Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KHARTOUM694
2006-03-19 03:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:  

WEST DARFUR - GARSILA AND MUKJAR UPDATE

Tags:  EAID PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI KAWC SU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4151
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #0694/01 0780346
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 190346Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1944
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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
-------------------

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