SUDAN - FY 2007 DISASTER DECLARATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 002512 SIPDIS AIDAC SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/SPG, PRM, AND ALSO PASS USAID/W USAID FOR DCHA SUDAN TEAM, AFR/SP NAIROBI FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA, USAID/REDSO, AND FAS GENEVA FOR NKYLOH NAIROBI FOR SFO NSC FOR JBRAUSE, NSC/AFRICA FOR TSHORTLEY USUN FOR TMALY BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID EAGR PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI SU SUBJECT: SUDAN - FY 2007 DISASTER DECLARATION KHARTOUM 00002512 001.2 OF 002 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. The humanitarian situation in Sudan continues to warrant U.S. Government (USG) assistance to meet the emergency requirements of conflict-affected civilian populations throughout the country. USG assistance in Sudan saves lives and mitigates the economic impact of conflict on livelihoods, fostering economic recovery as the country transitions from more than two decades of civil war. The provision of humanitarian and transitional assistance is in the foreign policy interest of the USG, and the Sudanese government will continue to accept USG assistance as the humanitarian situation is beyond local capacity to manage. Charge d'affaires Hume therefore re-declares the complex emergency in Sudan. End Summary. -------------- Darfur -------------- ¶2. Political developments in Sudan during early 2006 have created opportunities for USG assistance to support and consolidate the Sudanese peace, facilitate reconciliation of formerly warring parties, and move the country more firmly onto a path towards democratic governance and sustainable economic development. On May 5, the Government of National Unity (GNU) and the Sudan Liberation Movement faction lead by Minni Minawi signed the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) establishing a foundation for building peace in the three states of Darfur. However, the road to peace has been hindered by renewed fighting, displacement, and insecurity, all of which affect the delivery of humanitarian assistance and create additional needs among an already vulnerable population. ¶3. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA),approximately 1.9 million people are internally displaced and more than 220,000 people have fled across the border into neighboring Chad, out of an estimated population of 6.5 million in Darfur. ¶4. In response to the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, USAID deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART) in April 2004. In October 2005, the USAID/DART transitioned to the USAID Darfur Field Office (USAID/DFO). USAID/DFO team members are deployed to field offices in El Fasher and Nyala, as well as in Khartoum. The USAID/DFO supports and coordinates the USG response in the areas of food security, agriculture, health, water and sanitation, shelter, nutrition, protection, and livelihoods, as well as program strategy and implementation with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and UN agencies. ¶5. USAID-funded UN and NGO partner programs reach nearly all of the estimated 1.9 million internally displaced persons (IDPs). The interventions range from meeting basic needs such as shelter, water, and healthcare, to providing materials and supplies for sustenance and livelihoods. ¶6. In FY 2007, interventions funded by USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) interventions will continue to stabilize the environment through advocacy for more access, protection, and security for affected populations in Darfur. USAID/OFDA aims to maintain basic services in areas of IDP concentration, while promoting livelihoods via a measured economic recovery process. Security conditions permitting, USAID/OFDA will prepare for spontaneous returns to villages of origin. USAID/OFDA will continue to address crosscutting issues, such as capacity building, conflict sensitivity, environmental impact, social context, livelihoods, and protection, in all response activities. Additionally, relief and recovery programs aim at supporting the DPA by providing tangible peace dividends to conflict-affected communities. -------------- Southern Sudan -------------- ¶7. The signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) on January 9, 2005, between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) ushered in an era of transition and recovery for Southern Sudan. However, the Government of Southern Sudan's (GOSS) capacity to respond to humanitarian needs remains limited and new long-term funding mechanisms are slow to commence. Expectations are high among Southern Sudanese that the new GOSS will KHARTOUM 00002512 002.2 OF 002 deliver on critical services, economic development, and integration of returning IDPs and refugees. High visibility programs providing basic services, such as water, sanitation, health, and infrastructure rehabilitation are needed to increase stability and support the fragile CPA. ¶8. The UN estimates that nearly five hundred thousand displaced persons returned from northern urban centers to Southern Sudan during 2005 and 2006, taxing scarce resources and weak infrastructure. In FY 2007, in keeping with the mandate to save lives and reduce suffering, USAID/OFDA will focus on areas with highest IDP returns and humanitarian need, and specifically target areas at greatest risk of conflict and violence. USAID/OFDA anticipates the largest program sector will continue to be emergency primary healthcare, because neither GOSS coffers nor new long-term funding mechanisms will provide significant resources in the short-term. IDP returns are expected to stress the already fragile and in some cases non-existent water, sanitation, and health infrastructure in communities where these groups settle. Food security is expected to be the second major program sector for USAID/OFDA, aiming to reduce the need for expensive food aid, promote livelihoods, and stimulate local markets. -------------- USAID/OFDA Assistance to Sudan in FY 2006 -------------- ¶15. In FY 2006, USAID/OFDA provided for the immediate humanitarian needs in Sudan while simultaneously transitioning to longer-term development activities. USAID/OFDA provided basic humanitarian services in conflict-affected areas of Sudan, particularly in the area of IDP returns, and responded to the ongoing humanitarian emergency in Darfur. The overall package of emergency assistance consisted of contributions from USAID/OFDA, USAID's Office of Food For Peace (USAID/FFP),and USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (USAID/OTI). ¶16. In FY 2006, USAID/OFDA awarded more than $69 million to 28 NGO and UN partners for emergency programs in non-Darfur Sudan in the sectors of health, food security and agriculture, water and sanitation, income generation, nutrition, protection, capacity building, and coordination. In Darfur, USAID/OFDA provided more than $104 million in FY 2006 to 28 NGO and UN partners for multi-sector interventions to assist IDPs and vulnerable populations. USAID/OFDA also supported spontaneous returns of IDPs to their places of origin. -------------- Disaster Re-declaration in Sudan -------------- ¶19. In light of the above, Charge d'affaires Hume re-declares existence of a complex humanitarian disaster and requests continued support from USAID/OFDA to meet humanitarian needs and facilitate the transition to peace and sustainable development. HUME