MANYANG MAYOM

More than 40 traders and local authorities have received leadership training to help them manage and build their businesses in support of the local economy in Tonj.

The Relief, Reintegration and Protection team from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan provided the training to participants from the Ministries of Local Government, Physical Infrastructure and Social Development as well as to young traders, members of the Aguka Women’s Association and other community members.

“The training has been a real eye-opener and could help me set up a health business that will benefit the nation,” said Mary Ucidi, a business-woman from Aguka payam.

The local economy is predominantly driven by subsistence agriculture mixed with the keeping of animals, iron smelting, bee keeping, honey harvesting and the production of ironware. The community also engages in fishing and hunting and grows a wide variety of crops, including vegetables, fruits, sorghum and maize.

Households often have a surplus of produce when they experience a good harvest, but they often have nowhere to sell their goods. Representatives from the Commissioner’s office, Grant Development Committee and Payam office also participated in the training to give them the knowledge and leadership skills required to oversee the effective and efficient operation of the local market.

The Tonj Minister of Rural Development, Water and Cooperative, Weth Ayok Malueth, said the training would be of great benefit to the local community.

“This is the first training of its kind in Tonj in terms of business management and leadership skills,” he said. “There is a lot we can do to grow our businesses and cooperate to build the local economy if the training is adopted.”

Last year, the Aguka community benefited from the construction of a new women’s market with 14 stalls and a new borehole to provide a clean water supply as one of UNMISS’ Quick Impact Projects that support sustainable development, the return of displaced people to their homes in the aftermath of the five-year conflict and to help women find jobs and build businesses.

I. Introduction

1. The present report, which covers the period from January to December 2018, is submitted pursuant to Security Council resolution 2427 (2018). The preparation of the report involved broad consultations within the United Nations, in the field and at Headquarters, and with relevant Member States. It highlights global trends regarding the impact of armed conflict on children and provides information on violations committed from January to December 2018, as well as related protection concerns.
   Where possible, violations are attributed to parties to conflict and, pursuant to resolutions of the Council, the annexes to the present report include a list of parties that, in violation of international law, engage in the recruitment and use of children, the killing and maiming of children, rape and other forms of sexual violence against children, attacks on schools and/or hospitals and attacks or threats of attacks against protected personnel,1 and the abduction of children.

2. All the information contained in the report has been vetted for accuracy by the United Nations. In situations where the ability to verify information was hampered by factors such as insecurity or access restrictions, it is qualified as such. In this regard, the information contained in the report is only indicative and does not represent the full scale of violations committed in 2018. In addition, some incidents, in particular instances of the recruitment and use of children, abduction and se xual violence committed against children, were verified in 2018 but may have commenced earlier.

3. Pursuant to Security Council resolution 1612 (2005) and in identifying situations that fall within the scope of the mandate, my Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict has adopted a pragmatic approach aimed at ensuring broad and effective protection for children. Reference to a situation is not a legal determination and reference to a non-State actor does not affect its legal status. Accordingly, the present report documents situations in which apparent violations of international norms and standards for the protection of children affected by conflict are considered to be of such gravity as to warrant international concern. In characterizing the facts described below as grave violations, it is the aim of my Special Representative to bring these situations to the attention of Governments, which bear the primary responsibility of providing effective protection and relief to all affected children, and to encourage Governments to take remedial measures.

4. Where significant progress was achieved and measures taken by listed parties positively affected the protection of children or where ongoing conduct gave rise to concern, this is highlighted in the country-specific sections. On the basis of the approach of enhanced engagement with Member States to prevent violations against children, the annexes distinguish between listed parties that have put in place measures aimed at improving the protection of children during the reporting period and parties that have not.

1. Situation update

In the week of 9 to 15 December 2019, 24 new confirmed Ebola virus disease (EVD) cases were reported from three health zones in two affected provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The majority of these new confirmed cases are from Mabalako (22/24; 92%), and the other cases were reported from Biena (1/24; 4%) and Mandima (1/24; 4%) health zones.

The new cases from Mabalako and Biena, are linked to a single chain of transmission, in which one individual was a potential source of infection for 24 people. This was the second documentation of EVD illness in this individual within a 6-month period. Based on the preliminary sequencing of samples from the case, this is being classified as a relapse of EVD. Rare cases of relapse have been documented, in which a person who has recovered from EVD gets disease symptoms again, but this is the first documented relapse in this outbreak.

The volume of alerts reported has returned to levels seen before the security incidents in the past weeks. In general, the overall average proportion of contacts under surveillance in the last seven days has returned to previously observed levels. However, Mabalako, the health zone with the highest volume of contacts, has the lowest performance with 73% of contacts under surveillance.

In the past 21 days (25 November to 15 December 2019), 45 confirmed cases were reported from 13 of the 87 health areas within five neighboring active health zones in North Kivu and Ituri provinces: Mabalako (67%; n=30 cases), Mandima (16%; n=7), Beni (13%; n=6), Oicha (2%; n=1), and Biena (2%; n=1). More than half (53%, n=24) of the cases over the last 21 days have a known epidemiological link to the same transmission chain from Aloya health area in the Mabalako health zone.

As of 15 December 2019, a total of 3348 EVD cases, including 3230 confirmed and 118 probable cases have been reported, of which 2213 cases died (overall case fatality ratio 66%). Of the total confirmed and probable cases, 56% (1883) were female, 28% (941) were children aged less than 18 years, and 5% (169) were healthcare workers.

SC/14055

Security Council
8689th Meeting (PM)

Sanctions Committee Chair Cites Serious Gaps in Implementing Arms Embargo, Urges Neighbours to Cooperate with Expert Panel

Essential tasks in forming a transitional Government to end the tragic conflict in South Sudan must be accomplished with urgency if the parties are to meet their latest extended 100-day timeline, the top United Nations official for the country told the Security Council today.

“Reasons can always be found for further delay”, said David Shearer, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS). “But if the parties want to fully implement the agreement and form a new Government, they can. It comes down to political will.”

Mr. Shearer introduced the Secretary-General’s latest report on the issue (document S/2019/936), which describes the events leading up to the agreement to extend the pre-transitional period by 100 days effective from 12 November, the previous deadline. The Secretary-General expresses disappointment at delays in implementing the agreement between the Government, led by President Salva Kiir, and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO), led by Riek Machar.

The report notes, however, that the extension agreement calmed rising tensions and that the ceasefire continues to hold, except in parts of the greater Equatoria region. As the humanitarian situation remains dire, the Secretary-General urged the parties to “move forward with the interest of the people at the forefront”.

In his briefing, Mr. Shearer noted that one third of the extension has already passed. The first test of whether political will exists to form the unified Government will be known when the 50-day review is held. At that point, there must be measurable progress in training and unifying national forces, transparency in Government funding for such pre-transitional tasks, a resolution of Mr. Machar’s status and determination of state boundaries.

The good news, he said, is that the ceasefire has been largely respected, although a recent spike of intercommunal clashes risks spilling into more serious violence. Civilians continue to bear the brunt of any fighting. To their credit, state government, humanitarian agencies and donors responded quickly to the flooding that affected at least 900,000 people.

Given the rise in tensions caused by political delays and flooding, he urged South Sudan’s leaders to make the right choices and swiftly implement the peace agreement. “The wrong choices could create the circumstances for a perfect storm”, he warned.

Also briefing today, Joanna Wronecka (Poland) spoke in her capacity as Chair of the South Sudan sanctions committee, describing her visit to South Sudan and the region in October, in which she witnessed the terrors of the conflict and serious gaps in implementation of sanctions. Shipments are not being inspected to maintain the arms embargo, and sanctioned individuals are still travelling unimpeded throughout the region. She urged Governments in the region, particularly those neighbouring South Sudan, to strengthen their cooperation with the Committee and its Panel of Experts.

In the ensuing discussion, delegates urged the parties to make progress in implementing the revitalized peace agreement during the 100-day extension period, in coordination with regional facilitators. Many also urged measures to relieve the humanitarian and human rights situation in the interim, including the establishment of mechanisms for transitional justice.

The representative of the United States, Council President speaking in her national capacity, said many in the international community are losing confidence that South Sudan’s leaders can guide it to peace. If they cannot not make progress in the next 100 days, a stronger sanctions regime should be considered.

The representative of the Russian Federation, on the other hand, suggested that, though disappointing, the failure to meet the previous deadline should not be dramatized. The ceasefire is holding, violence has fallen and leaders have been consistently talking to each other. In that context, regional facilitators should be supported to keep the momentum going and sanctions should be soon reconsidered.

South Africa’s representative, speaking also for Côte d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea, called the revitalized peace agreement a “beacon of hope” that will help rebuild South Sudan and bring about peace and stability. Extending the pre-transitional period by 100 days will make it possible to address contentious issues, including security arrangements and boundary issues.

He encouraged the parties to continue dialogue, using the frameworks of the African Union and IGAD to bridge their differences. The international community should meanwhile continue to support the parties at this critical juncture. “The people of South Sudan deeply yearn for peace, stability and development to rebuild their lives,” he stated.

Also speaking today were representatives of Germany, France, Dominican Republic, Poland, Belgium, Kuwait, Indonesia, China, United Kingdom and Peru.

The meeting began at 3:08 p.m. and ended at 4:40 p.m.

Briefings

DAVID SHEARER, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS), noted that one third of the 100-day extension of the Revitalized Agreement for the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan has already passed. He called on leaders to expeditiously form a unified Government and to continue the steep decrease in civilian casualties, sexual violence and abductions that followed the accord’s signing. There has been no shortage of outside support to encourage South Sudan to follow the right path, he said, citing frequent meetings coordinated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the African Union and a unity of purpose by international partners. “Reasons can always be found for further delay”, he stated. “But if the parties want to fully implement the agreement and form a new government, they can. It comes down to political will”.

The first test of whether the political will exists will be known when the 50-day review is held, he said. At that point, there must be measurable progress in key areas. Training and unification of national forces must be accelerated. In addition, transparency in Government funding for such pre-transitional tasks is needed to quell suspicion — in the form of a trust fund or similar mechanism — and the status of Riek Machar must be resolved, as he has yet to be given a South Sudan passport, despite his presence in Juba for discussions over the past five days. That State boundary determination issue is critical, he said, calling it a politically charged issue, as power and access to resources is heavily vested in the states, which, in turn, are often linked to ethnic groups. The matter should not be deferred to a referendum, as it would cost millions and risk deepening ethnic divisions.

“No one I spoke to wants to go back to war”, he said, but privately some admit they will take up arms again if ordered by their leaders. The good news is that the ceasefire has been largely respected. Vigilance is needed, however, and a recent spike of intercommunal clashes risks spilling into more serious violence. Civilians continue to bear the brunt of any violence. To their credit, he noted, state government, humanitarian agencies and donors responded quickly to the flooding that affected at least 900,000 people. With much of the food stocks destroyed, however, the $1.5 billion Humanitarian Response Plan for 2020 aims to meet the needs of 5.6 million people. In just two months, the dry season — historically associated with fighting — will coincide with the deadlines for leaders to choose their path ahead. Given the rise in tensions caused by delays and flooding, “the wrong choices could create the circumstances for a perfect storm”, he warned, emphasizing the deep responsibility leaders have for ending the crisis.

JOANNA WRONECKA (Poland) spoke in her capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2203 (2015) concerning South Sudan, focusing on her visit to South Sudan, Uganda, Sudan and Ethiopia from 6 to 15 October. She said that, based on her discussions, she remains convinced that implementation of the Revitalized Agreement, and in particular the transitional security arrangements, remain critically important. She expressed concern over the dire humanitarian and human rights situation, characterized by the pillaging of civilians, particularly women and children, by men in uniform. The abuse and recruitment of children, and acts of sexual violence against women and girls, remain an ongoing motif in this terrible civil war. She remarked that in Juba, Bentiu and Yei, she noticed that some of her interlocutors believed that communities in South Sudan do not fully understand the sanctions regime.

“I continue to remain concerned that the region is not taking concrete actions vis-à-vis the implementation of the sanctions regime,” she said, encouraging neighbouring States to carry out inspections, in accordance with resolution 2428 (2018) in connection with the arms embargo. It is also lamentable that sanctioned individuals are still travelling unimpeded throughout the region, sometimes with passports from the region. As a result of her visit, the 2203 Committee recommended the possibility of sending a note verbale to all Member States to remind them of their obligations. Turning to the interim report of the Panel of Experts (document S/2019/897), she urged Member States in the region, particularly those neighbouring South Sudan, to strengthen their cooperation with the Panel and the Committee. Since her briefing to the Council a year ago, the Committee received four exemption requests to the arms embargo, all of which were granted. No exemption requests were received concerning the travel bans.

Statements

KELLY CRAFT (United States), Council President for December, spoke in her national capacity, saying that the international community is losing confidence that South Sudan’s leaders will guide it to peace and stability. The Council visited Juba to support implementation of the peace agreement, only to find leaders blaming each other for the lack of progress. She expressed concern over the presence of the military in civilian facilities, the Government’s appointment of officials accused of serious human rights violations, and acts of sexual violence by members of the armed forces. Financial opacity prevails, expert advice is ignored, women are prevented from fully participating in the political process and humanitarian actors face limits on reaching those in need. An inclusive transitional Government can still be formed before the end of the 100-day extension period, she said, adding that regional engagement will be essential. In the meantime, a robust arms embargo and sanctions regime remains necessary. If South Sudan’s leaders cannot implement basic provisions of the peace agreement, the Council should consider stronger sanctions.

XOLISA MFUNDISO MABHONGO (South Africa), speaking also on behalf of Côte d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea, said the Revitalized Agreement remains a beacon of hope that will help rebuild South Sudan. Extending the pre-transitional period by 100 days will make it possible to address contentious issues, including security arrangements and boundary issues. He encouraged the parties to continue dialogue, using the frameworks under the African Union and IGAD to bridge their differences. The international community should continue to support the parties at this critical juncture. He called in particular on President Salva Kiir and the leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO), Riek Machar, to continue forging collegial relations and rebuilding trust to help unify the country. In addition, the Government and IGAD must address the final status of Mr. Machar in order to facilitate his full and effective role in advancing the peace process.

While progress in implementing the Revitalized Agreement has been limited, the maintenance of the cessation of hostilities is encouraging, he said, calling on all parties to stay on that trajectory and to place the lives of ordinary South Sudanese first. He encouraged the Government to continue to address conflict-related sexual violence — and all human rights violations — and to hold perpetrators accountable. On the humanitarian situation, he called on all parties to urgently focus on human lives and invited the international community to continue providing assistance to the vulnerable. “We all understand the ramifications of the failure of the peace process, and as such, we should tightly guard against any reversal of its progress,” he said. “The people of South Sudan deeply yearn for peace, stability and development to rebuild their lives.”

JUERGEN SCHULZ (Germany) fully agreed with the assessment that it is time to demonstrate political will to implement the Revitalized Agreement. For that purpose, progress must be made on substantive issues. Regional actors remain absolutely crucial to maintain pressure on the parties and facilitate talks towards consensus, he said, pressing IGAD and the African Union to remain engaged. He called for IGAD to make the 50-day report available to the Council. Germany has been supporting community-based work to facilitate the peace process, he noted, calling for unimpeded humanitarian access, as well as an end to attacks on humanitarian workers, the recruitment of children and sexual violence. Transitional justice must hold all perpetrators accountable. Commending the Panel of Experts, he called for coordination among all regional and international actors to ensure the sanctions are implemented.

ANNE GUEGUEN (France) affirmed the urgent need to ensure that the recent extension of the pre-transition agreement is the last one. She called for South Sudanese parties to achieve the necessary tasks immediately, noting that accountable dispersal of funds must be ensured and the status of Mr. Machar determined. Also, a spirit of compromise must be exhibited on determination of states and security arrangements, while the ceasefire must remain the overriding priority. Following the floods, humanitarian access and the safety of humanitarian workers must be ensured. She added that the establishment of the hybrid court is critical for ensuring accountability for human rights abuses. The guarantors should continue their efforts and maintain regional pressure for progress in implementing the agreement. Good offices and other mediation efforts by UNMISS are also essential to support regional initiatives and ensure that the peace process is not derailed.

JOSÉ MANUEL TRULLOLS YABRA (Dominican Republic), expressing concern over delays in implementing the peace agreement, said all issues must be tackled in a people-centred manner. He welcomed recent meetings between the two leaders and hoped that the Government’s pledge to disperse funds will be handled properly. Expressing concern over the humanitarian situation, he called for the launch of programmes to build resilience to natural disasters and mitigate the effects of climate change. Condemning attacks against humanitarian workers, he called for all parties to end the violence, sexual abuse and recruitment of child soldiers. He also supported establishment of the hybrid court and called on UNMISS to continue to promote human rights. Trust, he emphasized, must be built among all stakeholders in South Sudan, and the legitimate needs of the people must be met.

Ms. WRONECKA (Poland), speaking in her national capacity, welcomed last week’s meeting of President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar as an important step towards the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement and an extremely valuable confidence-building measure. However, that cannot replace genuine implementation of the peace accord. Noting the slow pace of putting necessary arrangements in place, she expressed concern over insufficient political will among the signatories to step up preparations for the successful transition and formation of the transitional Government. The participation of women in South Sudan’s political process is indispensable, she said, adding that the role of regional arrangements in holding parties to account cannot be overestimated and commending IGAD’s involvement in that regard.

MARC PECSTEEN DE BUYTSWERVE (Belgium) said sanctions are a tool that the Council must not hesitate to use when circumstances call for them. Noting that scant progress has been made on key issues, he said it is incumbent on South Sudan’s leaders to ensure that their forces respect the ceasefire that is being upheld in most of the country. With hostilities persisting in some areas, UNMISS must continue to protect civilians, he said, adding that conditions are not yet right for the dignified and informed return of displaced persons. He expressed concern at reports of the illegal detention of civil society and media representatives, adding that political prisoners and prisoners of war should be released immediately.

MANSOUR AYYAD SH. A. ALOTAIBI (Kuwait) welcomed meetings between President Kiir and Mr. Machar in Uganda and Juba, as well as the fact that the ceasefire is holding in most parts of South Sudan. He called on the international community to redouble its efforts to ease the humanitarian burden on the population. Welcoming the reduced number of civilians in UNMISS protection sites, he called for the Mission’s freedom of movement to be upheld, in line with the status of forces agreement and its Council mandate.

DIAN TRIANSYAH DJANI (Indonesia) called on parties to the Revitalized Agreement to use the 100-day extension of the pre-transitional period to make substantive progress in resolving issues. He also called for the transparent disbursement of funds for the Agreement, as well as proactive and continued engagement by IGAD and the African Union. In recent months, tribal clashes and internal fighting in previously calm areas have demonstrated that the security situation remains fragile. Impunity will prolong the conflict cycle and jeopardize the credibility of the peace process, he warned, noting that UNMISS plays an important role in strengthening the judicial presence in the country. As such, he expressed regret that the Mission faces access restrictions, in violation of the Status of Forces Agreement, impeding its ability to protect civilians.

WU HAITAO (China), welcoming the improved security situation, said the top priority now is to assist South Sudan in maintaining the momentum to implement the peace agreement. The Council should fully respect the responsibility of the country’s leaders in that regard and consult closely with the Government to determine needs. Coordination among the Council, IGAD and the African Union should be enhanced in efforts to encourage mediation for a consensus solution to outstanding issues. The international community should increase humanitarian, reconstruction and humanitarian aid, he said, expressing support for the role of UNMISS in all these areas and noting that China has provided significant assistance to South Sudan and stands ready to continue to work for peace and sustainable development there.

DMITRY A. POLYANSKIY (Russian Federation), while expressing disappointment that previous timelines have not been met, emphasized that this should not be the subject of drama; positive trends should instead be the focus. It is important that the parties are willing to engage in dialogue and he welcomed consistent meetings between the two leaders. Welcoming also a reduction in the violence and rights violations, along with the return of displaced people, he said the most important factor is that the parties are complying with the ceasefire. He called on them to keep adhering to that agreement. He expressed hope that they will take the necessary measures to make progress and called on the non-signatory parties to join in building South Sudan’s future. Unity among IGAD, the African Union, South Africa and other regional actors can lead to African solutions to African problems. The earmark of funds for the united armed forces in South Sudan underlined the fact that the parties wish to reach an agreement. Focus should not therefore be placed on sanctions, which have often hampered progress. The sanctions should be reviewed, with a view to tailoring them to the actual situation on the ground.

JONATHAN GUY ALLEN (United Kingdom) said this is the Council’s first meeting since the 100-day extension began, but not the first time that the parties have failed to deliver progress. The Council must reiterate and reinforce its clear and united message that all parties in South Sudan must agree the steps required to form an inclusive Government. He paid tribute to the efforts of the Vice President of South Africa on the crucial issue of the number and boundary of states, acknowledging that it may not be resolved by the end of the 100-day period. While recent meetings between President Kiir and Mr. Machar are welcome, they have not shifted the dialogue, he said, calling for action and results, rather than statements and promises. He added that he could not understand how Mr. Machar does not hold a South Sudanese passport while negotiating with the Government. Hopefully that situation can be resolved as a matter of good faith. He welcomed regional engagement, urging IGAD in particular to redouble its efforts and suggesting that the Council consider how its cooperation with the Authority can be deepened.

LUIS UGARELLI (Peru) expressed disappointment at continued delays in establishing a transitional Government of national unity, which creates uncertainty and fuels violence. He appealed to all parties to continue engaging in dialogue through a gradual process. Pointing to ethnic and intercommunal violence, he appealed to non-signatory groups to join the peace agreement. Moreover, incidents involving human rights violations have claimed the lives of 130 civilians over the past three months and impunity has become the status quo. As such, he expressed hope that the perpetrators of such violations are held accountable. He also noted that the World Food Programme (WFP) has warned of a famine in South Sudan that could affect 5.5 million people. Regardless of such uncertainty, he called for a definitive ceasefire and the allocation of resources for the transparent and effective implementation of the agreement. The close cooperation of regional bodies is also required, because their leadership will be decisive in ensuring a successful transition and peacebuilding process.

For information media. Not an official record.

December 17, 2019 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and the main opposition leader have agreed to form the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) by end of the extended 100 days of pre-transitional period, regardless of the outstanding issues.

Speaking to reporters in Juba on Tuesday, Kiir said he and his arch rival on Tuesday agreed to speed-up the implementation of the security arrangements and establish humanitarian fund to assist the internally displaced persons and the refugees returning voluntarily.

"We said that after 100 days we must form the government of national unity. If the arrangements are not complete, we shall form a transitional government of national unity to implement the outstanding issues," said Kiir.

"The ceasefire will continue to hold and no one from us is willing to go back to war," he added.

On his part, however, Machar said they have agreed to fast track the implementation of the security arrangements by moving the forces to the cantonment sites, training and forming a unified army.

The meeting, he told reporters, mainly discussed the security arrangements, funding of the activities of the implementation of the outstanding critical tasks enshrined in the revitalized peace agreement, number of states and their boundaries, engaging of the non-signatories group to peace deal and creating political space.

According to the armed opposition leader, the issue of the states and their boundaries remains pending, but remained optimistic that the matter would be resolved before expiry of the 100 days period.

“The formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) depends on the progress of the implementation of the outstanding critical issues in the context of the 100 days of the pre-transitional period,” he stressed.

Last month, President Salva Kiir and the country’s main opposition leader Riek Machar agreed to delay key benchmarks in the revitalized peace agreement by additional 100 days.

The delay in forming a transitional national unity government on November 12, 2019 came after Machar’s group raised concerns that the country’s security arrangements are still incomplete.

South Sudan descended into civil war in mid-December 2013 when President Kiir accused his former deputy Machar of plotting a coup, allegations the latter denied.

In September last year, the country’s rival factions signed a revitalized peace deal to end the civil war that killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions.

(ST)

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) together with the Government of Uganda through the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has launched the follow-up to a baseline resilience analysis in refugee-hosting districts. The exercise aims to establish whether and how refugee and host-community households in Northern and South-western Uganda have improved their food security and livelihood resilience since the last RIMA carried out in 2017.

Speaking at the launch in the Arua district, OPM Commissioner for Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Rose Nakabugo Bwenvu, thanked FAO for its continued support and said: "Many national programmes linked to resilience need the RIMA tool to measure their impact. Knowing if they are working or not lets us establish where to allocate funds to better address challenges such as climate disasters, social cohesion and equal access to natural resources."

Covering more than 6 000 households across 11 districts, the analysis will examine drivers of and barriers to people's ability to provide for themselves, the impact of the arrival of refugees on host communities in Uganda, and FAO's contribution to the Livelihoods and Resilience and Energy and Environment components of the national 2019-2020 Refugee Response Plan. Uganda hosts one of the world's largest refugee populations: according to the Government and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), more than 1.3 million refugees and asylum seekers are currently living in Uganda, mainly from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. Refugee-hosting districts are among the poorest in the country, with livelihoods mostly dependent on agriculture.

Monitoring the effectiveness of resilience programmes is crucial for providing better-informed solutions to empower vulnerable communities and build their capacity to withstand shocks to their livelihoods. Boosting resilience by strengthening livelihoods is recognized as one of the most powerful means to mitigate -- or even prevent -- food security crises. With a view to this, tools such as RIMA are used to inform the design, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian and development assistance to ultimately reduce needs and improve preparedness, mitigation and response strategies.

Uganda is a unique host country example thanks to its national legal framework for refugees, which promotes self-reliance through development-based approaches. However, the 2017 RIMA showed that achieving this is hampered by factors such as agriculture tending to be of a subsistence rather than commercial nature, and traditional farming methods proving inefficient for increasing production levels. Environmental degradation wrought by climate disasters, a lack of markets to sell to and unequal access to natural resources make it even harder to reach a level of self-reliance. FAO has since used these findings to guide more targeted responses as the situation evolves from one of emergency to development assistance, for example by setting up micro-irrigation schemes for high-value vegetable gardens, establishing tree nurseries and delivering best practices training. Initiatives like these help to meet market demand for more nutritious and diverse food while giving vulnerable farming households a chance to rebuild their livelihoods and support themselves.

The current household assessments were preceded by capacity-building training sessions for local enumerators, which is key in institutionalizing the RIMA to ultimately inform national decision making and policy formulation. Bolstering resilience programmes to address food insecurity then becomes a country-led effort, by raising awareness among stakeholders and turning analysis into action.

This RIMA exercise is co-funded by FAO through the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the European Union's Global Network Against Food Crises, and the Government of Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). It is carried out in collaboration with OPM, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and led by FAO and IGAD through the Resilience Analysis Unit (RAU). RIMA has been adopted as the primary analysis tool by the Government's Resilience Measurement Unit (RMU) under FAO's technical lead.

SITUATION UPDATE

By the end of September 2019, humanitarian organizations had delivered assistance to approximately 4.8 million women, men and children, or 84 per cent of the people targeted in the 2019 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP). Response achievements included about 4.2 million people reached with food assistance and livelihoods support; some 1.3 million people provided with healthcare; over 1.1 million assisted with access to safe water and sanitation; around 1.1 million people supported with protection services, some 938,000 children and pregnant and breastfeeding women provided with emergency nutritional assistance; around 752,000 children supported with access to education in emergencies; some 782,000 people reached through camp coordination and camp management services; and some 767,000 people assisted with essential household items and emergency shelter.

The number of people reached with humanitarian assistance and protection services varied by geographical location. In Unity, Jonglei and Upper Nile, humanitarians reached almost all of the people targeted in the 2019 HRP with some type of assistance. The percentage of people reached against target in Eastern Equatoria, Warrap, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Western Bahr el Ghazal and Western Equatoria was above 70 per cent. Central Equatoria and Lakes saw the lowest number of people reached, with 55 per cent and 56 per cent of the target respectively. By September, 167 humanitarian organizations contributed towards these achievements. Of those, 55 per cent were local NGOs. Funding for the HRP stood at 52 per cent as of 30 September with the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Germany being the top funders.

SITUATION UPDATE

By the end of October 2019, humanitarian organizations had delivered assistance and services to more than 4.8 million women, men and children, or 84 per cent of the people targeted in the 2019 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP). Of the 4.8 million, 55 per cent of the people reached—nearly 2.7 million—were in Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile. The areas with the lowest reach were Lakes with 380,000 people or 56 per cent of targeted population and Central Equatoria with 250,000 people or 58 per cent of targeted population reached. Response achievements included nearly 4.3 million people reached with food assistance and livelihoods support; some 1.3 million people provided with healthcare; around 1.3 million people received protection services; approximately 1.2 million people assisted with access to safe water and improved sanitation; more than 1 million children and pregnant and breastfeeding women provided with emergency nutritional assistance; around 816,000 people reached through camp coordination and camp management services; some 794,000 people who received essential household items and emergency shelter; and nearly 756,000 children supported with access to education in emergencies. By October, 173 humanitarian organizations contributed towards these achievements. Of those, 55 per cent were South Sudanese local NGOs. Funding for the HRP stood at 70 per cent as of 31 October with the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Germany being the top funders.

FRANCESCA ANNEMARIE MOLD In the murky pre-dawn light, hundreds of teenagers emerge from their shelters within the United Nations protection site, nervously clutching their pads and pens as they prepare to sit their end of year examinations.

Sitting academic tests is a stressful experience for any student. But it is even more challenging for these South Sudanese youngsters who have been living in the camp since civil war erupted six years ago.

“In the Protection of Civilians site, there are a lot of difficult things that we face,” says student, Rebecca Chol. “The environment that we live in is not fair. For example, we do have a library but the books available are very limited.”

Rebecca is among 1250 students living in the camp who are required to sit their exams at government-approved schools in the city. This creates a huge logistical challenge for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan which has to transport them to the various schools in a long convoy of buses.

It also means the students have a long day ahead. Their journey begins at first light as the buses make their way out of the compound for the half-hour long drive to the city. They spend several hours sitting various exams before making the return journey.

Despite the challenges, the students are prepared to do whatever it takes to get the qualifications they need to find jobs or to go on to further study at university.

“I’ve been preparing for a whole year,” says student Samuel Gadet. “The exams went well but I’m excited that they are over now.”

Samuel’s family, including his four brothers and three sisters, live in a United Nations protection site in Bor, in the Jonglei region of South Sudan. He moved to the camp in Juba to stay with his brother because it is easier for him to access education. Despite their separation, his family does its best to support him.

“There are real challenges living in the protection site,” says Samuel. “But I have a way to manage them because all of my family in Bor send me something when I need school fees and the rest. So, they assist me.”

The signing of a revitalized peace agreement last year has significantly improved the security situation. More than 645,000 people living in refugee and other displacement camps have returned to their home in towns and villages across the country. Many of those remaining in the UN sites are also able to safely go to school, to work and to shop outside.

The focus for UNMISS and humanitarian agencies now is to ensure that services, including access to schools and health facilities, are available in communities so that displaced families no longer feel they have no choice but to remain in the camps to get the support they need.

18 December 2019 As I speak to you today, one-third of the 100-day extension of the revitalized peace agreement in South Sudan has already passed.

While this second extension has eased anxiety – at least temporarily – because it maintains the ceasefire, it has also disillusioned many citizens who feel more progress should have been made.

Politics is all about choices.

By choosing to sign the peace agreement last year, parties kick-started a transformative process that has already paid dividends.
The country has witnessed a steep decrease in civilian injuries, abductions and casualties.

While sexual violence remains an abhorrent problem, the 295 victims recorded in 2019 is substantially fewer than the almost 1300 hundred reported in 2018.
Improvements in security have also prompted at least 645,000 displaced people to return to their homes.

But the choice to twice delay a transitional government has dampened initial hopes, eroded some trust and confidence and caused people to suspect that the political will between parties is waning.

The choices that South Sudan’s leaders make now will determine this country’s future for generations to come.

There has been no shortage of outside support to encourage South Sudan to head along the right path. In the past three months, there has been a Tripartite meeting hosted by Uganda and direct follow up from them, IGAD meetings, efforts made by the IGAD Envoy, visits by the South African Deputy President. Sudan has remained engaged with the most recent discussions.

The AU has kept the country under constant review. And, of course, the full 15 members of the UN Security Council visited Juba to engage and hear directly from the parties.

PHILLIP MBUGO

The remote community of Rimenze has been through a lot.

Family and friends were brutally killed during the civil war that erupted in South Sudan six years ago. People were forced to flee their homes in 2016 because of the ongoing violence, seeking sanctuary at a displacement camp next to a local church. But still, they were not safe. There have recently been incidents of abduction, looting and gender-based violence against members of the community.

In an effort to support the displaced families, the human rights division of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan travelled to the area to train 300 residents living at the camp how to protect and respect human rights as well as reporting violations and abuses.

“I have seen a girl who was raped, and she was afraid to report it which is not good,” said Joyce Mathew, a participant in the training session. “What I have learnt is how to report rape cases. I will advise women not to keep quiet but to report cases to the police. I will also report these cases in my village and help the victim get treatment.

UNMISS human rights officer, Okwa Morphy, said the training session was designed to raise awareness amongst the community about violations and abuses and how they can report incidents so they can be investigate and action taken against the perpetrators.

“We have been able to enlighten those living in the camp about human rights in general, their duties and responsibilities, and the fact that they must ensure that they report incidents when they come across violations.”

Chief of the Rimenze payam, Angelo Kumuko, said the community felt empowered by their new understanding of how to respond to rape cases and other human rights violations.

“The issue of human rights is good,” he said. “It helps people psychologically if they know their rights and their responsibilities as well as the rights of others.”

Floods that hit Torit and Lofan in Eastern Equatoria in early November destroyed 440 houses and affected 10,000 households. Humanitarian organizations continued assessing immediate needs in the flood-affected locations across South Sudan. In areas where flood waters remained high, particularly Maban County in Upper Nile and Pibor, Twic East and Duk counties in Jonglei, people faced challenges in accessing basic services. Most of the schools in Pibor and surrounding areas were either submerged or hosting displaced people. An estimated 74,000 hectares of cultivated land has been damaged by flooding in 2019, with a loss of some 72,600 metric tons of cereals.

Fighting and communal clashes were reported in Upper Nile and Central Equatoria. Armed conflict between alleged Government forces and National Salvation Front in Lainya County, Central Equatoria reportedly resulted in civilian casualties. Clashes between youth groups in Bentiu Protection of Civilian site in Rubkona County, Unity, where over 117,700 internally displaced people were sheltering, resulted in casualties. At least 28 suspected measles cases with eight deaths were reported in Ikotos County, Eastern Equatoria.
UNHCR reported that over 8,400 South Sudanese refugees returned spontaneously in November.

Executive Summary

Background and Context

1. The Evaluation Service of UNHCR and the Evaluation Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark have commissioned ADE with the evaluation of the Kalobeyei Integrated Socio-Economic Development Plan (KISEDP). KISEDP is a multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder development programme that contributes to transforming the humanitarian model of assistance for refugees towards development-oriented approaches that enhance the self-reliance of refugees and development of host communities in the Turkana West sub-county of Kenya. The evaluation scope includes refugees resident in both Kakuma camp and Kalobeyei settlement – as well as the host communities of Turkana West sub-county, over the period 2016 to 2018. This is a forward-looking evaluation aimed at lesson learning.

2. The KISEDP plan emerged over three years with significant evolution in the objectives, leadership, scope and approach over the course of development. The current KISEDP plan was approved in December 2018 and is closely aligned to the County Integrated Development Plan for 2018-2022 CIDP. Assistance for on-going humanitarian and emergency assistance, including food assistance, and parts of international protection work, remained largely outside of the KISEDP plan.

3. The evaluation drew on interviews with national and international stakeholders, the views of affected populations and a desk review of documents and data – with data gathered and analysed in the first half of 2019. The analysis and synthesis phase included periodic consultations with the Evaluation Reference Group and other stakeholders. The main evaluation limitation was limited access to government ministries at national level.

4. Kenya has been hosting refugees since 1970 with the numbers increasing significantly from 1990 due to refugee influxes from Somalia and South Sudan. Approximately 190,000 refugees are resident in Kakuma camp (established in 1992) and the Kalobeyei settlement (established in 2015) in Turkana County, located in the North-West near the border with South Sudan – which represents 40% of all refugees in Kenya.

5. Turkana County remains economically, politically and socially marginalised from the main markets and population centres and with poor infrastructure provision, despite decades of development assistance to Turkana. The economy is principally reliant on pastoralism and data suggests that many refugees in Kakuma camp are better off than their Turkana hosts.

Last month Tamara, our Program Officer and Willem our Program Manager, from HealthNet TPO Headquarters in Amsterdam met up with our team in South Sudan with exciting project updates and insights.

In this post we would like to highlight some of our main projects and activities in the country.

Project HPF3: Provision of Essential Health Care Services

South Sudan remains a fragile and volatile state, where ongoing violence and instability has led to hugely disrupted provision of health services. The country continues to experience high rates of maternal and infant mortality and malnutrition.

Under the third phase of the Health Pooled Fund (HPF), HealthNet TPO continues to support government health services in order to facilitate primary and hospital health care in regions including Terekeka, Raja, Aweil North, Aweil West, Aweil South and Aweil Center.

Through this support, health care systems have been strengthened and the capacity of government health workers has been built. This has enabled health systems to respond effectively to the needs of the communities and individuals.

The outcomes of strengthening these health systems has facilitated the improvement of services including:

• Local health facilities now have the capacity to address primary and secondary health care needs, hospital health services and routine immunizations against common communicable diseases. This means more people have access to these vital services and are vaccinated against preventable diseases.
• The provision of medical supplies and equipment has improved through the strengthening of supply chain management.
• Government health workers are conducting community awareness sessions, educating local communities on basic health concerns and good health practices.
• Vital antenatal and postnatal services have been created addressing needs for women and children.
• Other, often marginalized needs are also being addressed including psychological first aid, WASH and sexual and reproductive health rights.

Project NAPIII: The Women and Girls for Change

The Women and Girls for Change Project is part of the National Agenda Plan (NAP) III which collaborates with 3 other Dutch organisations: Plan Nederland, PAX and STAD. So far, the project has trained 41 Psychosocial Focal Points who provide mental health and psychosocial care in Nimule, Torit and Ganyiel regions.

Women and girls are supported to address their own daily challenges related to psychosocial distress, domestic violence, nutritional status and lack of income.

The project has allowed women and girls to become more resilient and better protected against gender-based violence and enabled an environment for the promotion of gender equality.

This means that women can be recognized for their meaningful contributions to local conflict prevention and resolution for peacebuilding efforts, relief, recovery and security in a still very fragile and insecure state.

This November, HealthNet TPO have pledged to continue the NAP project for one more year. In the year to come, we aim to strengthen our position with Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in South Sudan and seek to advocate for community-based care, trauma healing and the integration of MHPSS in health service delivery.

Distribution of Nets for the Prevention of Malaria

Since 2019 as a sub-contractor to PSI (Population Service International) and the support of the Global Fund fighting Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, HealthNet TPO has been distributing bed nets in Western Equatoria State for the prevention of Malaria and other mosquito-borne infections. Our staff so far have distributed 511.624 bed nets– that’s around 950.000 men, women and children who we have reached in preventing Malaria.

Here is what Tamara and Willem had to say about the trip to Sudan and our current projects in country:

Tamara:

“IN A COUNTRY LIKE SOUTH SUDAN THAT IS RAVAGED BY WAR AND CONFLICT AND WHERE PEOPLE CONTINUE TO HEAL FROM THE SCARS OF TRAUMA, WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE A STRONG AND DEDICATED TEAM AIMING TO STRENGTHEN HEALTH SYSTEMS AND REINFORCE THE CAPACITY OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO MAINTAIN THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.

CYCLES OF VIOLENCE CONTINUE, AND IT WILL BE A WHILE BEFORE THE HEALTH AND SOCIAL FABRIC OF THE COMMUNITY ARE RESTORED. HEALING REQUIRES THE EFFORTS OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AND WE ARE PROUD TO BUILD ON THE POWER OF THESE COMMUNITIES TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE PEACE.”

WILLEM:

“IT WAS GREAT TO VISIT OUR TEAM IN SOUTH SUDAN AND FEEL THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE. THEIR FOCUS ON IMPROVING THEIR WORK WILL SUPPORT THE SUFFERING COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTRY. I FEEL PROUD TO WORK WITH THEM. “

Forty-nine access incidents were reported in November, of which a third were significant in severity. Flood affected Jonglei saw a significant increase in access incidents: 11 compared to 2 reported in October. Violence against humanitarian assets and personnel increased, with burglary, robbery and theft reported in multiple locations. In Pibor County, Jonglei, criminals reportedly broke into an INGO compound, held security guards at gunpoint and stole large amounts of cash. In Bor, Jonglei, armed men stole food and relief items from an INGO compound. Bureaucratic impediments, operational interference and access restrictions continued, causing delay and disrupting aid delivery. In Pigi County, Jonglei, an INGO faced access constraints in delivering water, sanitation and hygiene assistance. An INGO working in Malakal, Upper Nile, received a verbal notice from the State Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) to conclude its projects and leave the area immediately. Similarly, RRC in Yei, Central Equatoria, declined to sign permits for movement out of Yei while authorities in New Fangak, Jonglei, demanded payment of land subscription fees from agencies. Attempts to query or resist the demands resulted in restrictions in movement and threats to staff

Khartoum, Sudan – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director, David Beasley, accompanied by teams from WFP’s Sudan and South Sudan operations and leaders of the UN country team in Sudan have achieved a significant breakthrough in humanitarian access, by landing in Yabus, a town in the Southern Blue Nile State where they witnessed a food distribution to its war and flood-stricken residents for the first time in nearly a decade.

The UN team included the United Nations Children’s Fund, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, World Health Organisation, United Nations Population Fund and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from Sudan.

Parts of southern Blue Nile State have been inaccessible to UN agencies and most humanitarian groups since conflict began there and in the Nuba mountains of South Kordofan in May 2011.

In October, Beasley used his good offices to support a humanitarian confidence-building visit to Kauda in South Kordofan – the first UN visit to the area in nearly a decade. This followed months of negotiations with the new Government of Sudan, leaders of South Sudan and the Sudan People Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) leader, Abdulaziz Al-Hilu. Following this visit, commitments were made to enable humanitarian access to the conflict-affected areas of Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

“This is a new day in a new Sudan and a government that recognizes the value and the dignity of the Sudanese people wherever they live and whoever they are,” said David Beasley, Executive Director of the World Food Programme. “We will be doing assessments in all the areas that need assistance over the next few months to help everyone who needs this help at this critical time.”

The first UN humanitarian assistance in the area in nearly a decade was distributed by a WFP-led, UN interagency team. The UN team provided food to nearly 10,000 people in Yabus. This was made possible through the work of UN staff from Sudan and cross-border assistance from South Sudan. The United Nations humanitarian agencies in Sudan will move forward together to provide sustained assistance to address food security, health, education and livestock health deficits in the area.

Yabus and some areas in the Blue Nile State were recently affected by floods, pests and diseases resulting in low farm harvests leaving many of its residents short of food.

The support we have received from Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdok, Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan “Hemeti” Dagalo, Chairman of the Sovereign Council, Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan and Cdr. Abdul Aziz Adam al-Hilu, Chairman and C-in-C of the SPLM/A-N has been extraordinary.

Sudan’s economic crisis is affecting living conditions and pushing more people into poverty. Nearly 9.3 million people – one in four in Sudan – will need humanitarian assistance in 2020. Around 5.8 million people are food-insecure. That number could rise to more than 10 million if wheat and fuel subsidies are removed. The cost of food has more than doubled in the past year.

WFP and its partners are ready to address rising humanitarian needs, while helping strengthen social protection systems to respond to the challenging economic situation and reduce the impact of planned subsidy reforms. WFP supports internally displaced people, refugees, and vulnerable people through a mixture of cash, food and vouchers. More robust social safety nets are needed to cushion them against the impact of macro-economic reforms.

Additional funding is needed to enable WFP to meet the increasing humanitarian needs across Sudan. WFP Sudan faces a funding shortfall of US$29 million for the next six months. This may increase, given the rising humanitarian needs.

The United Nations World Food Programme - saving lives in emergencies and changing lives for millions through sustainable development. WFP works in more than 80 countries around the world, feeding people caught in conflict and disasters, and laying the foundations for a better future.

Follow us on Twitter @WFP_MENA, @WFP_AR, @WFP_media, @WFP_Sudan

For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org (mailto:firstname.lastname@wfp.org) ):

Abeer Etefa, WFP/Cairo, Mob. +201 0666 34352

Frances Kennedy, WFP/ Rome, Tel. +39 06 6513 3725, Mob. +39 346 7600 806

Bettina Luescher, WFP/Geneva/Berlin, Mob. +49 160 992 617 30

Jane Howard, WFP/London, Tel. +44 (0) 20 3857 7413, Mob. +44 796 8008 474

Steve Taravella, WFP/Washington, Tel. +1 202 653 1149, Mob. +1 202 770 5993

HIGHLIGHTS

• Improved security conditions and humanitarian access ease operational challenges for relief actors

• HAC revokes registration for more than 50 local NGOs

• Vector-borne and waterborne disease transmission increases following widespread flooding

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

• The Government of Sudan (GoS) has begun reforming and restructuring its Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) in order to ease humanitarian access restrictions and other operational impediments, as well as permitting some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) previously expelled by the former government to return to Sudan. However, relief actors note that challenges remain, particularly concerning freedom of movement.

• Despite improvements in humanitarian access and security conditions, an estimated 9.3 million people in Sudan were in need of humanitarian assistance as of early December, representing an increase of approximately 800,000 people from mid-year estimates, according to the UN’s newly released 2020 Global Humanitarian Overview (GHO). The GHO estimates that $1.4 billion in humanitarian funding is required to meet emergency needs in Sudan in 2020.

CONTEXT AND METHODOLOGY

Renk Town is located in Renk County, Upper Nile State, near South Sudan’s border with Sudan. Since independence in 2011, Renk has been a major destination and transit point to other parts of Upper Nile State for arrivals from Sudan.

REACH monitors three transit sites in Renk Town, two road points (Sukjima and Zero bus stations) and one port (Renk Port), to record inbound and outbound households (HHs) coming to, from or through the town on a daily basis. Data is collected at HH level on HH demographics and vulnerabilities, transportation routes, key push/pull factors and intentions. Data collected daily is then summarised into a monthly factsheet to provide humanitarian actors with an overview of cross-border movement trends.

While enumerators aim to interview as many HHs as possible, it is often impossible to interview all HHs during high traffic hours. Moreover, this exercise does not capture population movements at informal border sites or movement outside of data collection hours (9:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m). Additionally, data collection is not conducted directly at the border entry point and some populations reportedly do not continue to Renk Town. As a result, data presented in this factsheet does not capture all population movements and as such findings are not representative but rather indicative only of broader population movement trends for the assessed population.1 This factsheet is based on primary data collected from 5-30 November 2019.

Increase in new arrivals at Pamdong Reception Centre: On 12 December, an inter-agency meeting was held at the Pamdong Reception Centre to review the operational response. Registered new arrivals at the Centre have reached 4,175, comprising of 1,053 families who await relocation to the Benishangul-Gumuz Region. The first relocation of 300 individuals, from an initial caseload of 1,000 individuals scheduled to relocate will commence on 20 December. There is an additional caseload of some 1,000 persons who have expressed a willingness to relocate, pending their registration. The majority of the new arrivals are from Jonglei and Upper Nile states in South Sudan.

UNHCR and partners continue to enhance service delivery to meet the needs of the new arrivals in Pamdong. Teams from the Regional Health Bureau vaccinated a total of 1,097 children from 0-15 years of age for Polio and 1,041 children from 6 months to 15 years were vaccinated for measles. Vitamin A supplementation and deworming tablets (albendazole) were also provided to 561 children of 6-59 months and 423 children of 2-5 years respectively to improve their health status and reduce the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases. Clinical consultation activities taking place five days in a week, including the emergency referrals, have continued. The daily potable water supply delivery to the Centre has double to respond to increased demand, with two water points established to minimise over-crowding. A comprehensive WASH Joint Field Assessment concluded last week, with additional prioritized water, sanitation and hygiene services; and promotion activities, to be further expanded.

Rate of new arrivals places strain on humanitarian services in northern Ethiopia: A total of 2,808 new arrivals from Eritrea were registered in the Tigray and Afar regions. The rate of arrival is in line with a monthly average of some 6,000 persons throughout 2019. The majority of new arrivals continue to be accommodated within existing camps in the Tigray Regional State (70 percent), with a remaining caseload assisted in the Afar Regional State. Reception and registration services are being reinforced, together with investments in WASH and shelter services.

Children account for 44 percent of the total refugee population residing in the Tigray camps, of whom 27 percent arrive unaccompanied or separated from their families. Unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) continue to arrive at an average of 30 per day, requiring immediate care arrangements, first at the Endabaguna Reception Centre and upon referral to the camps. This has placed a strain on reception facilities; including emergency education and individual counselling and psycho-social support services, with the Endabaguna Reception Centre accommodating upwards of 1,000 children at any one time until appropriate care arrangement can be identified. UNHCR with the support from RefugePoint, conducted a one-day workshop on Best Interest Procedures in which 40 staff members from UNHCR, and those of partner organizations participated. The training workshop sought to strengthen understanding of fundamentals of child protection, as well as reviewing essential case management practices.

The response to Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) in Aysaita Camp in the Afar Region has continued, with the establishment of an isolation centre within the camp’s primary health care clinic, together with the provision of related supplies, and the construction of sanitation and hygiene facilities. While the camp population has reached 21,106, contributing to the potential for communicable disease outbreaks, no new AWD cases were reported during the previous week. In the Tigray Region, while sanitation services have made incremental gains in improving overall household latrine coverage; with only 36 percent of households currently able to access a drop-hole latrine or drop-hole toilet, the construction of emergency latrines to support new arrivals has been prioritized. Transitional shelter coverage continues to remain low, at 33 percent due to resource constraints. Nonetheless, new shelter construction reached 194 units in Barhale Camp, with the annual target of 216 expected to be achieved by the end of year.