VZCZCXRO5081
PP RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #2588/01 3041230
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 311230Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5087
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 002588
SIPDIS
AIDAC
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/SPG, PRM, AND ALSO PASS USAID/W
USAID FOR DCHA SUDAN TEAM, AFR/SP
NAIROBI FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA, USAID/REDSO, AND FAS
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH
NAIROBI FOR SFO
NSC/AFRICA FOR TSHORTLEY
USUN FOR TMALY
BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI SU
SUBJECT: CORRECTED COPY - SUDAN - FY 2007 DISASTER DECLARATION
REF: KHARTOUM 2512
KHARTOUM 00002588 001.2 OF 002
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Summary
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1. The humanitarian situation in Sudan continues to warrant U.S.
Government (USG) assistance to meet the emergency requirements of
conflict-affected civilian populations throughout the country. USG
assistance in Sudan saves lives and mitigates the economic impact of
conflict on livelihoods, fostering economic recovery as the country
transitions from more than two decades of civil war. The provision
of humanitarian and transitional assistance is in the foreign policy
interest of the USG, and the Sudanese government will continue to
accept USG assistance as the humanitarian situation is beyond local
capacity to manage. Charge d'Affaires Hume therefore re-declares
the complex emergency in Sudan. End Summary.
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Darfur
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2. Political developments in Sudan during early 2006 have created
opportunities for USG assistance to support and consolidate the
Sudanese peace, facilitate reconciliation of formerly warring
parties, and move the country more firmly onto a path towards
democratic governance and sustainable economic development. On May
5, the Government of National Unity (GNU) and the Sudan Liberation
Movement faction lead by Minni Minawi signed the Darfur Peace
Agreement (DPA) establishing a foundation for building peace in the
three states of Darfur. However, the road to peace has been
hindered by renewed fighting, displacement, and insecurity, all of
which affect the delivery of humanitarian assistance and create
additional needs among an already vulnerable population.
3. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA), approximately 1.9 million people are internally
displaced and more than 220,000 people have fled across the border
into neighboring Chad, out of an estimated population of 6.5 million
in Darfur.
4. In response to the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, USAID deployed
a Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART) in April 2004. In
October 2005, the USAID/DART transitioned to the USAID Darfur Field
Office (USAID/DFO). USAID/DFO team members are deployed to field
offices in El Fasher and Nyala, as well as in Khartoum. The
USAID/DFO supports and coordinates the USG response in the areas of
food security, agriculture, health, water and sanitation, shelter,
nutrition, protection, and livelihoods, as well as program strategy
and implementation with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and UN
agencies.
5. USAID-funded UN and NGO partner programs reach nearly all of the
estimated 1.9 million internally displaced persons (IDPs). The
interventions range from meeting basic needs such as shelter, water,
and healthcare, to providing materials and supplies for sustenance
and livelihoods.
6. In FY 2007, interventions funded by USAID's Office of U.S.
Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) interventions will continue
to stabilize the environment through advocacy for more access,
protection, and security for affected populations in Darfur.
USAID/OFDA aims to maintain basic services in areas of IDP
concentration, while promoting livelihoods via a measured economic
recovery process. Security conditions permitting, USAID/OFDA will
prepare for spontaneous returns to villages of origin. USAID/OFDA
will continue to address crosscutting issues, such as capacity
building, conflict sensitivity, environmental impact, social
context, livelihoods, and protection, in all response activities.
Additionally, relief and recovery programs aim at supporting the DPA
by providing tangible peace dividends to conflict-affected
communities.
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Southern Sudan
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7. The signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) on January
9, 2005, between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People's
Liberation Movement (SPLM) ushered in an era of transition and
recovery for Southern Sudan. However, the Government of Southern
Sudan's (GOSS) capacity to respond to humanitarian needs remains
KHARTOUM 00002588 002.2 OF 002
limited and new long-term funding mechanisms are slow to commence.
Expectations are high among Southern Sudanese that the new GOSS will
deliver on critical services, economic development, and integration
of returning IDPs and refugees. High visibility programs providing
basic services, such as water, sanitation, health, and
infrastructure rehabilitation are needed to increase stability and
support the fragile CPA.
8. The UN estimates that nearly five hundred thousand displaced
persons returned from northern urban centers to Southern Sudan
during 2005 and 2006, taxing scarce resources and weak
infrastructure. In FY 2007, in keeping with the mandate to save
lives and reduce suffering, USAID/OFDA will focus on areas with
highest IDP returns and humanitarian need, and specifically target
areas at greatest risk of conflict and violence. USAID/OFDA
anticipates the largest program sector will continue to be emergency
primary healthcare, because neither GOSS coffers nor new long-term
funding mechanisms will provide significant resources in the
short-term. IDP returns are expected to stress the already fragile
and in some cases non-existent water, sanitation, and health
infrastructure in communities where these groups settle. Food
security is expected to be the second major program sector for
USAID/OFDA, aiming to reduce the need for expensive food aid,
promote livelihoods, and stimulate local markets.
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USAID/OFDA Assistance to Sudan in FY 2006
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9. In FY 2006, USAID/OFDA provided for the immediate humanitarian
needs in Sudan while simultaneously transitioning to longer-term
development activities. USAID/OFDA provided basic humanitarian
services in conflict-affected areas of Sudan, particularly in the
area of IDP returns, and responded to the ongoing humanitarian
emergency in Darfur. The overall package of emergency assistance
consisted of contributions from USAID/OFDA, USAID's Office of Food
For Peace (USAID/FFP), and USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives
(USAID/OTI).
10. In FY 2006, USAID/OFDA awarded more than $69 million to 28 NGO
and UN partners for emergency programs in non-Darfur Sudan in the
sectors of health, food security and agriculture, water and
sanitation, income generation, nutrition, protection, capacity
building, and coordination. In Darfur, USAID/OFDA provided more than
$104 million in FY 2006 to 28 NGO and UN partners for multi-sector
interventions to assist IDPs and vulnerable populations. USAID/OFDA
also supported spontaneous returns of IDPs to their places of
origin.
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Disaster Re-declaration in Sudan
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11. In light of the above, Charge d'Affaires Hume re-declares
existence of a complex humanitarian disaster and requests continued
support from USAID/OFDA to meet humanitarian needs and facilitate
the transition to peace and sustainable development.
HUME