‘Acute humanitarian needs in eastern Sudan’: OCHA
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has highlighted that people in eastern Sudan (Red Sea, Kassala and Gedaref States) continue to have limited access to clean water and basic services, with many also suffering from a lack of livelihood opportunities. OCHA bases its report on findings of a recent assessment mission by the Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF). Malnutrition rates in east Sudan are the highest in the country, with 28 per cent of children suffering from moderate or severe acute malnutrition in Red Sea State, according to the Sudan Household Survey (SHHS). Access to education is also limited, according to the Ministry of Education. In Kassala State, only 53.2 per cent of children aged 6-13 years are enrolled in schools, compared to 73.2 per cent across the whole country, the report says. East Sudan hosts one of the world’s most protracted refugee situations, with refugees from a number of countries arriving there since the 1960s, OCHA indicates. According to the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), as of June 2013 there are 86,900 registered refugees across the eastern states. These refugees are predominantly from Eritrea, with smaller numbers of people from Ethiopia, Somalia, and Chad. “Humanitarian activities in east Sudan under the 2013 Work Plan are only 27 per cent funded, when compared to 38 per cent for the country as a whole. In total, only $26.8 million, or seven per cent of the total funding received so far this year, has been allocated for activities in east Sudan,” the OCHA report says. Earlier this month, a member of the Legislative Council of Red Sea state warned to Radio Dabanga of “a real disaster” in the area as the water crisis in and around Port Sudan deteriorated on a daily basis.File photo by Albert González Farran/UnamidRelated: Port Sudan water shortage – Red Sea Councillor warns of ‘real disaster’ (12 June 2013)
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has highlighted that people in eastern Sudan (Red Sea, Kassala and Gedaref States) continue to have limited access to clean water and basic services, with many also suffering from a lack of livelihood opportunities. OCHA bases its report on findings of a recent assessment mission by the Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF).
Malnutrition rates in east Sudan are the highest in the country, with 28 per cent of children suffering from moderate or severe acute malnutrition in Red Sea State, according to the Sudan Household Survey (SHHS). Access to education is also limited, according to the Ministry of Education.
In Kassala State, only 53.2 per cent of children aged 6-13 years are enrolled in schools, compared to 73.2 per cent across the whole country, the report says.
East Sudan hosts one of the world’s most protracted refugee situations, with refugees from a number of countries arriving there since the 1960s, OCHA indicates.
According to the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), as of June 2013 there are 86,900 registered refugees across the eastern states. These refugees are predominantly from Eritrea, with smaller numbers of people from Ethiopia, Somalia, and Chad.
“Humanitarian activities in east Sudan under the 2013 Work Plan are only 27 per cent funded, when compared to 38 per cent for the country as a whole. In total, only $26.8 million, or seven per cent of the total funding received so far this year, has been allocated for activities in east Sudan,” the OCHA report says.
Earlier this month, a member of the Legislative Council of Red Sea state warned to Radio Dabanga of “a real disaster” in the area as the water crisis in and around Port Sudan deteriorated on a daily basis.
File photo by Albert González Farran/Unamid
Related: Port Sudan water shortage – Red Sea Councillor warns of ‘real disaster’ (12 June 2013)
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