Day: May 4, 2021

May 4, 2021 (KHARTOUM) – Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki agreed with Sudanese officials to consolidate bilateral relations and enhance joint cooperation.

On Tuesday, Afwerki has begun a two-day visit to Khartoum. He was accompanied by Foreign Minister Osman Saleh and Presidential Adviser Yemane Gebreab.

The visit takes place amid strained relations with the Ethiopian government, a close ally of the Eritrean President as they fought together against TPLF forces in the northern Ethiopia region of Tigray.

However, statements by Sudanese and Eritrean sides say that the talks have focused on bilateral relations between the two neighbours.

“The two sides agreed to strengthen the Sudanese-Eritrean relations to serves the common interests of the two brotherly peoples,” reads a statement issued by the Sudanese presidency following a meeting between al-Burhan and Afwerki.

“The two leaders further agreed to strengthen their efforts in the implementation of the Agreement of Cooperation reached between the two countries in the political, economic, social, security, and military sectors,” added a statement issued in Asmara by the Information Ministry.

The visiting leader also held a separate meeting with the Sudanese Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok where they agreed that “regional economic integration would pave the way to resolve political issues,” according to a statement issued by the cabinet after the meeting.

For its part, the Eritrean Information Ministry said that Afwerki and Hamdok agreed to “focus on a few, concrete, projects to consolidate Eritrea-Sudan bilateral ties within the regional framework”.

At the beginning of border tensions between Sudan and Ethiopia over the Fashaga area, Eritrean officials made frequent visits to Khartoum calling for restrain and to prevent further escalations.

Asmara welcomed the collapse of al-Bashir who had bad relations with Afwerki, however, they need to back the government of Abiy Ahmed to get rid of the TPLF and to get back the disputed border area of Badme.

Before Afwerki arrival to Khartoum, several reports in Khartoum spoke about a mediation he would undertake between Khartoum and Addis Ababa.

Sudan recently rejected a mediation by the United Arab Emirates dealing with the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and the border dispute alike.

Source: Sudan Tribune

SITUATION OVERVIEW

On April 3, inter-communal violence erupted in Ag Geneina town. Several IDP camps were destroyed, with IDPs fleeing to neighboring locations. The latest outbreak of violence further deteriorates an already dire situation for the internally displaced people in Ag Geneina whose number has now exceeded 169,000.

On April 19, inter-agency teams carried out an inter-sector rapid needs assessment in gathering points in Ag Geneina town that reported new arrivals since April 3. Before the events of April 3, there were 84 gathering sites around Ag Geneina town. After the most recent incidents of violence, 47 sites reported newly arrived people – with 13 sites having been newly established. The inter-agency teams found about 65,400 newly displaced people accommodated in the 47 sites.

On April 29, UN agencies including UNFPA, conducted an Inter-agency needs assessment in potential return areas in the Al Jabal neighbourhood where government security forces were heavily deployed. Security and protection are key concerns for the newly displaced population in Ag Geneina and Al Jabal areas. There have been reports of threats, including demanding money from women in exchange for not harming their children. More than 40 percent of gathering sites reported cases of gender-based violence (GBV). Sexual harassment/abuse is the most reported GBV concern, with most respondents indicating that such abuses happen outside the gathering site when collecting firewood, water or going to the market. There are reports that men do not feel safe leaving the gathering sites.

Furthermore, UNFPA estimates that 40,560 women and girls are of reproductive age (15-49 y/o); 4,040 women are pregnant, with 449 expected deliveries in May; 808 women will experience complications during childbirth; 87,000 persons will need immediate GBV response; and 811 persons will seek sexual violence response services .

Source: United Nations Population Fund

This report is produced by OCHA Sudan in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It is issued by OCHA Sudan and covers the period from 27 April to 4 May 2021. The next report will be issued on or around 10 May.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The security situation in Ag Geneina town remains tense and unpredictable.
• The Jamarik market in Ag Geneina has been closed until further notice due to an increase in criminal incidents.
• In addition to the areas of Al Jabal, Abuzar and Krinding, security forces were deployed in Gokar and Muli villages near Ag Geneina.
• The top needs of the newly displaced people are food, non-food items, water, shelter, protection, health and education.
• Humanitarian organizations continue to scale up operations. As of 3 May, about 124,400 people have received food, and over 51,000 people accessed healthcare services in Ag Geneina locality.
• Over 30,000 people have access to at least 10 litres of safe water per day.
• About US$65 million is urgently needed to meet the urgent lifesaving needs of the displaced people in West Darfur.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

The security situation in Ag Geneina town is tense and unpredictable, with criminal incidents reported frequently. On 28 April, Al Jamarik market in Ag Geneina was closed until further notice following the decision of the Executive Director of Ag Geneina locality. The decision came after an increase in criminal acts by armed groups and cases of killings inside the market. In the latest incident, on 27 April, one person was killed and two others were wounded at the market.

On 29 April, state authorities said the security situation in Ag Geneina, particularly the southern parts of the town, has improved and encouraged aid agencies to resume operations in those areas. The Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) reported that there are 11 new gathering sites in addition to the 97 existing sites, with many people in those sites requiring assistance. Please see the sections below to see details about the response.

Humanitarian organizations highlighted the issue of security and safety for people displaced and aid workers. They raised their concerns about the lack of measures to protect assets and prevent the looting of humanitarian supplies. HAC will discuss these issues with members of the state security committee.

On 29 April, an inter-agency needs assessment was carried out in potential return areas in Al Jabal neighbourhood. A heavy presence of security forces in the area was observed. In addition to improved security, the provision of basic services, such as food, water, shelter and non-food items (NFIs) need to resume in this neighbourhood. The returnees also raised the need for psychosocial support for children. Community leaders are encouraging internally displaced persons (IDPs) to return home saying the security situation has improved. Direct observations, especially in newly established gathering sites, showed high psychological distress levels among IDP women and girls, overcrowding, and a lack of essential services such as water, health, shelter, and food. Protection, including gender-based violence (GBV), sexual harassment, and physical assault, were reported as top concerns in the IDP gathering sites and surrounding areas.

Whilst humanitarians are responding to the urgent needs there are shortages of funds which could lead to the suspension of support to several health facilities. The existing capacities are not sufficient to cope with the caseload. With the rainy season approaching, scaling up given current capacity limitations can prove to be a major challenge.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in the first four months of 2021 close to 237,000 people were displaced by conflict in Darfur – more than four times the 58,000 people displaced by conflict in 2020 – creating a significant increase in new needs.

Due to the political situation in neighbouring Chad, information available suggests a potential influx of Chadian refugees into North, Central, and West Darfur states. UNHCR has developed four response planning scenarios with a planning figure of -100,000 refugees.

Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Students, teachers and parents look ahead as senior 4 exams finish

You can sense the jubilation at Development Secondary School in Juba as senior four students braced the blistering heat to celebrate the completion of their secondary school examinations. Happy and excited, students jumped with joy after dusting the last examination paper- the day they have been looking forward to for four years is finally over. The whole school erupted into hugging, cheering, and overall joy, knowing that they can join the university and get their degrees.

“The exams were fair, not hard, not easy, but it was fair. It was good enough for us to finish,” Daniel Athien (17), a senior 4 student, joyfully expressed after putting down his pencil. “I can’t wait to get the results and join the university. I am very excited to enrol for my bachelor’s degree in logistics studies; it is so appealing.”

On 20 March 2020, all schools in South Sudan were closed and almost 2 million children were forced out of classes due to COVID-19 preventive measures. With the academic year cut just six weeks in, many students were worried they would never be able to sit their final exams and finish their education.

Students tried to keep learning at home, but Wendy Ahonda (16) explains it was no easy feat. The family noise meant she had to study at a neighbour’s house or wait until the nighttime snoring stopped before she could open her books. Lawrence Mathew (15), a senior three student says also he has been struggling; “We have been out of school and idle at home for over a year, sometimes we revise our past lessons, but we are losing hope that our classes will reopen.”

For Daniel, Wendy and other candidates sitting their final exams in early 2021, education resumed last year in October 2020. “Usually, we look forward to the holidays, but suddenly our holiday became so long,” Wendy said. However, catching up on seven months of lost education and preparing for the biggest exam of our lives was stressful.

“I am happy that right now, we can study again. My plan for the exam is to study as much as possible, keep on reading every day and hope that I am ready for the examination,” said Daniel, days after returning to school. Both Wendy and Daniel made it through the lessons and were part of the scenes of joy and relief after the last exam was done.

“This year is unique; I am proud of all candidates who never experienced school closures before, and despite the pandemic and crazy things happening, reading for exams in a short time. I believe we are going to excel in the exams, and I am glad we have made it,” Windy says with a grin.

Now, it’s time for Lawrence and the rest of the children to return to school. The Minister of General Education and Instruction (MoGEI) has just announced that all schools in South Sudan will reopen on 3 May 2021. “Overstaying at home is embarrassing us and erasing away the knowledge we acquired from our teachers. I am excited to hear schools will reopen and soon we shall get to reunite with friends and teachers to learn more,” Lawrence said.

Parents are also thrilled to see their children returning to school. “I am happy that schools are going to reopen. Seeing children at home idle is having a profound negative effect on children, especially girls that are being married off at a tender age,” says Nathalina Samuel, a mother of seven children. “When schools reopen, we will notice a reduced number of female students,” she says with sadness in her eyes. Even the teachers are ready to go back to work. Noel Kana is one of them, “I am happy to hear that schools will reopen because being idle is not suitable for learners. Students and pupils learn different things in contrast to what is taught in schools as they are not keen to revise their books; only the reopening of schools can make everything better, and the learning process will resume smoothly.”

UNICEF has been one of many strong advocates for the reopening of schools. In South Sudan, schools provide more than just academics. At school, students learn social and emotional skills and it’s a safe place for the most vulnerable. Schools protect learners from harmful cultural practices and work as an access point for services including water, sanitation and hygiene and food. UNICEF is working with the Ministry of General Education and Instruction to prepare schools for the reopening and we are excited to note that this year will be the first with the new South Sudan curriculum.

UNICEF is thankful for all the support from our trusted Education partners, including Canada, EU/ECHO, Norway, Sweden, the Global Partnership for Education, UKAID and USAID.

Source: UN Children’s Fund