‘88,000 displaced in eastern South Kordofan’: HAC

An inter-agency needs assessment mission was conducted in El Abassiya, Rashad, Abu Jubaiha, Kalogi, El Leri, and Talodi localities, in the eastern part of South Kordofan, between 4 and 15 February.

The governmental Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC), UN agencies, the International Organization for Migration, and the Sudanese Red Crescent Society took part in the needs assessment mission, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Sudan stated in its latest weekly bulletin.

There are about 88,000 displaced, and close to 9,000 South Sudanese refugees in these localities, according to HAC.

OCHA reports that the village of Um Marrhe, approximately 60km northeast of El Abbasiya town, hosts an estimated 9,500 displaced people, who fled the surrounding villages since the start of the armed conflict in 2011.

“Due to its remote location and insecurity these displaced people have not received any form of humanitarian assistance since arriving in the village in 2011. The UN World Food Programme included Um Marrhe in its 2014 food distribution list, however, the UN agency has not able to access the area due to insecurity.”

The arrival of displaced people to Um Marrhe village has strained existing village facilities, including food and water sources.

“The majority of school-age children in the village are not in school. There are no functioning health facilities, medical personnel (health workers, midwives or nurses) or regular drug supplies in the villages. The periodic immunisation programme is the only health assistance reaching the village.

“For health services people walk about 3km to neighbouring Banat village, where there is a health clinic with a medical assistant, a midwife and a nurse. The clinic has no medicine, furniture or equipment.”

In response, the World Health Organisation will establish a pharmaceutical supply chain, and support a national organisation to provide health services to the people of Um Marrhe. Food will be distributed and water points will be established to serve both the displaced and the local residents.