SUDAN FLOODING UPDATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001210 SIPDIS AIDAC SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/SPG, PRM, AND ALSO PASS USAID/W USAID FOR DCHA SUDAN TEAM, DCHA/OFDA, AND AFR/SP NAIROBI FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA, USAID/REDSO, USAID/SFO AND FAS GENEVA FOR NKYLOH NSC FOR PMARCHAM, MMAGAN, AND TSHORTLEY ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU USUN FOR TMALY BRUSSELS FOR PBROWN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI UN SU SUBJECT: SUDAN FLOODING UPDATE KHARTOUM 00001210 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. Summary. The Government of National Unity (GNU),Government of South Sudan (GOSS),and humanitarian community continue to respond to flooding that has affected hundreds of thousands of people throughout Sudan in July. The GNU Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) estimates that flooding has damaged or destroyed 50,000 homes countrywide. The situation is expected to worsen as the rainy season continues in August and September. The most affected states to date are Khartoum, Northern Kordofan, and Kassala; however, new preliminary reports suggest that damage in parts of Southern Sudan may be equally as extensive. The most urgent need in northern and eastern Sudan is shelter, as rains and flooding have washed away tens of thousands of mud-brick homes. The needs remain unclear in Southern Sudan, where assessment teams are still collecting information. As a first step in response, USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) is sending two airlifts to Khartoum with a total of 1,300 rolls of plastic sheeting - enough to provide shelter for 78,000 individuals. The U.N. is tapping into two emergency funding mechanisms and may issue a flash appeal. USAID will consider additional assistance as the situation unfolds and needs are identified. End summary. -------------- Northern Sudan Situation Update -------------- ¶2. The U.N. Resident Coordinator's Office is leading northern Sudan humanitarian planning efforts at the national level, with GNU participation. At the state level, USAID partners, U.N. agencies, and other NGOs report good collaboration with local officials, strong government leadership, and few bureaucratic impediments to access. (Note: Sudanese Military Intelligence recently denied a USAID team permission to visit flood-affected areas in Kassala State. End note.) The GNU has declared some flood-affected states disaster areas, a distinction that allows NGOs to obtain documents under the "fast-track" procedures initially developed for Darfur; the non-governmental organization (NGO) Oxfam recently received an entry visa for Red Sea State within the 48-hour limit described in the guidelines. ¶3. The U.N. sector leads are still compiling information from NGOs regarding efforts to date and plans for additional activities. The U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF),the U.N. Joint Logistics Center (UNJLC),and the NGO CARE International have provided NGOs supplies such as plastic sheeting, sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets, cooking sets, and water containers through the common pipeline system. NGOs have distributed the supplies to more than 192,000 people countrywide. To address water, sanitation, and hygiene needs, UNICEF has tankered water to 10,000 people and plans to provide water for 100,000 more. UNICEF has chlorinated water sources for 500,000 individuals and plans to chlorinate the water supply of an additional 500,000 people. The U.N. World Health Organization (WHO) is focusing on stocking medicines, providing human resources, controlling vectors, and preventing the spread of water-borne illnesses. WHO has launched a countrywide media campaign to increase public awareness of potential disease outbreaks associated with flooding. WHO reports that flood-affected populations have little or no access to health care facilities Jebel Aulia IDP camp in Khartoum, and parts of eastern Sudan and Northern Kordofan State. The U.N. World Food Program (WFP) has assisted 40,000 flood-affected individuals in White Nile, Northern Kordofan, and Kassala states. ¶4. On July 22, U.S. Charge d'Affaires (CDA) Fernandez and USAID staff traveled to El Obeid, Northern Kordofan State, to visit flood-affected areas and review response efforts. Flooding resulted in the deaths of 9 people and injury to 42 others, according to state officials. More than 4,000 homes were destroyed, and 9,000 households, or approximately 57,000 people, were affected. Local officials and NGOs visited three affected areas of El Obeid town with the USAID team and CDA. The state government and NGOs have formed an emergency committee to provide assistance, including food, plastic sheeting, sandbags, tents, and USAID-funded relief supplies. WHO reported that the number of suspected malaria cases rose from 2,855 during the first week of July to 3,820 during the week of July ¶20. The Sudanese Red Crescent Society, which has opened three mobile clinics in the state, reported rises in diarrheal diseases, acute respiratory infection, food poisoning, typhoid, and conjunctivitis. ¶5. Heavy rains and flooding significantly damaged homes in Kassala and Khartoum states. Efforts are underway to assist approximately KHARTOUM 00001210 002.2 OF 002 118,000 people in both locations. Of additional concern is Tokar town, located in a delta of the Baraka River in Red Sea State. Tokar is situated below the river's water level, and is typically linked to the rest of Sudan by roads that are now impassible due to floods. Approximately 42,000 individuals are now inaccessible, and government agencies are racing to build barriers to prevent the entire town from submersion. The Red Sea State Government has been planning the relocation of the entire town for some time, fearing this situation. However, infrastructure in the town's new location is insufficient to accommodate the move at this time. -------------- Southern Sudan Situation Update -------------- ¶6. On July 20, the GOSS declared disasters in Upper Nile, Jonglei, Unity, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Lakes, and Warrap state due to flooding. As many as 12,000 homes may be damaged or destroyed, according to initial NGO and government reports. The preliminary information available suggests that eastern Upper Nile State and Unity State are the most-affected areas. Assessments are still underway, and the humanitarian community is in the process of consolidating and evaluating information before determining a collective plan of action. The GOSS and the U.N. are leading efforts to coordinate assistance. ¶7. USAID/OFDA is collecting information from NGO partners, U.N. agencies, and the GOSS. USAID will provide more detailed reporting on the situation in the coming week, as reliable estimates of damage, needs, and gaps become available. -------------- USG and International Response -------------- ¶8. Many existing USAID partners are responding to the floods throughout Sudan. Due to a lack of available plastic sheeting, USAID/OFDA is providing in-kind donations of plastic sheeting valued at USD 604,000 to UNICEF and the Non-Food Item (NFI) Common Pipeline. The plastic sheeting is scheduled to arrive on airlifts on August 8 and 9, pending GNU clearances. The USAID team in Juba, Southern Sudan, is analyzing needs and possible assistance options. USAID is prepared to respond quickly in Southern Sudan once needs are known. ¶9. The humanitarian community is relying on multiple mechanisms to fund flood-response efforts. The U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan has allocated USD 4.87 million from the U.N. Common Humanitarian Fund for Sudan to cover immediate needs. Additionally, the humanitarian community is requesting USD 11.5 million from the global U.N. Central Emergency Response Fund for activities addressing two- to-three-month needs. The U.N. also plans to issue a flash appeal, the amount of which is presently unknown. The NFI Common Pipeline is issuing a separate appeal for USD 3.5 million; the USD 604,000 in USAID funding falls under this appeal. In addition, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies launched an appeal for USD 1.6 million in early July, and NGOs are issuing separate appeals for their operations. FERNANDEZ