HIGHLIGHTS
• The State Ministry of Health (SMoH) has reported high rates of malnutrition in West Darfur over the past few months.
• Over 200,000 people have been affected by heavy rain and flooding since early June, according to HAC.
• On 20 August, the first group of 105 South Sudanese refugees was relocated from Khor Omer to Kario camp in East Darfur.
• On 17 August, the UN held a press conference in Khartoum to mark World Humanitarian Day.
Spike in severe acute malnutrition admissions in West Darfur
The State Ministry of Health (SMoH) has reported high rates of malnutrition in West Darfur over the past few months. According to SMoH, between January and July 2016, the total number of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) cases reported in nutrition centres in West Darfur was 5,525 compared to 4,167 reported within the same period in 2015. The number of admissions in June and July is almost 50 per cent higher than same period last year.
Reported SAM cases in West Darfur in 2015 and 2016
SMoH experts, however, indicate that malnutrition rates in West Darfur are likely to be higher than these figures given the fact that the reported cases do not represent the overall picture, mainly due to a lack of nutrition centres in some areas. There are fewer nutrition centres in West Darfur in 2016 compared to in 2015, as some partners have phased out or closed nutrition centres due to funding constraints. Some of the eight localities in West Darfur do not have any nutrition centres.
Nutrition experts indicate that it is still unclear what is causing the high rates of malnutrition since no comprehensive assessment has been completed. There are plans to conduct a multi-sectorial assessment after a Mass Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) screening campaign to establish the factors contributing to the high malnutrition rates.
According to nutrition experts, malnutrition rates usually increase on average by 30 per cent in many parts of Sudan during the lean and rainy season (June-September) mainly due to increase in diarrhoeal diseases, malaria, limited food stock and poor infant and young child feeding practices, as mothers are busy working in the fields. However, for this year, the rates are exceptionally high compared to previous years, according to partners.
Response to high malnutrition cases in West Darfur
In order to tackle the issue, SMoH and partners plan to conduct a house-to-house mass MUAC screening in all localities to understand the overall picture of malnutrition in West Darfur. The exercise is to start on 29 August as part of the countrywide MUAC screening campaign slated from 29 to 31 August. The objective of the exercise is to gain a comprehensive picture of the malnutrition situation in West Darfur and other states. The Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and partners are supporting the nationwide mass MUAC screening exercise. To respond to the increase in admission rates, UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP) have dispatched more nutrition supplies and supplements to West Darfur. In the weeks and months to come, more resources will be required for opening new nutrition facilities and for procuring nutrition supplies.
Increase in SAM admission cases in Blue Nile State
Meanwhile, there has also been an increase in reported SAM cases in Blue Nile State.
Sudan’s Food Security Technical Secretariat (FSTS) reported in its July update for Blue Nile State that results of a MUAC screening exercise conducted by the Nutrition Department of the State Ministry of (SMoH) indicated that SAM admission cases among children under five years had increased by 105 per cent in the State in June 2016, compared to cases reported in May this year.
According to nutrition experts, the increase in the number of admissions in June was partly due to better detection of cases as a result of the mass MUAC screening completed in the state covering 45 communities. Following the MUAC screening, 943 SAM cases were referred to the Outpatient Therapeutic Feeding Programme (OTP) in addition to those who were admitted through the routine programme. The total number of newly admitted SAM cases in July was 1,321, with the number in August likely to be higher, as a result of the mass MUAC screening at the end of the month.
Over 200,000 people estimated to have been affected by floods
According to the Government of Sudan and partners, heavy rain and flooding since early June have affected an estimated 204,000 people. According to UNICEF, more than half of the affected people are children. The most affected states are South Darfur, Kassala, Sennar, West Kordofan, Gedaref, Al Gezira and North Darfur.
About 6,500 children in Kassala out of school due to floods
An estimated 6,500 children in Kassala State are unable to attend school because of partial or complete destruction of their schools as a result of rain and flooding, according to UNICEF. Kassala State in the east of Sudan has been one of worst affected states and the one with the highest death toll – 83 persons killed as a result of heavy rain and flooding. Kassala State has the highest number of houses destroyed by flooding – close to 6,000 houses, according to the governmental Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC). UNICEF is providing clean drinking water to almost 20,000 people in 11 locations across Kassala State. Across affected areas, UNICEF and partners have distributed 11,000 nets to curb the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.
The government-led National Flood Task Force in coordination with key actors is continuing to monitor the impact of rains and flooding and coordinate the response. Government authorities, local communities and in some areas national and international humanitarian organisations are responding to the needs arising from heavy rain and flooding.
UN and partners continue flood response
The UN and partners continue to provide relief assistance and basic services to flood-affected people. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and partners, 9,154 flood-affected families (estimated 45,770 people) have received essential household supplies (plastic sheets, blankets, sleeping mats and kitchen sets). UNICEF has provided 4,800 children under five years old with fortified rations to stave off malnutrition, and has continued to screen children and provide treatment for SAM. UNICEF is also providing communities with ‘school in a box’ learning materials for teachers and students, plastic sheets and sitting mats so that children can continue learning.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and health sector partners have provided drugs and medical supplies, vector control activities, training of health personnel in South Darfur that benefitted about 185,000 people, including flood –affected communities.
WASH partners have provided about 105,000 flood-affected people across Sudan with access to clean water and sanitation services and personal hygiene supplies. Other response efforts are also ongoing by the Government of Sudan, the UN and partners.
Floods also affect IDPs in Darfur
Flooding is also affecting IDP communities in Darfur. In North Darfur State, the State Flood Task Force reported on 16 August that Dar El Salam and Shangil Tobaya areas, including IDP camps, were affected by floods. In Dar El Salam and Shangil Tobaya, about 90 houses were reported to have been destroyed by rain and flooding, including some shelters in Nifasha and Shadad IDP camps.
In South Darfur, the World Health Organization (WHO) provided Rapid Response Kits (RRK), conducted vector control activities and provided training to health sectors partners in Kalma, Otash and Kass IDP camps.
In West Darfur, HAC reported that 50 families in Sisi IDP camp in Kereinik locality and 150 families in Bireidia return village in Geneina locality were affected by heavy rains during the last week of July. An inter-agency mission visited Bireidia return village on 18 August to assess the needs of the affected people. Findings revealed that shelters of an estimated 60 households were destroyed by the heavy rains and winds. However, with the support of community members, they managed to rebuild them, while some of the affected families bought plastic sheets to cover their shelters. The assessment team identified 38 families who need support in terms of essential household supplies.