UNICEF activities in Darfur
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© UNICEF Sudan/2007/Georgina Cranston |
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Two girls pause during their studies in a UNICEF-supported school in rural North Darfur |
UNICEF works in all three states of Darfur, providing both humanitarian services for women and children affected by the conflict and supporting community development in areas where security conditions permit.
Programmes reach out to both conflict-affected and other communities, to ensure that all women and children have access to basic services in the areas of education, health, nutrition, water and sanitation, and protection of their rights. UNICEF works with partners in areas under the control of the government and areas controlled by non-signatories to the Darfur Peace Agreement.
Key results for children in 2008:
Highlights of UNICEF-supported activities in Darfur during 2008 included:
- Immunization of up to 1.58 million children against polio. There was one reported case of polio in West Darfur in 2008, leading to the scaling up of immunization efforts.
- Routine immunization of over 160,000 children with combined diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough vaccine.
- Immunization of over 120,000 women against tetanus toxoid.
- Distribution of over 388,000 anti-malarial bed nets.
- Provision of vitamin A supplements to more than 1 million children under the age of five.
- Provision of de-worming treatment to more than 840,000 children.
- Provision of nutritional supplies and technical assistance supporting treatment of 53,000 children suffering severe and moderate acute malnutrition in Therapeutic and Supplementary Feeding programmes.
- Provision of iodised oil capsules to nearly 660,000 children and more than 130,000 women.
- Supporting the provision of clean water to more than 375,000 people for the first time, and maintaining existing supplies for more than 1 million people.
- Supporting the provision of sanitation to nearly 160,000 people for the first time
- Supporting dissemination of hygiene education information and awareness materials to over 3.6 million people.
- Delivery of school supplies for more than 278,000 children.
- Provision of training for nearly 1,900 salaried and volunteer teachers.
- Construction or repair of over 1,100 classrooms benefiting nearly 55,000 children.
- Provision of psychosocial support for more than 210,000 children through Child Friendly Spaces managed by NGOs and community-based organizations.
- The establishment of Family and Child Protection Units in North Darfur and West Darfur, managed by local police forces and providing direct assistance for children and women who have been victims of, witnesses to, or perpetrators of crimes including sexual abuse and exploitation. Services include confidential medical treatment, evidence-gathering, legal advice and social worker support provided by trained staff.
- Rolling out of critical awareness campaigns on the prevention of child recruitment into armed forces and groups, directed at families, community leaders and military commanders.
- Supporting the safe return to their communities of 54 children detained after the rebel attack on Omdurman in May 2008, and subsequently released under a Presidential pardon.
- The provision of Mine Risk Education messages to more than 45,000 people in South and North Darfur.
- In support of integrated community recovery and development initiatives, UNICEF is assisting 112 Child Friendly communities across Darfur. In 2008, 10 Community Development Committees have been established in new villages, and 195 Committee members trained in development planning.
