WEST DARFUR - GARSILA AND MUKJAR UPDATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KHARTOUM 000694 SIPDIS AIDAC SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/SPG, PRM, AND ALSO PASS USAID/W USAID FOR DCHA SUDAN TEAM, AF/EA, DCHA NAIROBI FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA, USAID/REDSO, AND FAS USMISSION UN ROME GENEVA FOR NKYLOH NAIROBI FOR SFO NSC FOR JMELINE, TSHORTLEY USUN FOR TMALY BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI KAWC SU SUBJECT: WEST DARFUR - GARSILA AND MUKJAR UPDATE REF: Khartoum 0619 -------------- Summary and Comment -------------- ¶1. This is the second in a series of three USAID cables giving an overview of the humanitarian situation in West Darfur State. In early March, two USAID Field Officers visited Beja, Deleig, Garsila, and Mukjar in the Zalingei - Mukjar corridor of West Darfur. The purpose of the trip was threefold: to examine the humanitarian situation in the area; see firsthand the effects of funding shortages on USAID partner programs; and attend the opening of a USAID-funded medical clinic in Deleig that is expected to improve healthcare services for thousands of beneficiaries. Current limited funding only allows aid agencies to focus on life-saving activities in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and larger villages in the Zalingei corridor, leaving some communities and conflict-affected populations underserved when compared to the larger concentrations of IDPs that are more easily accessible to humanitarians. ¶2. The general humanitarian situation south of Zalingei is stable. Tensions are low between Arab nomads and settled, non-Arab tribes. The U.N. World Food Program's (WFP) decision to reduce food rations by half in anticipation of the harvest, combined with the elimination of services outside major villages due to funding shortages, has the potential to exacerbate tensions and create a greater pull factor toward villages with non-governmental organization (NGO) services. Additionally, reports of increased militia activity in the area, including aggressive recruiting around villages with high concentrations of IDPs, could contribute to a destabilization of the security situation. The USAID Darfur Field Office (USAID/DFO) will monitor the situation closely in the coming months. End summary and comment. -------------- Background -------------- ¶3. From March 2 - 6, two USAID field officers traveled with representatives of USAID partner International Medical Corps (IMC) to the Zalingei - Mukjar corridor of West Darfur. The USAID/DFO mission focused on the major villages south of Zalingei: Deleig and Garsila in Wadi Salih locality, and Mukjar in Mukjar locality. According to U.N. Humanitarian Profile #22, the localities of Wadi Salih and Mukjar have a combined conflict-affected population of approximately 132,000, including 115,000 IDPs. The NGOs working in the Garsila area of Wadi Salih locality reported that the population has grown from 7,000 predominantly Fur inhabitants pre-cOnfli#t to 30,Q00 p2erEjtl{,"T`0IDXsare%Inwec3yp`#9fuG&h`}WjnOz Arab nomads from camel-herding tribes are present in the countryside. Although the nomads enter Garsila and Deleig daily to access the markets, no rise in tensions has been reported. However, Garsila IDPs claim they will not go home until the "janjaweed" lay down their weapons. ¶5. Like Garsila, the IDP population in Mukjar is predominantly Fur and integrated into the host population. The original population of Mukjar consisted of Zaghawa, the majority of whom now reside in Kalma camp in Nyala, South Darfur. The displaced Fur currently occupy much of the Zaghawa land, complicating potential returns. In November 2005, a headcount by the NGO Mercy Corps found the Mukjar population to be 14,600. The population size remained stable from April to November 2005, but has grown by 700 in recent months. As in KHARTOUM 00000694 002 OF 003 Garsila, there seems to be little tension between the Arab nomad population and the inhabitants of Mukjar. Suspected Chadian armed opposition from farther south also access the market with few problems reported. -------------- Humanitarian Overview -------------- ¶6. In general, humanitarian indicators have remained stable in Garsila and Mukjar in recent months. USAID partners in Garsila and Mukjar have focused on health, water, and sanitation services mainly in larger villages. The Sudanese Red Crescent Society is the only humanitarian agency focusing on nomadic populations throughout the corridor. In Garsila, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) coordinates the humanitarian agencies and their activities, including assistance to new arrivals. In Mukjar, which lacks a full-time OCHA presence, Mercy Corps acts as the de facto coordinating agency. ¶7. The NGOs Tearfund and Intersos distributed seeds in 2005, and healthy vegetable gardens are visible near the wadis. A variety of vegetables are available in local markets. However, the Government of National Unity (GNU) Humanitarian Affairs Commission (HAC) representative in Garsila reported that the grain harvest was not good this season in the Wadi Salih area. According to the HAC representative, a small percentage of the population planted only small parcels of land near Garsila, and birds and pests damaged much of the staple crops. In Mukjar, grazing cattle destroyed much of the grain harvest. ¶8. After a preliminary assessment following planting last year, WFP reduced the monthly general food distribution to one half ration for January through March 2006, in anticipation of increased availability of locally produced food. A recent WFP market analysis in the Mukjar area has shown an increase in grain prices. This increase is expected to have a negative impact on food availability and accessibility during the hunger gap season, typically May through September in Darfur. ¶9. Healthcare coverage is generally lacking in the area. U.N. Humanitarian Profile #22 reports a 47 percent gap in healthcare coverage in Garsila. The USAID field officers visited the Garsila hospital, which receives patients from as far away as Chad and the Central African Republic. Medecins sans Frontieres/Holland (MSF/H) has been providing drugs, medical supplies, charting materials, staffing support, training, equipment, food, and outpatient services. MSF/H plans to withdraw by June 2006, leaving no agency to fill considerable gaps. USAID partner IMC runs four mobile clinics north out of Garsila to the villages of Ordo, Katool, Beja, and Waro, and three mobile clinics south out of Zalingei to the villages of Terej, Karti, and Irikom. IMC also visits Um Kher, west of Garsila, once a week. Through all of these mobile clinic programs, IMC sees more than 2,600 patients monthly. IMC also provides training to community health educators and community midwives. ¶10. According to the U.N. Humanitarian Profile, Mukjar town and surrounding areas have a healthcare coverage gap of 14 percent; however, Um Dukhon administrative unit within Mukjar locality has a gap of 73 percent. In Mukjar, IMC supports a GNU Ministry of Health clinic that is the only operational clinic in Mukjar locality. Nomads and residents from surrounding villages use the clinic; the daily caseload is approximately 100, excluding ante-natal and immunization patients. ¶11. Water and sanitation coverage is generally good in Garsila and Mukjar towns, but coverage gaps exist in some rural areas. The water table is high across Wadi Salih, and villagers have access to water through wells. Several NGOs implement water and sanitation programs in Wadi Salih. Water availability contributes to the high nomadic population and the numerous cattle in the area. In Mukjar, USAID partner Mercy Corps implements water and KHARTOUM 00000694 003 OF 003 sanitation programs. Mercy Corps provided 8 hand-dug wells and 15 hand pumps, and is taking on IRC's sanitation programs as IRC withdraws. Mercy Corps runs a program through which28 women collect garbage daily from designated areas. Mercy Corps also implements a hygiene promotion program that reaches nearly all households in Mukjar. ¶12. Despite a relatively stable humanitarian situation, since January 2006 the security situation has deteriorated. According to OCHA, increased militia recruitment and the presence of suspected Chadian armed opposition in the area has caused some IDPs to remain in villages rather than leave to cultivate fields or forage for food. As a result, livelihoods suffer as IDPs have less access to arable land, firewood, grasses, and other necessary items. As of March 9, partners in the Mukjar area report a noticeable increase in tensions in and around the area related to Chadian armed opposition activity and attacks on commercial trucks. -------------- Effects of Funding Shortages -------------- ¶13. Although USAID partners and the humanitarian community have improved the humanitarian situation in the Zalingei - Mukjar corridor since 2004, NGO budget shortfalls threaten to quickly erode progress. In Mukjar locality, Mercy Corps ceased all programs in the rural areas and now focuses on providing services in the village. Mercy Corps has removed livelihood programs and all village outreach activities from its 2006 plan. IRC is pulling out, creating a strain on the financial resources of the other NGOs operating in the village. ¶14. In Garsila, IMC does not have funds take on support of the hospital as MSF/H withdraws. Due to limited funding from USAID/OFDA and other donors, IMC will not be able to operate seven mobile clinic sites in areas north of Garsila after April 2006. In Deleig, IMC previously operated a nutrition feeding center on the site of a primary health clinic. No agency is currently providing nutrition interventions in Deleig, although IMC continues to conduct nutrition screening in the clinic and refers severe cases to Garsila hospital. ¶15. Comment: Rural communities are already vulnerable because of the tense security situation and marginal harvests. Without access to services during the upcoming rainy season, rural residents could be drawn to IDP camps in the larger cities. However, the lack of security is likely to remain the primary factor of any continued displacements. HUME