UNHCR demarcating new refugee camps in East Darfur

Despite weather-related challenges including heavy rain, planning and land demarcation is ongoing by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) for the construction of two new camps in Kario and Al Nimir, East Darfur.

The camps will accommodate an estimated 30,000 and 10,000 South Sudanese refugees respectively.

According to the weekly Humanitarian Bulletin by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), some 88,000 refugees from South Sudan are estimated to have arrived in parts of Sudan since January 2016, fleeing ongoing conflict and heightened food insecurity, of whom over 50,500 are in East Darfur alone.

In the new Kario site, 45 kilometres outside of state capital Ed Daein in Bahr Al Arab locality, land has been demarcated for housing plots and essential health, water, sanitation and hygiene services, with other services such as child-friendly spaces, schools, distribution points and camp management to be demarcated soon. Two boreholes are being drilled by UNICEF, and between 50 and 100 latrines including household latrines and one water bladder are being installed initially, with further services to be provided prior to relocation to the camp.

Agencies on the ground are assessing the number of South Sudanese households in Khor Omer IDP camp that will be relocated to Kario camp, and adjusting figures to take account of any households that may have left Khor Omer to seek seasonal labour in surrounding farms, including in North Darfur. In many cases, at least one family member per household has reportedly remained.

Planning of new site for Fertit refugees in Assalaya locality, East Darfur

A site in Al Nimir, in Assalaya locality about 13 kilometres outside of Ed Daein, will accommodate recently-arrived Fertit refugees from Raja, South Sudan. This refugee site is currently in the planning stage. Due to the continued high mobility of South Sudanese refugees in East Darfur, it remains a challenge to get timely and accurate estimates of the number of refugees in different locations; however, efforts are ongoing to gain a clear understanding of numbers and locations and to provide assistance where needed.

More than 5,300 South Sudanese refugees reportedly in North Darfur

Over 5,300 South Sudanese refugees fleeing food insecurity and conflict are reportedly in Al Lait locality, North Darfur, according to the NNGO Community Development Organisation (CDO). These refugees may be part of a secondary movement from East Darfur. Health concerns among the refugee community have been reported, including five new cases of suspected measles. Since early June, some 79 cases of suspected measles have been reported in the area, according to CDO. A mobile clinic run by CDO is carrying out case management and routine vaccination activities, and awareness activities have also been begun.

(Source: OCHA)