MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Sudan

Children and women line up to collect water, in the Abu Shouk camp, near El Fasher, capital of North Darfur State. Some 4.3 million Sudanese remain displaced by years of conflict.

Children and women in crisis

The Sudan is home to more internally displaced persons than any other country in the world, with nearly 4.3 million people displaced after many years of conflict.¹ Flooding, undernutrition, lack of sanitation and health care and inadequate education as well as direct threats from violent conflict continue to be the reality for many Sudanese. The spectre of secession by Southern Sudan via a referendum in January 2011 raises concerns about the potential for additional acute needs and may further complicate delivery of humanitarian assistance. The unstable political atmosphere and insecurity permeating the country already hamper humanitarian relief, as do administrative hurdles, making many at-risk populations hard to reach – or entirely inaccessible.

Meeting urgent needs and building resilience in 2011

In 2011, as the cluster lead agency for nutrition and WASH and sub-cluster lead for child protection, UNICEF will continue to work with the Government of the Sudan, other UN agencies, and local and international NGOs as well as host communities in addressing the needs of more than 12 million children and about 4 million women.

Health care and nutritional relief will be provided for 16.5 million people in Northern Sudan; in Southern Sudan, 3.2 million children under 5 years old and 2 million women of childbearing age will have increased access to basic health services.
The WASH goal for 2011 will be reducing childhood morbidity and mortality due to WASH-related illnesses; 327,000 people in Southern Sudan will receive water, sanitation and hygiene services.
Children whose lives have been destabilized by emergency conditions will receive protection services including family tracing and reunification. Temporary care and psychosocial support will be provided for the children and their families/communities.
Among other child protection efforts, UNICEF will support the release, reunification and rehabilitation of 2,200 children formerly associated with armed groups.
UNICEF’s Emergency Education Project will benefit more than 350,000 children and 6,400 teachers in Northern Sudan and assist 1.3 million emergency-affected children in Southern Sudan.The spread of HIV will be curbed among a population of 17 million people across 10 states in Northern Sudan through HIV preventive education, counselling and testing as well as the prevention of mother-to-child transmission through antiretroviral prophylaxis.

Humanitarian funding at work: Highlights from 2010

In 2010, UNICEF estimated that US$172,025,003 was needed to fund its humanitarian work in the Sudan. As of October 2010, a total of US$66,805,039 had been received, or 38 per cent of the goal. Funding helped UNICEF assist millions of children and women in the fol-lowing ways. More than 9 million children received vitamin A supplementation, over 6 million received deworming medication, and some 63,000 children were treated in therapeutic feeding centres. Chlorinated water was supplied to 3.2 million people and more than 450,000 had improved access to safe water and sanitation. In Northern Sudan, 306,600 children received access to basic education, and 1.6 million children and 23,000 teachers in Southern Sudan benefited from essential learning kits and teaching materials. In Darfur and other areas of Northern Sudan, emergency packages, non-food and shelter items were provided to 172,400 newly displaced and disaster-affected people; 1.25 million displaced persons were given packages with jerry cans and plastic sheets for the rainy season.

Funding requirements for 2011

UNICEF is requesting US$162,481,000 to carry out its planned activities in the Sudan. This request is in line with UNICEF requirements in the upcoming ‘2011 United Nations & Partners Work Plan for Sudan’. Immediate and full funding is needed to prevent further deterioration of the welfare of women and children in the Sudan.

More information on 2010 achievements and details of humanitarian action planned for the Sudan in 2011 can be found at www.unicef.org/hac2011 or at the country office website, www.unicef.org/sudan.

¹ United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, ‘UNHCR Global Appeal 2011 Update’, UNHCR, Geneva, 1 December 2010, p. 52.

Downloads