Summary
Content
SUMMARY
In anticipation of the rainy season beginning in May, UNJLC has commenced the pre-positioning of Non Food Items (NFI's). Prioritization and planning are underway throughout the Darfurs in an attempt to reach those most in need, particularly in areas that will be unreachable during the rains. Distribution agencies were therefore kindly requested to participate in the on-going pre-rain distribution plans and stock pre-positioning exercises. Additionally, agencies were urged to augment their distribution capacity, as this is the season when the Shelter/NFI has its highest impact on IDP livelihood.
Multiple agencies reported that commercial trucks are being delayed in El Daen by the Sudanese Military to await escorted convoy movement of 150 trucks. The Government is holding the shipment documents; therefore convoys may only depart every 10 to 14 days. As a result, the delay in El Daen has considerably increased truck turn-around time. If the Government maintains its position on mandatory convoy escorts, transporters are likely to increase service charges. UNJLC has therefore requested OCHA to raise the issue with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs' Humanitarian Aid Commissioner in an attempt to solve the problem.
SECURITY
North Darfur: There were a few security incidents between GoS checkpoint officials and commercial transporters in the Kutum area involving the detention and confiscation of trucks carrying goods for NGO's. OCHA brought the issue to the attention of the HAC and the National Security Officer in El Fasher.
South Darfur: South Darfur remained relatively calm during the week but UNSECOORD has restricted travel is in most SLA-held territories. While there is continued fighting in key areas, banditry seems to have tapered off somewhat.
West Darfur: Several incidents occurred on the roads around El Geneina last week. As a result, all UN movements outside El Geneina have been frozen since March 10th. Based on the outcome of UNSECOORD's assessments of major roads, the UN anticipates a phased approach to recommence activities next week.
COMMON NFI PIPELINE
USAID/OFDA pledged five NFI flights including three full IL-76 loads of blankets (60,000 pieces) and two full IL-76 loads of plastic sheets (1,260 rolls). The flights are expected to begin arriving early next week direct to the Darfurs.
NFI's that have been internationally procured by UNICEF started to arrive at Port Sudan and are currently under customs clearance. These NFI's along with existing stocks will raise supply levels sufficiently to commence 2005 NFI distributions.
NFI distribution priorities in the Darfurs are as follows:
- New displaced IDP's,
- Any outstanding gaps, i.e. those who did not receive NFI's in 2004
- Replacement stocks for 2005
| NFI Commodities | In stock in Sudan as of Mar 16th, 2005 | ||||
| El Obeid | El Geneina | Nyala | El Fasher | Total | |
| Blankets | 0 | 282,750 | 9,502 | 32,975 | 325,227 |
| Plastic Sheet 4x5m | 0 | 8,585 | 12,509 | 16,833 | 37,927 |
| Plastic sleeping mats | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7,004 | 7,004 |
| Soap (Kg) | 519,129 | 118,683 | 143,807 | 115,344 | 896,963 |
| Mosquito Nets | 0 | 1,480 | 2,155 | 13,940 | 17,575 |
| Jerry can 10l - 20l | 0 | 23,509 | 8,103 | 14,858 | 46,470 |
| Bucket w. lid, 20l | 90,475 | 49,838 | 72,725 | 25,502 | 238,540 |
| Sanitary material | 0 | 0 | 200 | 0 | 200 |
| Women's wraps | 0 | 39,300 | 15,493 | 35,447 | 90,240 |
North Darfur:
Routine NFI distributions continued during the week without interruption. The target beneficiaries were newly displaced IDP's and those who did not receive NFI's in 2004. IDP settlements that benefited from this week's NFI distributions include Abu Shouk, Tawila, Shangil Tobay and El Fasher.
South Darfur:
NGO's requests for mosquito nets are increasing. UNJLC is currently pre-positioning NFI stocks, including mosquito nets, which will be made available for distribution as soon as possible.
West Darfur:
Save the Children's commitment to undertake NFI re-distributions for 2005 in the remaining areas of Habillah will fill all gaps left in the 2005 NFI planning. Once delivery times are known for the bulk of the NFI items, UNJLC will inform each agency and ask them to plan a tentative distribution date for each location. In the meantime, UNJLC recommends that NGO's to assess what the actual NFI needs are before submitting their requests or planning a distribution strategy. This will allow the humanitarian community to assist the largest number of IDP's in need.
The following NFI's were released by UNJLC for distribution in South Darfur:
ARC International - 675 bars of soap, 300 sets of women's clothing, 260 buckets with lids, 130 jerry cans, 280 blankets, and 130 plastic sheets for Mowaro camp in Nyala. UNJLC approved the release of plastic, blankets, jerry cans, buckets, soap and women's clothing for additional 60 households in Mowaro.
- MDM - 20,025 pieces of soap and 4 rolls of plastic sheeting for a medical clinic at Kalma camp.
- SOLIDARTE - 83,115 bars of soap, and 1100 meters of rope for IDP's in Labado and Muhajara.
- IRC - 30 rolls of plastic and 10 packages of HTH (chlorine) for sanitation projects at Hamadia camp in Zalingei (population 21,500).
The following NFI's were released by UNJLC for distribution in West Darfur:
- Medair - 9,648 kg of soap
- TDH/Triangle - 3,312 kg soap was dispatched along with 25 Basic NFI kits and shelter material for a child protection center in Riyad camp.
Transfers:
UNJLC transferred 40,000 jerry cans from Nyala to El Fasher and Geneina equally.
Prioritization of NFI distribution in West Darfur:
- Newly displaced IDP's
- Sirba 2 (385 households): following results of Inter agency assessment on 10 March
- Beida and Ararah: assessment by SRC planned Sunday 13 March
- Tendulti: Inter agency assessment of 12 March postponed due to insecurity
- Gantura: no interagency assessment planned as it is currently a UN restricted area
- Outstanding Gaps (2004): Azerni (481 households), follow up distribution: 14 March
- Second round distributions will commence as soon as the expected shipments arrive
Planning:
In an effort to avoid extensive demand on the limited transport agencies' resources and to keep commodities moving on a first-in-first-out-basis, all agencies were requested to provide a list of locations and household numbers as well as to indicate a general timeframe for NFI distribution to next week's Shelter/NFI working meeting.
AIR OPERATIONS
The AN-12 dedicated to the in-country cargo movement was undergoing major planned maintenance abroad during the reporting period. The figures for total cargo transported by air to the Darfurs therefore remain unchanged from last week.
Flight Schedule:
The AN-12 is expected to return to Sudan on Saturday, March 19, 2005 and should be operational within 48 hours of its arrival. Four flights carrying a total of 45MT of various goods including medicine, telecom equipment and miscellaneous goods have been scheduled for the coming week.
Helicopters:
Two Mi8 helicopters are operating on emergency operation status and flying limited missions in South Darfur until Jet-A1 supplies that will allow more extensive operations are available. UNHAS is currently making flights to at least one camp or route per day. When fuel levels return to normal, the air schedule will allow for missions to multiple camps a day.
SURFACE TRANSPORT
Week six of UNJLC/CARE Surface Transport Operations included the dispatch of uni-mix, plumpy nuts, therapeutic feed, clothing, water pumps and school kits to El Geniena (75 MT) and El Fasher (70 MT).
Loading of some items in Khartoum continues to be delayed due to inaccurate data on the Movement Request Forms provided by some of the requesting agencies.
CARE has encountered higher prices for loading fees at some agency warehouses. If the goods must be lifted from anywhere other than a CARE warehouse, the agency/NGO must be willing to pay the difference in cost.
North Darfur:
El Fasher enters the second week of intrastate surface transport, in which approximately 35 tons of water drilling equipment was transported from El Fasher to Kebkebiya for Oxfam. Other agencies expressed interest in using the services and advised of their plans to bring their requests forward in the near future.
South Darfur:
CARE has initiated an intrastate surface transport service from Nyala to IDP settlements. They will provide transport free-of-cost to agencies for non-common pipeline items to a limited number of destinations. Requests for these items should be channeled through UNJLC in the same manner as those for the common pipeline items.
FUEL
Fuel Prices remain stable in North and West Darfur. For South Darfur:
Jet A1:
WFP/HAS has run short of Jet A1 fuel in Nyala and as a result are only able to operate emergency flights. South Darfur has the largest number of IDP settlements that are inaccessible by road in non-GoS controlled territory. Lack of Jet A1 fuel therefore has an adverse impact on IDP livelihood in such areas. Humanitarian needs assessments are conducted for such locations through the use of heli-flights.
Diesel:
Prices have remained stable. Fuel vendors receive diesel in Nyala via train from El Obeid or Khartoum.
Benzene (petrol): Petrol prices have increased from 900 to 1000 SDD (US $4) per gallon. This is primarily because petrol is transported by truck instead of train. The flow from Khartoum is also affected by the delay in Ed Daen as well as truckers' increased unwillingness to travel the road from Fasher to Nyala due to increased banditry.
Other fuels:
Kerosene prices remain stable because stocks are available. Charcoal prices have increased 5%, from 1900 to 2000 SDD per 50kg bag due to the general rise of attacks aimed at people collecting the wood.
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FUEL PRICES / DARFUR CRISIS
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Week 11: 06 March - 12 March 2005
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Khartoum
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El Fasher
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Nyala
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El Geneina
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El Obeid
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| IG | L | IG | L | IG | L | IG | L | IG | L | |
| Diesel | 345 | 76 | 625 | 137 | 700 | 154 | 875 | 192 | 380 | 84 |
| Petrol | 555 | 122 | 850 | 187 | 1,000 | 220 | 1,500 | 330 | 600 | 132 |
| Kerosene | 342 | 75 | 725 | 159 | 750 | 165 | 1,125 | 247 | 250 | 55 |
| JetA1 | 330 | 73 | 863 | 190 | 684 | 150 | 700 | 154 | 368 | 81 |
LOGISTICS ASSESSMENT
West Darfur:
An updated version of the Geneina town directory, including a map, is now available at www.unjlc.org.
The Workshop Needs Assessment report was distributed to all agencies. Several needs highlighted in the report were brought to the attention of UN donors on a mission that visited El Geneina.
ABOUT UNJLC
UNJLC is an inter-agency facility reporting, in the current emergency, to the Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, and overall to the Inter-Agency Standing Committee. Its mandate is to coordinate and optimize the logistics capabilities of humanitarian organizations in large-scale emergencies. UNJLC operates under the custodianship of WFP who are responsible for the administrative and financial management of the Centre. UNJLC is funded from voluntary contributions channeled through WFP. The UNJLC project document for Sudan can be viewed on the UNJLC website (www.unjlc.org)