting only South Sudanese refugees in an area where local populations are also highly vulnerable.
The flow of refugees into White Nile State meanwhile continues, with over 9,000 arrivals into the existing sites since the beginning of 2016. The first phase of relocation to Al Waral commenced on 10 May. In total 2,000 families (284 from Jouri; 1,108 from El Redis II; 559 from El Redis I; 49 from Al Kashafa) will be transported to the newly developed site by bus, with about 100 families moved per day. UNHCR registration teams are deployed in Al Waral to update the registration database according to the relocation and register new arrivals. Nine communal shelters have been erected to temporarily host the families until they can complete construction of their individual household shelters, after which the facilities will be used as reception and community service centres. Other essential services, including water, sanitation and reception facilities, are ready for use. Further facilities are being put in place as the site grows in size. Ready meals will be provided to all families on their day of arrival by SRCS.
In Khartoum, arrests of South Sudanese for alleged lack of documentation have continued since first being reported in early April. Most of those being arrested possess registration cards from the Sudanese Directorate of Passports and Immigration (IPP) containing the foreign number issued by authorities. While some individuals have already been released, UNHCR continues to closely monitor the situation, providing protection and legal support to the detainees, and working with the relevant government counterparts in order to uphold the validity of the IPP cards. The arrests follow a decision by the Sudanese Cabinet of Ministers from 17 March that South Sudanese are to no longer be considered as ‘brothers and sisters’ but rather as foreigners.
UNHCR in coordination with humanitarian partners has developed a response plan to address the specific needs resulting from the new influx that go beyond what is outlined in the 2016 South Sudan Regional Response Plan. The plan covers priority response measures for an anticipated 120,000 total arrivals by end June into East Darfur (97,000), South Darfur (7,000) and West Kordofan (20,000) as well as 20,000 additional arrivals expected in the White Nile State sites as a result of the Cabinet decision. Overall requirements of the response plan amount to US$49 million.