Sudan OCHA bulletin 24: Sudan hosts largest number of South Sudanese refugees

As of the beginning of June 2016, Sudan hosts the largest number of refugees who have fled South Sudan and sought refuge in neighbouring countries after conflict erupted in the country in December 2013.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Sudan reports in its latest weekly bulletin that according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) data portal on the South Sudan crisis, there are about 232,000 South Sudanese refugees in Sudan, 230,000 in Ethiopia, 202,000 in Uganda, and 57,000 in Kenya.

Since the beginning of 2016, 71,000 South Sudanese have arrived in Sudan, driven by both conflict and related food insecurity in parts of South Sudan. This is equivalent to about 30 percent of the overall South Sudanese refugee caseload in Sudan, and has led to an increase in needs, particularly in areas where arrivals where unanticipated, namely East Darfur, South Darfur, and El Meriam in West Kordofan.

The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) is in the process of releasing funds available from its Rapid Response window to address these new humanitarian needs. The overall donor response to date has been low. Inter-agency requirements for the South Sudanese situation response in Sudan amount to US$141.2 million, of which only 13 percent had been received by 26 May.

Assisting people affected by the Jebel Marra crisis

Humanitarian organisations continue to assess and respond to the needs of people affected by the Jebel Marra crisis in North, South, and Central Darfur states, including displaced people, returnees, and other affected communities, and provide them with assistance and basic services.

Humanitarian response continues in North Darfur for an estimated 53,900 displaced from Jebel Marra in four locations: 22,600 people in Sortony, 25,211 in Tawila, 2,909 in Kabkabiya town and 3,182 in Shadad camp.

In Central Darfur, 11,500 newly displaced who fled to Guldo returned to Golo, the Sudanese government's Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) in Nierteti confirmed this week. There are also preparations under way by the authorities to assist at least an additional 5,300 displaced to return to Golo from various locations within the state and 16,000 people from Tawila in North Darfur.

New civilian displacement in Blue Nile

HAC in Blue Nile State reported that about 476 families (an estimated 2,380 people) arrived in various locations in Ed Damazin locality from Kurmuk during April. More displaced are expected to arrive because of the insecurity in their areas of origin.

According to 2016 Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO), there are about 47,000 displaced in need in government-controlled areas of Blue Nile. The humanitarian arm of the Sudan People Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) estimated in 2015 that there are an additional 545,000 displaced in SPLM-N-controlled areas of South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

More than 4.2 million children vaccinated against measles

More than 4.2 million children aged between six months and 15 years old have been vaccinated against measles in Blue Nile, North Kordofan, South Kordofan, West Kordofan, White Nile, and Sennar during a campaign that was finalised by the end of May.

WHO and Unicef both supported the federal Ministry of Health campaign by mobilising technical staff at the state level to support the implementation and monitoring of the campaign. WHO provided financial support and Unicef procured vaccines and supplies for the campaign and supported social mobilisation to enhance the coverage.