Darfur and Sudan: Critical issues for children and women
2009 Humanitarian Action Report, UNICEF
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KHARTOUM, Sudan — 2008 was a challenging year in many areas of Sudan—with floods, threats of a malnutrition crisis and increased conflict worsening the situation in many vulnerable communities. Darfur remains the major humanitarian crisis in Sudan, with 300,000 newly displaced since the beginning of 2008, bringing the total number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to 2.7 million.
Planned humanitarian action for 2009
UNICEF is the lead humanitarian organization in the region for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), education and child protection. UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) share responsibility for health and nutrition activities. An estimated 16 million children in Sudan under age 15 may require humanitarian support in 2009, with UNICEF playing a key role in the coordination and implementation of emergency activities.
Health and Nutrition: UNICEF will procure and distribute essential emergency drugs and equipment to health centers throughout the country benefiting over 8 million children and women; and provide antenatal care and midwifery kits for 400,000 pregnant women.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene: UNICEF will provide 3 million IDPs, students and vulnerable people with safe water and sanitation facilities by constructing/rehabilitating 2,133 wells in communities, schools and health centers; construct over 47,900 latrines in communities, health centers and schools, and train about 15,000 community members on operation and maintenance of water facilities.
Education: UNICEF will provide over 2.5 million children and teachers with basic school materials and recreational kits; train 5,000 primary schoolteachers; and develop a practical guide for operationalizing the education in emergencies capacity-building strategy.
Child Protection: UNICEF will ensure that over 150,000 vulnerable children and young people benefit from psychosocial care, enhanced protection, family reunification and reintegration support, including education and vocational/livelihood opportunities.
HIV/AIDS: UNICEF will provide information on HIV prevention and life skills to 15 million young people, women and vulnerable children and strengthen the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services for 130,000 pregnant/postpartum women and their families.
Mine Action: UNICEF will provide mine-risk education (MRE) to 250,000 individuals in communities and schools; train 2,000 teachers to provide MRE in schools; establish a surveillance system and strengthen data collection on mine/unexploded ordnance (UXO) victims.
Non-Food Items and Emergency Coordination: UNICEF will provide 1,565,000 conflict- and disaster-affected households with non-food items and shelter materials.
Communication and Advocacy: UNICEF will provide 500,000 IDPs with accurate and timely information to enable them to make informed decisions about their return options.
