KEY FIGURES
A total of 244,779 *
South Sudanese arrivals in Sudan since 15 December 2013.
* This figure does not include a number of South Sudanese living with host communities.
80,974
Number of South Sudanese arrivals residing in the eight sites of White Nile State, based on UNHCR individual registration.
54,427
Number of South Sudanese arrivals to East Darfur since January 2016.
145,200
Number of South Sudanese residing in Khartoum open areas as per IPP and Civil Registry (as of 11 May 2016
HIGHLIGHTS
- Reports of arrivals from South Sudan have continued throughout July, though accurate figures have been hard to verify. In total, based on both verified and unverified figures, some 90,000 refugees had arrived in Sudan in 2016 by end July.
- In East Darfur, development of the new Kariu site is underway with 900 household plots demarcated by 31 July. The site will host the 30,000 refugees registered in Ed Daien locality’s Khor Omer IDP camp.
- In East Darfur’s El Ferdous locality, the approximately 5,300 refugees previously residing in Abu Sinaidira have since moved on from the area, mainly going to El Ferdous town or the old Raja camp in Ed Daein. El Ferdous town is now hosting a large population of the refugee arrivals from Raja, only some of whom have been provided with initial food and NFI assistance. An IOM team is currently conducting verification activities throughout El Ferdous and Abu Jabra localities, including in El Ferdous town.
- Reports of arrivals into West Kordofan have continued. A WFP verification mission to El Meriam verified a total population of 4,538 on 24 July, of which 883 were recent arrivals in June and July. The 5,745 new arrivals to Kharasana reported by the Government’s Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) have not yet been verified.
- Over the reporting period, 742 arrivals were registered in White Nile state border reception centres. Relocation to Al Waral site has continued, with an additional 762 moved during the last two weeks of July.
- In Khartoum, 203 South Sudanese arrivals to the state were recorded in the month of July by the National IDP centre.
HAC has reported 300 newly arrived South Sudanese in North Kordofan state. An interagency verification and assessment mission is set to begin on 8 August.
PRIORITIES
- Ongoing response to South Sudanese arrivals in West and South Kordofan, White Nile State, and Darfur.
- Contingency planning for a potential influx of refugees into Sudan should the conflict in South Sudan escalate.
- Relocations to the new Al Waral site, White Nile State, to address congestion in existing sites.
- Establishment of new sites in East Darfur to decongest Khor Omer camp and to relocate recent South Sudanese arrivals from Raja to a more suitable area.
UPDATE ON ACHIEVEMENTS
Operational Context
Reports of arrivals from South Sudan have continued throughout July, though accurate figures have been hard to verify. In total, based on both verified and unverified figures, some 90,000 refugees had arrived in Sudan in 2016 by end July.
In West Kordofan, a verification exercise conducted by WFP in El Meriam on 24 July identified 4,538 South Sudanese individuals, of which 3,655 were an existing caseload that had arrived earlier in 2016 and 883 were newly arrived in June and July coming from the Greater Bahr al Ghazal area and Upper Nile state. The Government’s Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) reported in the end of July that the South Sudanese population in El Meriam had reached 12,519 individuals, representing an increase of 6,449 from the population figure reported by HAC in mid-May 2016 and including 1,550 new arrivals said to have come from Northern Bahr al Ghazal in the last week of July. This larger figure from HAC may include some South Sudanese who did not return to South Sudan following the secession in 2011—and as such were not included in the recent WFP verification. In Kharasana, HAC reported the arrival of 5,745 individuals from South Sudan’s Unity state in July. These reported arrivals were covered by the WFP verification that took place in Kharasana in early July, which verified 9,343 South Sudanese, as the reported population may similarly include some of the South Sudanese population residing in the area before the conflict erupted in 2013.
In North Kordofan the government’s Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) has reported some 300 recent arrivals to the state; a joint interagency is scheduled to begin on 8 August for assessment, verification and registration.
In East Darfur, the refugee population has reached nearly 55,000. However there has been a large extent of reported internal movement of refugees within Sudan, particularly within and out of East Darfur, as many refugees seek out seasonal labor during the farming season or move in search of better access to services. As a result population figures for the different areas of arrival have fluctuated considerably in the past weeks. As of 26 July, refugees are no longer present in Abu Sinaidira in El Ferdous locality. On 17 July 5,305 refugees were registered there by the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS); however all have since moved on mainly to El Ferdous town and the old Raja camp in Ed Daein due to the limited access to services in Abu Sinaidira.
On 26 July, IOM began a verification exercise in El Ferdous and Abu Jabra localities, the first of such to be permitted in East Darfur outside of Khor Omer camp. According to preliminary reports from the mission in El Ferdous town, refugees are residing in two areas—a local school and a gathering point—and represent a mix of those coming from Abu Sinaidira who have received initial food and NFI assistance, as well as those coming directly from other transit areas in East Darfur (i.e. Shakabat and Al Sharji) who have not yet received assistance. With the rainy season in effect, there is an urgent need to distribute emergency shelters and additional NFI items. There are serious concerns regarding the health and hygiene situation with a critical lack of latrines and several cases of malaria reported. A water source is being shared with the host community, located some 2 km from the gathering area. UNICEF has provided a water bladder; however installation of the bladder and water trucking are still needed.
Construction of a reception centre and six communal shelters in El Ferdous town is underway to cater to the immediate needs of the new arrivals; the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) initiated transport of the materials to El Ferdous on 28 July. Development of the new Kariu site, which will host the 30,000 refugees who have arrived to Khor Omer camp, began on 20 July. By 31 July 900 household plots had been demarcated; however heavy rainfall has slowed progress. No date has yet been set for when relocation can commence.
On 27 and 28 July, a high level delegation from Khartoum (COR, NISS, HAC, military intelligence) visited East and South Darfur to assess the humanitarian situation and coordinate with local authorities on the response.
In North Darfur, though humanitarian partners have not yet been permitted to visit the reported arrivals in Al Lait and El Taweisha localities aside from a rapid needs assessment conducted to Al Lait locality by WFP on 22-25 June, coordination meetings with local authorities continue. During the rapids needs assessment mission, 1,969 arrivals were registered in Al Lait. Since then, the local aid organization CDO has reported that the population in Al Lait has risen to 5,306 individuals, of whom 2,607 arrived between 20-26 July. Many of these arrivals may be coming from other areas within Sudan, namely East Darfur and West Kordofan states. Partners continue to follow up with regards to securing access to conduct a mission.
In White Nile state, 742 new arrivals to the three border reception areas were reported in the second half of July. Relocation to Al Waral continued, with 762 individuals arriving in the new site, brining the current population to 5,909.
In Khartoum, the national IDP centre reported 203 South Sudanese arrivals to the state throughout the month of July.
From 31 July to 3 August UNHCR hosted a Situational Emergency Training workshop in Khartoum, with trainers from UNHCR’s Global Learning Centre. The training brought together UNHCR staff, UN and NGO partners and members of Government working on South Sudanese refugee operations in South and East Darfur, West and South Kordofan, White Nile State, and Khartoum. Participants engaged in sessions about emergency refugee coordination skills and tools; sector-specific presentations and discussions; and location-specific working groups focusing on identifying challenges and solutions, developing an action plan, and strengthening preparedness for new influx response.