UNHCR Senior Regional WASH Officer visited White Nile refugee camps Al Waral, Jouri, Al Kashafa and Al Redis I and II and flagged 3 key priorities for state WASH response: Urgent need to rehabilitate and de-sludge communal latrines; and installation of household latrines to address widespread open defecation driven by people’s unwillingness to use most latrines. While improved coverage of household latrines is a key priority of the WASH response, a lack of space in most camps without site extensions requires continued reliance on communal latrines.

TOTAL SOUTH SUDANESE REFUGEE POPULATION INCREASED TO 851,313 INDIVIDUALS, FOLLOWING RECEIPT OF UPDATED POPULATION STATISTICS – This revised figure incorporates updated statistics from finalized registration processes conducted by the Government of Sudan’s Immigration and Passport Police (IPP) in Gedaref, Al Gezira, Nile and Northern States. It also includes the increase of the out-of-the-camp population in White Nile State by 79,000 based on as inter-agency assessment targeting out-of-camp locations. The revised total population figure is reflected in the 2019-2020 Refugee Response Plan (RRP) and in the 2019 Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) and Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP). The revised figure will not affect RRP or HRP budgets, as refugee programming is based on assessed needs.

SUSPECTED MEASLES CASES REPORTED IN CAMPS IN WHITE NILE STATE – Over 60 cases among both refugee and host communities have been reported in White Nile State clinics, with 55 of these cases reported in January in Al Redis II, Al Kashafa and Jouri camps. Measles vaccine coverage in the affected refugee camps is less than 50 per cent. A vaccination campaign in White Nile refugee camps is planned for mid-February.

SUSPECTED MEASLES CASES CONTINUE TO BE REPORTED – As of 16 February, over 100 cases among both refugee and host communities have been reported in White Nile State camp clinics. Measles outbreaks have been reported across most States in Sudan, affecting Sudanese nationals as well as refugees. The State Ministry of Health and WHO are leading on surveillance, laboratory support and case management. A measles vaccination campaign will launch in April.

SOUTH SUDANESE REFUGEE DELEGATION IN KHARTOUM SHARE EXPECTATIONS FROM REVIVED PEACE TALKS WITH SOUTH SUDAN’S LEADERS - On September 4, a group of 16 South Sudanese refugees from Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Central African Republic (CAR) met in Khartoum with the signatories of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and other political parties and stakeholders from South Sudan’s civil society. The refugees appealed to the international community to continue to support the people of South Sudan, and said that they will only return to South Sudan if the situation on the ground improves and there is a strong commitment to the agreement by all parties. They also expressed their readiness to play a greater role in awareness-raising and rebuilding trust amongst South Sudanese communities both in South Sudan and in exile. The meeting was facilitated by UNHCR in collaboration with the Government of Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the Commissioner of Refugees (COR) and the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD).

SECONDARY MOVEMENTS TO NORTH DARFUR ONGOING AS REFUGEES SEEK WORK – Biometric registration of refugees in Al Lait locality is ongoing. More than 500 refugees previously registered in East Darfur have arrived in Al Lait since August seeking casual labour opportunities during the locality’s harvest period. Over 60 per cent of newly registered refugees to North Darfur are young single males. Farming is a key source of refugee livelihoods across Al Lait and is a key draw for refugees to the area. Host communities are also engaged in land-use arrangements with refugee farmers to allow refugees to cultivate land with harvest-sharing agreements.

Regional Refugee Coordinator and Special Advisor for the South Sudan Situation, Mr. Arnauld Akodjenou, carried out a resource mobilization mission in May and June aimed at fostering visibility to the dire situation of the South Sudanese crisis and bolster political and economic support to the crisis.

PLAN INTERNATIONAL SUDAN (PIS) COMPLETES FIELD SURVEY ON SCHOOL DROP-OUT FOR REFUGEE AND HOST COMMUNITY CHILDREN IN AL KHOWEY LOCALITY, WEST KORDOFAN – PIS and national partner ALAAN Charity Organization conducted home visits with 130 refugee and host community families in the locality to identify drivers of school dropout. The main reasons for dropout cited by families include: children needing to work to support household income; inability to cover costs of school fees and supplies; household responsibilities (i.e., the need to support sick parents and provide sibling care); and discrimination. These issues underscore the links between livelihoods gaps and education access for both refugee and host community children in West Kordofan. Protection and education partners are collaborating on ways to address these issues. Scale-up of diversified livelihoods interventions and education assistance to support school retention is needed.

PARTNERS CONCERNED OVER NUTRITION PROGRAMMING GAPS IN EAST DARFUR – Nutrition programming gaps have emerged for refugees in El Ferdous settlement following the ending of Al Manar Voluntary Organization’s (AMVO) outpatient therapeutic programme (OTP). Pipeline breaks for Ready-to Use Supplementary Food (RUSF) have also disrupted Targeted Supplementary Feeding Programmes (TSFPs) for refugees in Al Nimir camp and El Ferdous. State Ministry of Health provision of nutrition supplies for the OTP in El Ferdous ended on 31 July. New nutrition programming is urgently needed.

Over 4,300 South Sudanese refugees newly arrived in Sudan in March, for a total of nearly 15,000 who have arrived in Sudan in 2018 so far. The majority of new arrivals are crossing through East Darfur and South Darfur. Total verified South Sudanese refugee population stands at nearly 769,000.