IOM regional response to #SouthSudan crisis (3 August 2014)

IOM Regional Response to South Sudan Crisis EXTERNAL SITUATION REPORT

28 July – 3 August 2014

IOM staff distributes water to refugees. IOM continues to relocate refugees from Akobo and Pagak entry points to the camp via boats. © IOM 2014 (Photo: Lilian Matama)

OVERVIEW

HIGHLIGHTS

OCHA estimates that 1.1 million South Sudanese have been internally displaced. This includes over 95,000 people sheltering in UN bases across the country. A total of 173,616 refugees have entered Ethiopia since the onset of South Sudan conflict in December last year, making Ethiopia the largest receiving country of South Sudanese refugees.

South Sudan: To date, IOM has moved more than 5,000 Metric Tones of humanitarian cargo through the Common Transport Service.

Ethiopia: IOM temporarily suspends moving refugees to Kule II camp after the camp reached its maximum holding capacity.

The security situation in South Sudan remain tense. Nassir town, Upper Nile State became under control of the Sudan People's Liberation Army SPLA in Opposition (SPLA-IO) briefly on 20 July, but was retaken by SPLA the following day. Apart from military actions, many cases of cattle raids are being reported in Lakes State. The situation in Juba remains calm.

Uganda: IOM participated in a joint health assessment mission in Northern Uganda.

Kenya: 42,400 South Sudanese refugees have entered Kenya since 15 December 2013

assistance from Nadapal border point to Kakuma Refugee Camp on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Field data collection, cleaning, review and analysis are underway for the next Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) review. Unfortunately, it is feared that the results of the IPC review may result in a declaration of a famine in the most food insecure areas of South Sudan.

To date, 120,700 refugees have entered Uganda (Source: OCHA Sitrep, 31 July). The Ugandan government has approved the resettlement of 4,053 refugees (currently hosted in the Nyumanzi Transit Centre) to the newly opened Mungula and Ayilo II settlements in Adjumani district. UNHCR in coordination with the government have identified and began the demarcation of a new settlement in Adjumani in anticipation of more arrivals The majority of new arrivals continue to cross the Elegu/Nimule border into the adjacent district of Adjumani or via the Kuluba border crossing into Arua district.

In Ethiopia, IOM has assisted 161,214 refugees in Gambella and 1,762 in Benishangul‐Gumuz since the onset of the crisis last December. During this reporting period, IOM provided transportation assistance to 2,073 South Sudanese refugees who entered the country through Akobo and Burbiey entry points in Gambella Region, and Abrahamu and Tongo in Benishangul‐Gumuz Region.

Since the onset of the crisis, 42,400 South Sudanese refugees have entered Kenya thought the Nadapal border point (Source: OCHA Sitrep, 31 July). IOM and UNHCR are providing newly arriving refugees with transportation

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IOM RESPONSE TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE SOUTH SUDAN: The IOM-operated Common Transport Service (CTS), a free service for transporting humanitarian supplies in South Sudan, is helping partners to deliver aid across the country. 13 CTS trucks remain strategically positioned across the country to provide transport assistance to humanitarian partners. 124 metric tons (MT) of humanitarian cargo were moved by CTS trucks during this reporting period. More than 5,000 MT of humanitarian cargo has been moved through CTS since the beginning of the year.

ETHIOPIA: IOM has temporarily suspended its transportation assistance of refugees to Kule II camp after the camp reached its maximum holding capacity. There is now a back log of 8,000 refugees at Pagak entry point and an additional 8,000 refugees held at the Matar way station which is acting as a temporary Transit Centre. UNHCR and the Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs (ARRA) are finalizing the construction of Pamdong Camp located 5 km from Kule II, and Nip Nip Camp located 2km from Leitchour Camp to ease the backlog.

IOM is moving refugees from the Burbiey entry point to Matar Way Station and is also facilitating refugee movement from Assosa in the Regional State of Benishangul‐Gumuz Matar Way Station. As of 29 July, IOM has relocated a total of 1,762 refugees. Additionally, IOM has moved a total of 893 vulnerable refugees (on UNHCR helicopter), as of 29 July. On request by UNHCR, IOM is also facilitating camp‐to camp transportation for refugees who may want to relocate to a different camp for one reason or another such as family reunification.

KENYA: During this reporting period, IOM transported 301 refugees to Kakuma Refugee Camp, compared to 234 refugees in the previous week. The majority of the refugees hail from Unity state and Bor. These refugees report that although violence has ceased, tensions are still high.

SHELTER AND NON-FOOD ITEMS (NFI) As lead of the Shelter and Non-Food Items (NFI) Cluster in South Sudan, IOM provides essential household items and emergency shelter materials to conflict and disasteraffected populations. To date, 3,260 MT of Shelter and NFI stock has been moved through the pipeline (95% transported by IOM) to 45 locations, fulfilling 132 requests IOM collected two truckloads of firewood during this reporting period which will be distributed to the IDPs by a NGO known as ACTED. The delivery of wood to the PoC helps provide a protected environment for the IDP population as women have been assaulted while collecting firewood in the wooded areas surrounding the PoC. CAMP COORDINATION AND CAMP MANAGEMENT (CCCM) Efforts to increase capacity and improve living conditions continue at PoC sites in Malakal, Bor, Bentiu, UN House in Juba; and IDP sites in Mingkaman and Awerial. IOM leads

efforts to expand the PoC areas in Malakal and Bor and provides assistance at the UN House and Mingkaman sites.

In Malakal, three days of heavy rains have hampered some PoC activities such as transportation activities. Site preparation for Malakal is complete. Relocation into the new PoC from PoCs 3, 4 & 5 is ongoing and scheduled to be completed within the week. At the request by UNMISS to increase the number of people accommodated in the new PoC, land that had been allocated for communal sites (e.g. schools) is being prepared and used for shelter.

Discussion to expand and open a new POC continues, pending funding and UNMISS/humanitarian support.

Meanwhile, the expected visit by IOM’s Global CCCM Cluster Coordinator to South Sudan has been shifted from 3 to 8 August. The objective of the visit is to support the effective, efficient and sustained scale-up of humanitarian operations to meet the increasing needs of South Sudanese affected by the current crisis.

WATER SANITATION AND HYGIENE (WASH) SOUTH SUDAN: Cholera prevention campaigns were carried out in the old PoCs during this reporting period.

IOM hygiene promotion teams used Participatory Hygiene and Sanitation Transformation methodologies to involve and empower in decision making around hygiene and sanitation to prevent cholera. As an incentive for participation, IOM provided bars of soap and buckets to participants as an incentive for participation. IOM’s WASH team worked on the improvement of the drainage system in the old PoC. A total of 13 meters of culverts were installed during this reporting period. IOM continues to support cholera response efforts outside of the PoC by providing daily transportation of at least 10,000 litres of treated water from its treatment plant in the PoC, to the Malakal teaching hospital to assist in treatment of patients.

HEALTH SOUTH SUDAN: 708 IDPs benefitted from daily health education focusing on Cholera and other common causes of morbidity. Health promoters have been actively involved in Cholera prevention, control and creating general health service awareness in the community.

During the reporting period, a total of 624 households were visited. Distribution of long lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINs) has been incorporated into the immunization program. A total of 114 LLINs were distributed during the campaign.

UGANDA: IOM participated in a joint health assessment mission last week in Northern Uganda, after a burgeoning frequency of large and protracted outbreaks of waterborne diseases reported in South Sudan’s border towns of Torit and Nimule. Humanitarian actors are planning to launch a hygiene awareness campaign on how to prevent waterborne diseases. Hygiene promotion, safety of drinking water and treatment capacity were key gaps established.

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For more information on IOM’s Response in South Sudan, see http://southsudan.iom.int/crisis/ Contact IOM Preparedness and Response Division | PRD@iom.int Regional Emergency and Post-Crisis Unit | DANILA Bogdan Silviu | bdanila@iom.int