(Extract)
Sudan
Throughout the country, the efforts deployed to link humanitarian aid to Commission development programmes have been compromised by the decision not to ratify the revised Cotonou Agreement. The indictment of President Bashir by the International Criminal Court had added another element of complexity.
Sudan is expected to remain the country in which the Commission has the largest humanitarian intervention. This is commensurate with the extent of needs (more than 6 million affected persons), the existence of three interdependent but distinct simultaneous crises and the limitations imposed on the humanitarian space, all of which drive up costs. In Darfur independent and neutral aid delivery to remote, conflict-affected areas has been severely hampered by the expulsion of several NGOs in March 2009 and by administrative obstacles and heightened insecurity. Access limitations, the impact on the quality of operations and their costs in particular, are undermining protection activities and displacement monitoring. The East and transitional areas have also been severely affected by the expulsion while the South remains an emergency context with indicators well beyond the humanitarian thresholds.
In view of the extent and complexity of the Sudan crisis, DG ECHO will pursue a threefold strategy. The bulk of funding in 2010 will be dedicated to addressing life-saving needs of several millions of displaced people, refugees, returnees, local communities and nomads. In Darfur, assistance should be maintained in the camps and settlements (also to prevent forced returns), in deprived rural areas to prevent new displacements, and in conflict areas. Priority intervention areas are access to basic services and food assistance. In the South and transitional areas priority will be given to those areas where returnees and communities are facing extreme hardship, which is compounded by disasters and displacement. Support for the reintegration of returnees will also be pursued. DG ECHO will promote preparedness and strengthen the response capacity of both aid providers and the communities, for instance through water mitigation and activities that increase resilience to droughts. Last but not least, the support to partners in their attempt to maintain a safe and principled implementation of operations will continue through the funding of common services, such as air transport, a commitment to effective coordination, and the reinforcement of an advocacy and communication strategy aimed at defending the humanitarian space and principles.
Chad
Access to beneficiaries has been particularly problematic in 2009 due to difficulties in ensuring a full deployment of MINURCAT (UN mission in Central African Republic and Chad), attacks by the armed opposition and acts of banditism. The situation in Eastern Chad and in Darfur makes a return of Sudanese refugees very unlikely. In the southern part of the country, the arrival of new Central African refugees since the beginning of 2009 has made the situation even worse. There is an increased food insecurity risk for Chad, particularly in the East and the Centre of the country. The risk of floods and epidemics remains high.
In response to this situation, the Commission's humanitarian aid strategy will centre on: first, maintaining a response that respects beneficiaries' strategies to reduce dependence on humanitarian aid, focused on the health sector, and water and sanitation; second, stepping up of LRRD dynamics in train since 2008 regarding food security in the South and, as circumstances allow, the promotion of food security approaches as a substitute for in-kind food assistance; third, reinforcing the response capacities of a population that is structurally very vulnerable to the risk of epidemics and floods as well as the impact of climate on food security (this requires capacity strengthening of some Commission partners at national level); and fourth, preserving the humanitarian space vis-à-vis actors such as MINURCAT or the Chadian Government with a focus on humanitarian (air transport) logistics, coordination and advocacy.
See full document at: http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/lib.nsf/db900SID/SODA-7XJMDK?OpenDocument
