KEY FACTS
Since late January 2016, there has been a surge in the number of South Sudanese fleeing into Sudan. As of 12 May, about 45,500 refugees had arrived in East Darfur, of whom some 28,100 are in Khor Omer IDP camp.
New arrivals are mostly coming from South Sudan’s Northern Bahr El Ghazal and Warrap states due to heightened food insecurity and ongoing conflict. While rates of arrival in May have slowed compared to previous months, recent food security assessments suggest South Sudan will face a more severe lean season (May-September) in 2016 than in previous years.
The humanitarian situation in Khor Omer camp has improved since the initial phase of the influx, but remains critical. Basic humanitarian assistance across all major sectors has been provided, including food, emergency household supplies and nutritional support. Despite daily water trucking, a shortage of water persists. Distribution of shelters is planned to commence once families are relocated to a new site, as erection of shelters in Khor Omer has not been permitted.
Land for a new site to host the refugees has been identified and permission to use the land has been granted by local and state authorities. Once the decision and process is confirmed at the federal level, arrangements will be put in place for the organized relocation of people to the new site.
On 10 and 11 May, the first inter-agency mission to access some of the areas outside Ed Daein hosting refugees was completed in Abu Jabra, Bahr El Arab and El Ferdous localities. Preliminary findings from the mission indicate over 6,800 refugees are residing throughout the three localities, mainly in Abu Jabra locality, which is about 1,100 more than previously estimated.
A response plan for the new influx has been developed by humanitarian partners and UNHCR, outlining priority response measures and financial requirements up to the end of June 2016. The plan covers response activities in East and South Darfur, West Kordofan and White Nile and amounts to a total of US$49 million, of which $29.5 million is for East Darfur.
KEY MESSAGES
This recent influx, with large numbers of South Sudanese refugees arriving in new areas, was not anticipated. This unforeseen emergency is unfolding in an underserviced area where partners and resources are already limited.
This recent influx is critically stretching the available resources and operational capacity of partners carrying out ongoing response activities in White Nile State, which continues to receive nearly 600 arrivals from South Sudan per week. While no additional funding has yet been received, response efforts to date in East Darfur have been funded through resources diverted from other core operations.
The South Sudan emergency, now well into its third year, will continue unless peace can be maintained in South Sudan. Ongoing violence remains at the heart of the displacements into Sudan and neighbouring countries, while a prolonged dry spell in Northern Bahr El Ghazal and Warrap states has aggravated food insecurity. Fighting continues to disrupt critical farming practices, trade and the delivery of aid, driving up food prices and forcing people to flee their homes in search of food and safety.
Clarity is still needed regarding the status of South Sudanese in Sudan, particularly to ensure validity under all circumstances of the ID cards provided to South Sudanese by the Sudanese Directorate of Passports and Immigration (IPP).
Funding shortages continue to threaten the provision of life-saving services to new arrivals, as well as previous South Sudanese refugee arrivals who remain in need of critical assistance and protection. Sudan’s requirements for the 2016 South Sudan Regional Refugee Response Plan—launched by humanitarian partners on 7 December 2015—is only 13 per cent funded. The actual gap in funding is much greater however, as these figures do not reflect the significant increase in resources necessitated by the recent influx.
Current Situation
The new influx of South Sudanese refugees that began in late January 2016 continues, driven by deteriorating food insecurity and ongoing violence in South Sudan. Though rates of arrival in recent weeks have slowed in comparison with March and April, underlying reasons for displacement remain unchanged. A recent food security analysis from WFP expects the number of South Sudan’s food insecure people to reach 5.3 million between May and September, which would result in the nation’s most severe lean season since independence in 2011.
East Darfur has received the bulk of the new influx, with 45,509 arrivals as of 12 May. A little over 28,000 people have settled in Khor Omer IDP camp, just outside Ed Daein town. The Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) is conducting daily registration of new arrivals, and IOM has thus far completed two rounds of verification in Khor Omer. Six temporary tracking hubs have also been established just outside Ed Daein at entry points of Abu Jabra, Assalaya, Abu Matariq and El Ferdous localities.
Relief items, including food, nutritional supplements and emergency household supplies, have been provided to almost all new arrivals in Khor Omer. The current availability of water is far below the SPHERE minimum emergency standard at 3 liters per person per day, provided through daily water trucking. Ensuring adequate access to water and sanitation remains challenging as the number of refugees continues to rise. Most of the arrivals are still staying in the open under trees or in makeshift shelters with only plastic sheeting distributed by UNHCR for protection.
Procurement is already underway for 900 sets of shelter materials to be provided to the most vulnerable, however shelter materials will only be provided once refugees have been relocated from Khor Omer to the new site. Land for the new site to host the refugees has been identified, and authorization to use the land is in the final stages of discussion. Pending approval, development of a new site will enable partners to scale up response efforts to fill critical gaps, namely unmet water, sanitation and shelter needs. An additional 17,390 refugees in seven other localities in East Darfur are yet to receive assistance.
The first interagency mission to access some of these areas was completed on 10 and 11 May in Abu Jabra, Bahr El Arab and El Ferdous localities. Preliminary findings indicate 6,875 refugees are residing in these areas, particularly in Abu Jabra, and are in need of emergency assistance across all major sectors (food, nutrition, protection, water and sanitation, health, non-food items). There is also a need to conduct a verification to ensure proper registration data and tracking of population movements. In El Ferdous, the arrival figure has decreased considerably from previous data (from 725 to 75 individuals) as arrivals are reportedly moving back and forth between El Ferdous and Ed Daein, and some households have been observed with relief items distributed in Khor Omer camp.