7th Quarterly Report: Assisting the Vulnerable Conflict-Affected in Darfur

The Seventh Quarter, January-March 2012, saw continued violence in Darfur, with fighting reported between government and rebel forces as well as between different tribes in South and North Darfur. The kidnapping of an international staff member in Nyala in early March highlighted the ongoing threat of kidnapping. Public demonstrations in Nyala following the replacement of the South Darfur Wali (Governor) by a new incumbent led to movement restrictions to IDP camps and the Abga Rajel area. The security situation remains unpredictable, with a curfew in place from 5 pm to 8.30 am. The programme has continued to focus on Dereige, Sakaly, and Elsereif camps and the Abga Rajel rural area, targeting IDPs and host communities for delivery of water, sanitation, and hygiene promotion services, and livelihood activities. During this quarter, the programme implemented WASH, Agriculture and Food Security (AFS), and Economic Recovery and Market System (ERMS) activities in three IDP camps and the Abga Rajel rural area. The WASH sector is improving access to safe drinking water and increasing access to sanitation facilities through promotion of hygiene and community participation. The WASH project has implemented water, hygiene, sanitation, and capacity-building activities in the IDP camps and the Abga Rajel rural area. The project aims to empower communities by ensuring full participation in design, decision-making, and management of project activities. The WASH and agriculture and food security activities are integrated to ensure water availability and sustainability in demonstration gardens and household vegetable farms. A KAP survey was conducted in the three IDP camps from April 17 to 24, 2012, to evaluate the progress and impact of the programme. The programme has made significant progress in improving access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities. Seven motorized water systems are in use in Dereige, Sakaly, and Elsereif camps, pumping approximately 505 cubic meters of chlorinated water per day for 50,178 IDPs. The average water availability per person per day in the three camps is 13.6 litres. Water analysis has revealed that 96% of samples collected from water points and water containers showed adequate levels of chlorine. However, 68% of FRC samples collected from household water storage containers showed low levels of chlorine due to inadequate cleanliness and maintenance. The programme has also made progress in sanitation, with the construction of new latrines, permanent latrines in public institutions, and bathing facilities, as well as the rehabilitation of household latrines. Hygiene promotion volunteers have been trained and are promoting improved hygiene practices targeting IDPs, especially vulnerable households. Beneficiaries have received information on safe water use and storage, sanitation, and hygiene through home-to-home visits, water dialogues, and storage and jerry can cleaning campaigns. In the agriculture and food security sector, the programme has continued to implement activities aimed at improving access to agriculture and increasing food security outputs for the conflict-affected population in South Darfur. The main activities include local seed production, preservation and storage, seed vouchers and seed fairs, vegetable production, establishment of demonstration gardens, and training of farmers in vegetable gardening and tree planting. The programme has trained a total of 300 beneficiaries in vegetable production and drip irrigation, with a combined total of 799 beneficiaries out of the original target of 800. Three vegetable and tree nursery demonstration gardens have been established in Elserif camp, Abga Rajel East, and Abga Rajel West to be used as demonstration and training sites for the surrounding farming communities.