Over 80,000 South Sudan refugees have arrived in Sudan in 2016; Rainy season floods have already washed away many homes; displaced in Thur and Um Tajok Darfur in need

Unless otherwise noted, everything in this post is from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ Humanitarian Bulletin Sudan, Issue 28, July 4 – 11, 2016, which may be found here:

http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/OCHA_Sudan_Weekly_Humanitarian_Bulletin_Issue_28_%284_-_10_July_2016%29.pdf

South Sudanese refugees keep coming to Sudan, mostly to Darfur (61,821 out of 80,758).  Aid groups are currently assessing and meeting the needs of some of them, but more needs to be done.  Some 3,500 of these persons are in Darfur but have not had the strength to reach the places others have, such as Khor Omer and El Ferdous in East Darfur State; rains and a lack of aid staff threaten to hinder assistance to people outside of these places.  It is hoped that they may reach them soon.  And the 6,000 South Sudanese who have reached Abu Siniadira village in El Ferdous Locality in East Darfur are in immediate need of food, nutrition, health, water, sanitation, hygiene and household items; aid groups have started to meet these needs, but much remains to be done.

On June 20 and 21, 17,000 people were driven out of their homes by an armed militia attack on Thur village and the Thur internally displaced persons camp in the Jebel Marra area of Darfur.  They have returned to the Thur area, only to find that in order to remain there they need food, water, sanitation, shelter and health supplies.  The World Food Programme had distributed food for about 12,000 at the end of June, and water and sanitation resources apparently are functional, and Islamic Relief Worldwide has provided medical and nutritional support (including a primary healthcare clinic).

About 550 families moved from their homes to escape getting caught in the crossfire of the June 22 fight between pastoralists and nomadic herders in Um Tajok, Kereinik Locality, West Darfur State.  While the threat of violence has reportedly decreased, peace talks continue and the displaced have not gone back.  Aid groups that were working there prior to June 22 have also not returned.

Various climate and weather monitoring organizations have predicted that there is a good chance Sudan may have an above average rainfall this year, possibly even until November (the rainy season in Sudan is often said to last between June and October).  While this could mean better crop harvests, it could also mean more flooding.

And Radio Dabanga has reported that flooding is now happening in various places across the country, as can be read about here:

https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/rains-flash-floods-kill-13-in-sudan

and here:

https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/torrential-rains-floods-kill-12-in-sudan

and here:

https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/drowned-bodies-found-in-north-darfur-river

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Scroll to top