SUDAN: Durable solutions elusive as southern IDPs return and ...

There are also high maternal morbidity and mortality rates in Eastern Sudan.
The years 2006 and 2007 saw outbreaks of malaria, dengue fever, meningitis, cholera and
tuberculosis and in 2008 there was an outbreak of acute watery diarrhoea. There is a need for
ongoing monitoring for further outbreaks in 2009. The population of eastern Sudan is also very
vulnerable to HIV. The authorities of the three states have promised leadership of all HIV/AIDSrelated
initiatives including increasing awareness, fighting stigma, encouraging voluntary
counselling and testing and universal access to anti-retroviral therapy.
Physical security
Eastern borders of Sudan are among the most mine contaminated areas of Sudan. The 2009
Work Plan for Sudan notes that, “Landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXOs) in areas such as
Hamesh Koreib in Kassala state and South Tokar in Red Sea state restrict access to resources
such as water and pasture. UNMAO [United Nations Mine Action Office] has cleared several
areas leading to IDP camps as well as the main access to Hamesh Koreib but a lot still needs to
be done” (2009 Work Plan for Sudan, p.178). A number of IDPs cannot return to their places of
origin due to the unexploded ordnance (UN and partners, 11 December 2009, p.65).
Impact of the NGO expulsions in March 2009
The Humanitarian Policy Group warns of the potentially serious consequences for eastern Sudan
of the expulsion of NGOs in March 2009, following the issuing of an arrest warrant for President
Bashir by the International Criminal Court.
The HPG states that the "expulsions have deprived the East of critical food, livelihoods, livestock
and medical assistance", depriving "the Red Sea State of the technical capacity to support the
Early Warning System that has been set up, raising concerns about the government's ability to
predict and respond to crises in the east." The HPG also notes that the closure of the NGOs'
water, livelihoods and education programmes "will hit some of the poorest and most marginalised
communities in the country" (HPG, 27 March 2009).
The Humanitarian Policy Group observes that, "The expulsions are likely to have limited
immediate impact on food assistance, provided that WFP is able to make arrangements for food
distribution directly or through local partners. However, they will bring to a halt long-standing
interventions aimed at addressing chronic food insecurity in both Red Sea and Kassala states"
(HPG, 26 March 2009, p.7).
The HPG warns that the expulsion of international NGOs in March 2009 "is likely to have
repercussions for the implementation of the almost moribund Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement
(ESPA) signed 2006. Recovery, livelihoods and nutrition programming in Agig and Tokar
localities will stop, and the rehabilitation of former Eastern Front-controlled areas such as
Hamashkoreb and Telkuk will be seriously hampered. Programmes at risk include a
Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) project funded by UNICEF, targeting
Eastern Front ex-combatants, and covering 19,000 children in Haiya, Sinkat, Halaib and Port
Sudan. As with the SPLM, the Eastern Front was not consulted about the expulsions. The Front,
which is currently undergoing a political crisis, is likely to be further alienated from Eastern Sudan
society, particularly youth, potentially fuelling fresh unrest" (HPG, 26 March 2009, p.7).
Impact of the NGO expulsions in March 2009
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