ACT Darfur Fact File

ACT International continues to work in Darfur to reach over 297,000 people in South and West Darfur who are affected by the ongoing conflict.

Along with Action by Churches Together (ACT) International, Caritas supports the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) Darfur programme.

The programme is implemented by three partner agencies, NCA, Sudanaid, and Sudan Council of Churches (SCC).

On 4 March, the International Criminal Court announcement to indict the Sudanese President resulted in a sequence of events that created uncertainty for humanitarian agencies in Darfur. In the days that followed, peaceful demonstrations took place in all major Darfur towns.

In reaction to the indictment, the federal government made a decision to expel 13 international NGOs from Sudan and close 3 national NGOs including SUDO. The agencies were accused of overstepping their mandates by interfering with political matters.

In order to fill humanitarian gaps in West Darfur our programme took on extra Water and Sanitation activities in Hassa Hissa and Hamadia camps following the expulsion of two agencies, and began to support clinics and nutrition centres formerly run by SUDO.

In March a third partner SUDO was closed by the government following the ICC indictment. Work in a sixth sector; Agriculture which had been solely carried out by SUDO has been suspended.

The programme faced some challenges in the first quarter due to difficulties in securing visas and permits for key international personnel.

The security situation remained unpredictable with a continued risk for hijacking. In March and April there were two abductions of aid workers. This new aspect of insecurity places additional strain on an already challenging environment for humanitarian workers.

The following are the main achievements during the quarter:

• 640 m³ per day or a total of 57,600 m³ of chlorinated water was supplied during the quarter through operation and maintenance of motorized water distribution networks from 28 tanks/bladders in West Darfur.
  
• In Zalingei, NCA took over supply of water and sanitation services in Hassa Hissa and Hamadia camps following the expulsion of some INGOs serving about 120,000 beneficiaries.
  
• NCA also took over water supply and sanitation services in Bilel Camp serving about 27,000 people.
  
• A total of 13 bore holes were drilled, of which 10 were successful, 8 hand dug wells were improved, and a total of 56 hand pumps were repaired & rehabilitated together with communities in Zalingei and Garsilla.
  
• A solar powered pumping system project for Kubum IDP is under implementation.
  
• 620 house hold latrines were constructed and 942 latrines were rehabilitated in West Darfur. In Zalingei, 500 latrines were rehabilitated in Khamsadagaig IDP Camp. In Garsilla area, rehabilitated 442 IDP latrines in Deleij IDP camp
  
• 15,790 households were reached with hygiene messages: 12,025 in Zalingei & 3,765 in Garsila.
  
• In Zalingei, 2 Children’s Hygiene and Sanitation Training sessions were held for students, 1,575 pieces of soaps were distributed at IDPs schools with VIP latrines and, 5,400 pieces of sanitary cotton were distributed for 14 year old girls.
  
• In Zalingei 494 hygiene education sessions were carried out in various locations including water points, health clinics, nutrition centres, schools, public places and during house to house visits.
  
• Different hygiene awareness were utilised including 75 video and drama shows presented in the community and 6,403 posters with hygiene messages distributed.
  
• Cleaning campaigns continued and 203 were conducted in West Darfur.
  
• A total of 32 water point committees were trained, and 68 water management trainings were conducted in Zalingei.
  
• 16 gender balance sessions were conducted for new water committees. The aim of the training is to strengthen the role of women in management of water sources and decision making as well as to sensitize men to share roles and responsibilities with women.
  
• 35 hygiene workshops were conducted. In Zalingei, hygiene workshops were organised and presented to a smaller group of individuals (20-25 people) including women and youth groups to share tailor made hygiene messages as well as to discuss problems related to water and sanitation diseases.

Health and Nutrition

• 61089 (50353 OPD consultations, 4,711 ante & postnatal clients and 6,025 SFP client) beneficiaries were reached. These included sick patients, antenatal and postnatal mothers seen at the PHCs facilities as well as malnourished children; pregnant and lactating women receive food at the nutrition feeding centres.
  
• A total of 10 health facilities (8 PHC clinics, one dispensary & 1 mobile clinic) operated. 3 facilities previously supported by SUDO operated only for the first two months of the year while the fourth (Nertiti clinic) operated erratically in March with support from the SMoH. This was due to the forced closure of SUDO in early March 2009.
  
• Routine vaccination was undertaken in 8 health facilities The Ministry of Health received support to carry out 3 polio immunization campaigns in Hassa Hissa, Khamsadagaig and Deba camp in West Darfur.
  
• A total of 4,711 antenatal and postnatal clients were reached through the antenatal / postnatal services.
  
• During the quarter, 216 deliveries were conducted with 100% live births.
  
• 213 at term pregnant mothers received clean delivery kits at the NCA supported clinics during the quarter.
  
• 6,025 malnourished beneficiaries (3,708 under five, 1,596 pregnant women and 721 lactating mothers) were fed during the quarter under review in all five nutrition centres supported by the programme.
  
• Screening of pregnant and lactating women and under 5’s was done during household visits and 4,657 households visited. 

Emergency, Preparedness and Response Unit (EPRU)

• Nine rapid needs assessments were carried out in the first 3 months of 2009.
  
• NCA continued cooperation with other agencies working in NFI distribution such as UNJLC, OCHA and other NGOs.
  
• Six distributions completed in this first Quarter of 2009. The majority of these took place in South Darfur with 2287 households receiving NFIs while in West Darfur, 520HH were reached. Priority was given to new arrivals and the most vulnerable groups
  
• Two Community Management Disaster Risk Reduction trainings were conducted in Nyala and in Um Kher. The training was provided to enable the participants to assist communities in preparing themselves for possible disasters. This includes being able set priorities, so if an emergency occurs they are able to make decisions that will increase their security and wellbeing.

Protection, Psychosocial and Peace-building

• A total of 11,973 people have benefited from the activities run in the 9 community centres supported by the programme in South and West Darfur. Community centres provide counselling, literacy, handicrafts and skill building activities such as bread-making, rope making, and income generation from a grinding mill
  
• Sudanaid has continued its youth skill building activities such as driving lessons and handcrafts (bed sheets making, food cover making, mat making),
  
• SCC activities included preschool education, adult education and Income Generating Activities such as mat and pasta making.
  
• NCA implemented livelihood programs, focusing on technical skills for youth and women and awareness raising, targeting the vulnerable and key stakeholders on human rights and basic psychosocial support services.
  
• The PPP sector facilitated community reconciliation and trust building activities through training of women groups in peace building and women leadership in both IDP and host communities.

School Support

• Sudanaid completed the construction of Deraige Girls School in Deraige IDP Camp, Nyala. The school will officially open at the end of June and will host 1256 students. Construction also began on a school hall in Otash Mixed School. The hall will be used for youth clubs in the school and community. This activity is part of a wider initiative to create more child friendly spaces in 2009. Construction will be completed in May 2009.
  
• SCC purchased school materials including 7 office desks, 5 cupboards, 35 chairs and 120 text books. These will be distributed to schools in the next quarter. They also purchased and delivered furniture to the Ministry of Education as part of their institutional capacity building assistance.
  
• SCC was planning on constructing and equipping a vocational training centre for 300 students. Preparatory work was carried out and the 300 students were identified.

Conclusion

The programme is supported by over 30 donors including international agencies and governments. The team of 12 international and 311 Sudanese staff works with national partners – Sudan Council of Churches and Sudanaid. The programme also aims to develop the capacity of its national member and partner organisations. There are offices in Nyala, Zalingei and Garsila and Sudanaid has an office in El Daein. NCA collaborates with the Govt Humanitarian Aid Commission, government ministries, UN agencies and other actors.