Sudan OCHA bulletin 20: East, West, and North Darfur mostly affected by measles

As of 3 May, 4,127 suspected cases of measles have been reported in Sudan with 2,336 cases confirmed. The total number of deaths in 2015 has risen to 35, with recent fatalities reported in East Darfur, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Sudan reported in its bulletin last week.

East, West, and North Darfur states account for 25 of the 35 reported deaths (71.4 percent). The total number of outbreak affected localities remained the same as previous weeks, with 32 affected localities in 14 states. The majority of measles cases continue to be reported by hospitals, indicating a high incidence of complicated cases that require inpatient care.

The first phase of a measles vaccination campaign, run by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and supported by the UN World Health Organisation (WHO), Unicef, and local health partners, began on 22 April and lasted for roughly ten days. About 1.66 million children aged 6 months to 15 years in 28 of the highest risk localities across six states were targeted

East Darfur displaced

An estimated 24,000 people displaced during the fighting between Ma’aliya and Rizeigat tribesmen in Abu Karinka locality on 11 May, have begun returning to their homes.

Unconfirmed reports from the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) and national partners indicate that around 665 houses in the locality were torched during the fighting.

No verification or humanitarian activities have taken place yet in Abu Karinka. Unamid and humanitarian partners planned to conduct a rapid-assessment and verification mission to Abu Karinka on 18 May, but government authorities denied access due to security concerns. Further attempts by humanitarian agencies to gain access to the affected area are currently underway, and it is hoped that the mission will reach Abu Karinka town on 26 May.

Water shortages in South Darfur resolved

Permit delays for the government’s Water and Environmental Sanitation (WES) Department halted the delivery of much needed fuel to El Salam camp for the displaced near Nyala, capital of South Darfur, during the first week of May.

However, successful transport of the fuel on 6 May allowed the water operations to resume. The water supply in El Salam camp now stands at 11.7 litres daily per person. Similar reports of water shortages in Kalma, Otash, El Sereif, Sakali, and Dereig camps have likewise been resolved. Temporary movement restrictions on humanitarian partners in late April, owing to the tense security situation in the state, had caused the delays.

South Sudanese refugees

UNHCR continues its operational response for the growing population of South Sudanese refugees in Sudan. With 392 verified new arrivals last week, the total number of refugees who reached Sudan since war broke out in South Sudan on 15 December 2013, now stands at 146,493 people.

This number is expected to rise, OCHA warns, as unverified reports indicate large population movements towards the Sudan border, specifically near West Kordofan state, driven by heavy fighting in South Sudan’s Unity state. Preparations to increase reception facilities in anticipation of these new border crossings are already underway in West and South Kordofan states.

Read the full report here