Increased incidence of diarrheal disease in Al Lait, North Darfur, despite stable health situation and improved service access.
Joda border entry point in White Nile remains closed with refugees reportedly stranded on South Sudan side.
Heightened safety risk for new arrivals crossing into East Darfur, due to recent armed clashes.
1,667 New arrivals in April so far
16,357 Total new arrivals in 2018
771,862 South Sudanese refugees in Sudan (*Additional sources estimate that there are 1.3 million South Sudanese refugees in Sudan; however, data requires verification.)
Population Update
ONGOING STEADY RATE OF NEW ARRIVALS – Over 1,600 South Sudanese refugees newly arrived in Sudan in the first two weeks of April. While this is a slower rate of new arrivals than observed in 2017, the flows continue to be steady across border states in Sudan. Over 16,000 South Sudanese refugees have arrived in Sudan in 2018 so far. Total verified refugee population is currently estimated at approximately 771,000.
HEIGHTENED SAFETY RISK FOR NEW ARRIVALS CROSSING INTO EAST DARFUR – There have been reports of armed clashes in Bahr el Arab locality and presence of armed groups in border areas, including key refugee entry point areas of Samaha, Kalama, Umazelti and Abu Simsim. This may have an impact on the safety of new refugee arrivals trying to cross in these areas. So far in 2018, the majority of new arrivals to Sudan (nearly 40%) have crossed through East Darfur. The situation is being closely monitored.
Operational Update
CLOSURE OF JODA BORDER ENTRY POINT IN WHITE NILE – The Joda entry point has been closed since 28 March, with reasons for the closure still unclear. This has halted the crossing of South Sudanese people from the northern Upper Nile region in South Sudan. On 6 April, the Government’s Commission for Refugees (COR), the National Intelligence & Security Services (NISS), UNHCR and MSF-Spain went on mission to Joda, and were able to transport 45 refugees to Jouri and Um Sangour camps. The refugees had crossed before the closure, and indicated that “many” people are stranded on the other side intending to cross into Sudan. UNHCR is preparing a contingency plan for Joda to manage a higher arrival figure if/when Joda re-opens. Two other border entry points at El Megenis and Kuek remain open and continue to receive new arrivals, with 221 refugees arriving during the reporting period.
WASH RESPONSE PLANNING UNDERWAY FOR KHARTOUM ‘OPEN AREAS’ – A ‘Sanitation Task Force’ has been established to identify suitable sanitation and latrine options to address open defecation in ‘open areas’ settlements. The need for immediate solutions for latrine gaps is a key recommendation from the interagency needs assessment, given the prevalence of open defecation and the risk of waterborne disease outbreaks with the coming rainy season. The Task Force is comprised of COR, the Department of Water,
Environment and Sanitation (WES), the Federal Ministry of Health, UNHCR, Oxfam and Islamic Relief Worldwide. Technical assessments will be completed in April to finalize a standardized latrine design for WASH partners to begin implementation.INCREASED MOVEMENT RESTRICTIONS FOR REFUGEES IN WEST KORDOFAN – Partners have observed a tightening of movement between states for refugees in need of medical treatment in Khartoum and El Obeid, North Kordofan. Refugees in West and South Kordofan normally apply for permission from the COR to travel out of state for medical treatment. Recently, medical cases referred for treatment to El Obeid were refused travel permits by state authorities, citing that the treatment needed was available in El Fula; however, health partners have flagged that El Fula’s available health facilities only offer basic services. Recent travel permit denials have coincided with a rise in smuggling cases, with some refugees now turning to “agents” to help them leave to seek treatment. UNHCR is working closely with COR and the Ministry of Health (MoH) to clarify the types of medical cases that can be referred to hospitals outside of El Fula, and to ensure refugees continue to have access to the specialized medical care that they need.
CRITICAL LACK OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES IN WEST KORDOFAN – Recent assessments by health partners indicate that health clinics in Kharasana and El Meiram refugee settlement areas have faced ongoing drug shortages for over six months. Currently, Concern Worldwide is among the only partners providing health services to refugee communities in the state; however, internationally procured medicines require approval upon import. Concern and UNHCR are working closely with MoH has confirmed that drugs approval will no longer be needed for humanitarian purposes, which should work to mitigate delays on transportation to remote clinics in future.
INCREASING INCIDENCE OF DIARRHEAL DISEASES OBSERVED IN AL LAIT, NORTH DARFUR – Health partners have observed an increasing trend of diarrheal diseases in Haskanita, Abu Sufyan, Habib Darma, Shag Allyoun and Jodat villages in Al Lait locality, likely due to deteriorating sanitation situation in these areas where latrine gaps and open defecation remain an ongoing issue. The broader health situation across Al Lait is reportedly stable, with investments made by UNICEF, Save the Children and Cooperation for Development Organization (CDO) in recent months to expand capacity of the locality’s 10 health clinics for the provision of integrated primary health services to refugees, IDPs and host communities, including emergency health services, inpatient care and referral systems to the rural hospital.
ACCELERATED LEARNING PROGRAMME TO ADDRESS LOW SCHOOL ENROLLMENT IN KARIO REFUGEE CAMP, EAST DARFUR – The State Ministry of Education, through support from UNICEF, have so far enrolled over 1,500 refugee children at Kario refugee camp in a new accelerated learning programme (ALP) classes. ALP classes will run from May – June to enable the children to enrol in regular classes during the next academic year from June. The new ALP was initiated to address relatively low school enrolment rates in Kario camp, with just 35% enrolled during the recent 2017/2018 school year.
