Inter Sector Internally Displaced Persons Monitoring Visit

Inter Sector Internally Displaced Persons Monitoring Visit

Eastern Corridor- Feb 4-15, 2015

Introduction:

Chronic conflict, mass displacements, spontaneous returns and limited humanitarian access continue to pose serious challenges for the provision of urgently needed humanitarian assistance to the conflict affected population of South Kordofan State (SKS). The conflict in SKS started in 2011 between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Sudan People Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N). This conflict spans across both South Kordofan and Blue Nile states and usually intensifies during the dry season leading to influx of IDPs to Government controlled areas or migration to South Sudan through the porous border separating the two countries.

The displaced are particularly vulnerable because they flee with no assets including household items, foodreserves, seeds,agricultural tools and livestock. In some cases, they share with host communities, who are in sometimes as impoverished as the newly arrived IDPs and refugees.

The Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) had projected thatfrom January 2015,no less than 145,000 people were likely to be displaced and they would move to the Government controlled areas. The newly displaced would require humanitarian assistance in addition to the old case load of IDPs and South Sudan Refugees living in various locations in South Kordofan. So, the humanitarian community started work on a contingency plan in order to be prepared for the projected influx of people in need.

As part of preparations for the anticipated influx to the Government controlled areas, an inter-agency situation monitoring team did a rapid assessment of areas that were expected to receive the newly displaced persons.The mission was conducted from February 4, 2015 to February 15, 2015 with the following objectives:

1) To assess humanitarian needs of newly arrived IDPs and Refugees.

2) To assess humanitarian gaps in meeting the needs of existing IDPs and Refugees

3) To carry-out on the ground review of basic services in areas expected to receive IDPs as a result of on-going conflict.

4) To undertake a security assessment of the Eastern Corridor (DSS)

5) To oversee food distribution to refugees in two localities - (WFP)

Regarding the 1st objective, the mission met about 100 households of newly arrived IDPs, which was below the expected numbers. However, the team did visit a village, Um-marhiin Rashad thathad remained without humanitarian access since 2011 because of its remote location in the middle of the mountains and compromised security situation. The team found 9,457 IDPswho migrated from Banat Village and are currently living with thehost community.

The team visited Alabassiya, Rashad, Abu Jubaiha,Kalogi, El Leri and Talodi localities covering the entire breath of the Eastern corridor that borders areas not under GoS control. In all these localities, the team met with a large number of IDPs who have been living in displacement since 2014 and were yet to receive assistance. Though the Government policy has been to encourage IDPs to integrate with host communities, the mission found a large number of the IDPs living in isolation on the outskirts of the towns and on unproductive land. In one instance in Rashad town, the IDPs have constructed their houses on rocks which make it almost impossible to dig pit latrines. In El Leri, the IDPs found land over a marsh which becomes water logged when it rains.

In general, the mission found gaps in humanitarian assistance reaching the IDPs in all sectors – Education, Health, Food Security and Livelihoods, Protection (including NFIs), Nutrition and WASH. Also, the IDPs and to some extent refugees are exerting pressure on existing services. Additionally, a majority of IDPs expressed a desire to return to their places of origin if they could be assured of their safety.

This report will address objective 1-3 as the other two objectives are addressed in two separate reports. The team comprised of

•Mission participants were drawn from HAC, UNICEF, WFP, FAO

OCHA, UNHCR, IOM, WHO, UNDSS as well as Ministry of Health and two NGOs; Assist and SRCS

•This report, therefore, aims to provide updated information for design and programming of assistance for UN agencies and their partners in response to the identified gaps.

Methodology:

The information contained in this report was collected through

•Meetings with key informants : Localities Commissioners, HAC and relevant line ministries.

•Focus group discussions with IDPs and refugees communities

•General observation.

•Reference to secondary data

Food security and livelihoods:

In all the six localities visited by the team,agriculture and livestock rearing are the main livelihoods. These localities are catchments for IDPs from Rashad rural, Abu Kershola, Talodi and Heiban localities and have been hosting the displaced since 2011. Food assistanceby WFP started in 2012 due to security considerations. In agriculture and livestock support, those living in displacement in 2013 receivedseeds (Field and Vegetable crops) and tools and their livestock were vaccinated through a programme by FAO.

Key Findings:

IDPs case load: HAC on the ground at locality levels reported that IDPs, diplaced between 2011 and 2013,had been receiving food every month with the last distribution taking place in October 2014 with a rationto cover up to December 2014. The distribution was done by Mobadiroon and overseen by HAC. The newly displaced started arriving from June 2014 from areas west of AlAlabassiya, Rashad and Abu Kershola localities and were hosted in Rashad town and Abbassiya town. As they numbers were yet to be verified by HAC, they did not receive food assistance in early 2015.

People displaced prior to June 2014 and vulnerable households of host community receivedseeds and tools provided by FAO in partnership with ASSIST, CIS and NIDAA. Their livestock too were treated and vaccinated. Additionally, some benefitted from goat restocking in 2013.

Um-marhiIDPs: The settlement has 9,457 people (IDPs and host community). The IDPs were said to have arrived in Um-marhilocation during 2012 and have been sharing with the host community food, land and services. HAC supported them with food and shelter. They expressed a desire to return to their original villages in Um Baraka, Tagilbo and other villages. A small number has returned to Banat. Their main concern is transport, food, education and shelter.They did not receive food or agricultural support.

Key food security indicators assessed in the visited location during the mission:

The following five key indicators were tested and used to indicate the status of food security situation of the IDPs.

1. Food sources: The mainFood sources for the IDPs are purchase from market, some food obtained from the limited small scale farming that is always depleted immediately after harvest time. They did not have food remaining from the October distribution. Food sources for the refugees are very limited. Since their arrival, they were supported by their relatives and in some cases contribution by the community. They continued to receive food aid with the last distribution taking place in February 2015.
2. Income sources: Income sources for IDPs were found to be from providing agricultural labor, collecting grass and fire wood, charcoal burning, collecting wild fruits, daily labour in the market, tea makers, traditional gold mining and domestic work in houses and migration for work in agricultural schemes for both IDPs and SS refugees.
3. Markets and supply; Good market supply chain in the three localities of El Abbassiya, Rashad and AbuJubaiha was noted, while seasonal market supply was found to be in Gadir, Elleri and Talodi localities. Market supply is good throughout the year with internal and external supplies that covers the market in a consistent manner in El Abbassiya, Rashad and Abu Jubaiha as no problems in supply is reported during the year. While market supply is seasonal and always disrupted during rainy season starting in June/July and up to the end of October in Gadir, Elleri and Talodi localities.

1. Coping strategies: community support and restricted to two and one meal per day is the main coping strategies, community support and migration for work is also reported by interviewers is the main coping strategies to access food.

Analysis:

Based on discussion and observation, IDPs in El Abbassiya, Abu Jubaiha, Gadir and Elleri localities have the best access to food sources and income sources due to various food sources and income opportunities compared to IDPs in other localities in Rashad and Talodi. IDPs in Rashad and Talodi have a unique situation characterized by limited and lack of income opportunities, limited access to farm lands and insecurity. Food access from other sources is limited. No food balance from the limited small scale farming production, the production always depleted immediately after harvest time. Additionally no food balance from last food distribution that occurred in October 2014 to cover up to December 2014.

So food assistance is highly recommended to cover IDPs in Talodi and Rashad and SS refugees. Food support is needed to cover IDPs and SS refugees in a pattern that does not destroy their coping mechanism and would not expose them to food shortages. Seasonal support or other early recovery interventions coupled with food aid support during lean season will be the step towards improving IDPs livelihood.

IDPs in Alabassiya, Abu Jubaiha, Elleri and Gadir have diversity of income sources and access to farming. They do not have access to certified seeds and their livestock require treatment and vaccination. The last vaccination and treatment was done in 2013 by FAO in partnership with NIDAA. There is a need for development of water sources for livestock.

Based on our discussions and observations on the ground, it is clear that food is required for refugees while IDPs have initiated some coping mechanisms such as limited income opportunities from farming activities. Seasonal support or other early recovery interventions coupled with food aid support during lean season will be the step towards improving IDPs livelihood and in-depth food security assessment is highly recommended to identify the entire food security situation of the IDPs and host communities and come up with appropriate interventions to restore their livelihoods.

The community priorities:

On being asked their priorities, the IDPs and refugees stated the following as their needs: food and water, health, education and school feeding.

Recommendations:

Overall, the mission recommends continued monitoring of food security and other in depth food security assessment for all IDPs irrespective of period of displacement. The host community access to food should also be surveyed to identify the optimum food security and livelihoods modalities and support.

The recommendations in the agriculture and livestock interventions to restore and maintains IDPs and vulnerable host community livelihoodsis as follows;

1-Provision of seeds and tools for summer and winter season.

2-Facilitation for vaccination and treatment and activate CAHWs network to fill the vet cadre gap.

3-Small ruminant restocking and poultry.

4-Establishment of group farming with tractor hire service especially in the areas where there is lack of farming land.

5-Focus in winter season crop cultivation equipped with irrigation units to diversify with field crop production and make use of SMoA garden lands for this purpose especially in Kalogi, Elleri and Talodi.

6-Construction of water yards in the livestock gathering areas in dry season especially in Elleri, Kalogi and Talodi.

7-Construction of fire lines and rehabilitation of pasture land.

8-Provision of energy saving stoves.

Regarding status of refugees, continued food distribution is recommended since they cannot yet sustainable livelihoods unless there is a change in Government policy regarding integration of refugees into the community.

WASH

Safe drinking water was mentioned as a priority among other needs, particularly in areas that have high numbers of internally displacement people. Sanitation facilitieswere found to be non-existent or inadequate along with poor hygiene practices although efforts are being made from WASH Sector to fill the gap for affected people and the host community.

Overall, there are 11 water yards and 46 hand pumps providing water to the displaced people and South Sudan refugees in the eastern corridor. There is an effort to move from diesel power to solar power in a bid to reducethe operating costs in water yards and mini water yardsA total of 996 communal latrines were constructed in different localities this covered only about 30% of the total need, also the WASH sector will be required to focus on hygiene practices to raise awareness in the affected community

The mission assessed needs and service provision in water and sanitation of all affected people who have been living in displacement since 2011.

Situation analysis:

Alabassiya:

InAlabassiya IDPs and Refugees are found in boththe South and the North of the town.. There is one water yard and seven hand pumps of which five are functioning. Comparing the available sources of water with the number of IDPs, there is no gap in quantity of water provided. However, most of the water sources are situated far from the IDPs settlements and some IDPs have to walk as far as one kilometer and beyond, to access water. Regarding the sanitation situation, there are 260 existing communal latrines but some need rehabilitation as they were constructed in 2013. During a spot check, this mission found only two IDPs households had latrines out of 10 visited HHs. Another issue that was observed is that some communal latrines were non-functioning.

Abu Jubaiha:

The water situation in Abu Jubaiha locality is divided into the town itself and the rural areas. In the Abu Jubaihatown, there are three water yards, two of which are functioning and one is under construction in addition to 13 functioning hand pumps. In IDPs area visited there is one water yard that serves both host community and IDPs and in the town there is shortage of water, especially in IDPs area there is only one wateryard serving both the host community and IDPs. Concerning sanitation there are 130 communal latrinesused by affected population but there is need to raise awareness on hygiene and sanitation.

Soragia

Soragia is an administrative locality in Abu Jubaiha and hosts both IDPs and South Sudanese refugees. Access to safe water is good and there is enough quantity for the host community, IDPs and SSR. For sanitation ASSIST constructed 20 communal latrines for SSrefugees and construction of additionalcommunal latrines is ongoing. There is need for enhanced awareness on sanitation and hygiene among the affected population.

The team visited Um-marhi which had been closed to humanitarian actors for two years due to prevalent insecurity. The village has a total population 9,457 (IDPs and host community) people. The situation of water in Um-marhi is good as WES through UNICEF support has rehabilitated hand pumps to serve the IDPs and host community and currently there are 100 HHs latrines under construction by ASSIST and funded by IOM.

Rashad:

In Rashad town 2 water yards and 13 functioning hand pumps are serving IDPs and nearby host community. Good sanitation practices are not fully embraced by the community. For example at AbongaShamal IDP location only two out of 10 HHS visited had latrines. Most of the households did not have latrines as the IDPs and host community found it difficult to dig through the rocks where their settlement is located.

Kalogi (Gadier locality):

In Kalogi there are 2,675 IDPs who collect their water from an existing water yard and seven functioning hand pumps. An additional 6 hand pumps need rehabilitation. Hygiene is a matter of concern and there is a need for awareness raising on good hygiene and sanitation practices.

ElLeri:

ElLeri locality is host to a big number of IDPs since 2012. It has the biggest number of South Sudanese refugees because of proximity to South Sudan. There are three existing water yards and 8 functioning hand pumps serving 8,640 SS refugees and 4,531 IDPs and host community. Currently UNICEF is constructing two solar pumps system for SS refuges and host community. Sanitation is poor in IDPs area - 85% of the IDP households do not have latrines but in refugeesarea the situation was better and there are communal latrines.

Talodi:

In Talodi town the number of IDPs is 13,744 people and there is no IDP villages all the displaced have been absorbed by the host community puting pressure on the town essential services. . Talodi town also has a lot of people engaged in gold mining totaling about 18,000 people.Due to the high number of people, the water is inadequate and the water sources are far from the IDP locations. . There is one water yard and 11 hand pumps (5 functioning and 6 not functioning).