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

THE THREE AREAS
Overview
Humanitarian situation in the Three Areas
Following the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the Government
of Sudan and the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement (SPLM) in January 2005, socio-economic
recovery in the Three Areas (Abyei, the Nuba Mountains in Southern Kordofan, and Blue Nile
state) has been slow. The return of large numbers of IDPs from the North (an estimated 650,000
in Southern Kordofan alone) has further exacerbated pressure on already limited resources,
services and infrastructure (HPG, 27 March 2009). The recovery of livelihoods for returnees has
been additionally “hampered by persistent instability and political tensions. The process of
reintegration of demobilised and demilitarised ex-combatants, women and children also remains
slow” (UN and partners, 11 December 2009, p.65).
Civil and political rights
On 30 December 2009 the Sudanese National Assembly endorsed the People’s Consultation Act
for the residents of South Kordofan and the Blue Nile State. It gives the residents of both states
the right to voice a desire for more autonomy from Khartoum; the popular consultation is
nevertheless non-binding. (Sudan Tribune, 31 December 2009). The outcome of consultations
will be a report, and the government will only be obliged to consider the report (Chatham House,
2010, p.6).
Unlike the consultations in the Blue Nile State and South Kordofan, the referendum law for the oilrich
Abyei allows people to choose whether they want to remain in the north or accompany
Southerners in secession. The region’s future will be decided by a simple majority (Swissinfo, 30
December 2009).
Blue Nile
Blue Nile has the lowest life expectancy for women in Sudan (51.2 years). Health and education
facilities are extremely limited. Only 29 per cent of children attend primary school. Approximately
13 per cent of children under five suffer from moderate malnutrition, and 2 per cent are severely
malnourished (UN and partners, 19 November 2008, p. 113).
The Joint Impact Assessment conducted by WFP and partner organisations indicated that “the
2009/2010 agricultural season will be below-normal in large parts of Blue Nile State” (WFP,
Monthly Situation Report, February 2010). The livelihoods, primarily crop production and livestock
rearing, have been adversely affected by the poor rains in 2009. Around 110,000 people are
classified as severely food insecure (WFP, Monthly Situation Report, March 2010).
Southern Kordofan
Basic services
Access to services is also extremely limited in Southern Kordofan. In 2005, there were only 12
hospitals in the entire state. While Northern states on average have 22 doctors per 100,000
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