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Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Agency (SRRA) Humanitarian and human rights situation

of the IDPs and war affected civilians

in the SPLM/A-North controlled area

of

South Kordofan and Blue Nile States

Third issue, six monthly report

July - December 2013

IDPs on the move in Southern Kordofan

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Introduction

A conflict in South Kordofan (SK) and Blue Nile (BN) States of Sudan, on the border with South Sudan, started on 5th June 2011 between the Government of Sudan (GoS) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-North (SPLM/A-N). Over 3 million Sudanese citizens from the two areas were affected by the conflict that has provoked immense human suffering and the socio-economic disruption of the population. As a result of ground fighting and SAF aerial bombardments, around half a million people from the two areas have been internally displaced, living without food, medical supplies and shelter. A recorded population of 238,408 refugees have already crossed and taken refuge in South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia. In addition to that, around 60,000 new IDPs were provoked by SAF offensive of November 2013. Over a hundred people have reportedly been killed during recent aerial attacks on civilians, mostly women and children. Finally, the conflict started in South Sudan in December 2013 To date, more than two years and a half since the outbreak of the conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile, unrestricted humanitarian access to the conflict-affected population continues to be denied by the Government. Any political negotiation between the Parties has failed to bring the conflict to an end.

The root causes of the conflict are issues of identities, political marginalization and misrepresentation, economic marginalization, lack of development, cultural marginalization, policies of assimilation, religious discrimination and land grabbing. In 2005 the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) provided a framework for a comprehensive and sustainable peace in Sudan after 21 years of civil war between GoS and the SPLM/A. Out of the six protocols signed, the Agreement provided a special protocol for South Kordofan and Blue Nile states that was considered as a model for resolving conflicts between the centre and the periphery. The two states have rich, vast and fertile agricultural land and they are also major providers of oil and power to the whole country, but their representation in the national wealth and power sharing was little. The two states are also the smaller representation of Sudan as a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi religious nation. The protocol provided arrangements for power sharing, wealth sharing, social and cultural rights and security arrangements for the two areas to become the symbol of Sudan unity in diversity. It also stipulated a Popular Consultation process to ascertain the opinions of the people of the two states on the CPA's political, administrative, constitutional, economic and security arrangements of their protocols. However the national government and states governments failed to implement the protocols. That resulted in the current conflict ongoing in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile between the Government of Sudan and the SPLM/A-N. The SPLM/A-N, in the aftermath of the separation of South Sudan from Sudan, was triggered into the conflict by two main factors: first of all the decision of GoS/SAF that all SPLA troops were to move to South Sudan or be disarmed by the end of May 2011; and second of all the disputed results of the state elections in South Kordofan that were manipulated to favor the NCP’s candidate for state governorship, in addition to the manipulation of the popular consultation process in Blue Nile by the NCP. The SPLM-N was banned as a political party and it reconstituted itself as the SPLM/A-N. In 2011 the SPLM/A-N allied with the Darfur movements (SLM/A Abdulwahid, SLM/A Minawi and JEM) and constituted the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) with the objective of transforming Sudan into just, democratic and secular country.

The Sudan relief and rehabilitation agency (SRRA) was established in June 2011 as the humanitarian wing of the SPLM/A-N, to lead all humanitarian interventions in SPLM/A-N controlled areas in Sudan and to address the emerging humanitarian and human rights situation timely and effectively. The objective of the

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agency is moreover to sensitize and stimulate the awareness of the international community to the plight of the war affected IDPs and refugees in the two areas and to mobilize material resources to support them. The SRRA works to ensure that that the humanitarian access to the two areas is granted by the Government of Sudan. The overall objective of the SRRA is ultimately to ensure the humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering of the vulnerable Sudanese citizens trapped in the conflict areas.

This third SRRA six monthly report covers the period of June-December 2013. It is intended to shed light over the development of the conflict between the SPLM/A-N and GoS and its humanitarian and human rights consequences. It brings detailed information on the effect of the conflict for the IDPs and vulnerable citizens in the two areas. This report is based on assessments and observations collected from refugees and IDPs in the states by trained SRRA and local NGOs monitors. Notwithstanding the obvious difficulties involved in obtaining accurate and regular information from the conflict zones, and the problems of capacity of the monitors, the SRRA is trying its best to deliver regular, efficient and always more professional reports to make visible the scale of atrocities and the suffering that Sudanese citizens in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile are facing.

Women and children displaced in Blue Nile

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1. The security and human rights situation in the Two Areas

Surge in violence After serious ground fighting between Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the SPLA-N in July and August 2013, violence decreased during the months of September and October in South Kordofan and Blue Nile States partially as a result of one month cessation of hostilities announced by SPLA-N in the period of August 31st to September 30th.

Active hostilities and ground attacks escalated again following the announcement of the Sudan Minister of Defence of the beginning of the dry season offensive on November 12th, 2013. On early November the satellite sentinel observed augmentation of the SAF ground and air capability and a military build-up both in El-Obeid and Kadugli air bases. November saw a surge in indiscriminate aerial bombardment and shelling of predominately civilian areas by SAF and heavy fighting between SAF and SPLA-N in the two areas. In particular, in the last weeks of November and early December in South Kordofan ground fighting, shelling and aerial bombardment intensified (details of the aerial bombardments in the two areas are reported in tables I and II below). It is estimated that 24,920 civilians have been forced from their homes, in particular in Eastern Jebels of Al-Abassya and Rashad and Northern Western jebels of Dilling and Sunut counties. The fighting has also cut off the route into the Western jebels altogether from Western Kadugli.

` A house bombed in Angolo in November 2013 Tabanya market bombed in October 2013

In Blue Nile active hostilities continued throughout the reporting period with relatively a stand down in September and October, predominantly south and south-east of Kurmuk, as well as aerial bombardment in the southern areas of the state. As a result, more than 20,000 civilians from Wadaka were displaced with some 1,079 IDPs crossing to take refuge in Upper Nile.

Below is a highlight of the military hostilities in the two areas and the direct humanitarian consequences.

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Southern Kordofan

- In a retaliative move in June the SPLA-N attacked and captured Hajar Nimir West of Kadugli and heavily shelled Kadugli town, a shelling that resulted in the killing of a UNISFA Ethiopian woman soldier. At the same time the SPLA-N withdrew from Abukarshola following GoS campaign to recapture it. As a result, around 6,000 IDPs were displaced to the outskirts of Al-Abassya county.

- On July 24th a joint SRF and SPLA-N forces attacked and captured Sidra in Jebel Al-dair, a first location to be under SRF control in Northern Kordofan state, outside the two areas.

- On July 27th the joint SRF forces ambushed and dispersed a convoy heading to Dilling, 120 Km from El-Obeid, and the SRF captured 12 prisoners of war.

- During August there was a sustained shelling of Mandal and Subei from Dilling with long range 120 and 130 MM Mortars. The shelling resulted in the displacement of 200 households, two men and one woman were killed and two more civilians were injured.

- Despite the cessation of hostilities declared by SPLA-N on 30th August, SAF blew Buram bridge in Buram county in early September to prevent SPLA-N future assaults in the southern outskirts of Kadugli town.

- In early November, SAF moved six convoys towards South Kordofan. The first convoy attacked Umshamshaka on November 13th, combined with aerial bombing targeting Higeir and Tere villages. The attack killed 14 civilians and 18 wounded. Around 21,200 people were displaced.

- On November 22nd in Western jebels, SAF moved in two convoys. One targeted Manadil, Karko and Wali as well as Kandkera East and West in Dilling county but the forces were repulsed by SPLA-N. The attacks on the five villages resulted in the destruction of 900 houses, 32 civilians were killed, 12 civilian kidnapped and over 3,720 people displaced to neighbouring villages of Kujuria and Tundia in Dilling county.

- On November 21st, the SPLA-N forces countered and dislodged SAF forces that shortly overrun the village of Kalling in Rashad county.

- On November 25th the SPLA-N dispersed SAF convoy that attacked Umkresha of Wali payam. Three more convoys inside Kadugli, Umbrambita and Kharasana are still on standby ready to move to targets in SPLA-N held areas.

Blue Nile

- In the period of 22nd to 26th August the SPLA-N attacked and captured Dakan in Kurmuk county as well as Shimba in Gissan county. As a result of the fighting around Gissan some 5,000 people were displaced and crossed the border to Shorgoli refugee camp in Ethiopia while 7,000 more remained in the border areas.

- On October 27th the SPLA-N clashed with SAF in the Ingessana hills, the Government forces were repulsed and dispersed and the SPLA-N could recapture the strategic hills lost since February 2012, in particular the areas of Romelle, Kilgo and Goz Tilim. The fighting provoked the move of nearly

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3,000 civilians trapped in the hills for one year and a half without basic necessities like food, medical supplies and basic commodities.

- On November 17th an NCP convoy named Rad- Aludwaan was destroyed in the Ingessana hills by the SPLA-N.

- On December 19th another convoy was destroyed in-between Samuoor village and Salbal. Many civilians were injured and 5 people were killed in Khor Maganza Baw County.

- On December 13th SAF militias killed 7 and wounded 20 persons in Mosfa, Khor Adar and Abugarin in Baw County.

- On December 8th SPLA-N clashed and destroyed SAF two military convoys between Derang and Salbel and Shamshur and Goldamul in Baw county.

Aerial bombardments

Widespread indiscriminate aerial bombardment in non-military zones conducted by SAF has been a permanent feature of the conflict. During June-December 2013 SAF conducted 586 air strikes in South Kordofan and Blue Nile using high altitude Antonov planes and jet fighters. At least 106 civilians are reported to have been killed, and 144 injured mostly women and children. The bombing also damaged farms and property, including schools, mosques and churches, as well as killing and injuring livestock.

There have been reports of heavy recent shelling by SAF, including of predominantly civilian areas, in the counties of Dilling and Kadugli and preliminary reports have recorded 334 shells, which have killed and injured civilians. The indiscriminate nature of the bombing continues to cause fear and trauma amongst the population, preventing normal daily life such as cultivation or travel to water sources and health clinics.

Similar to the rainy season of 2012, this year GoS has intensified up its attacks on the civilian population in the SPLA-N held areas to coincide with the approach of the harvest season. The air strikes also targeted areas of cultivated land and bombs dropped by SAF’s Antonov damaged or destroyed significant areas of vital food crops being grown throughout the two areas. The timing of these bombing thus appears to indicate a deliberate and on-going intention on behalf of the Sudanese government to disrupt the cultivation of food crops thereby exacerbating the already high levels of food insecurity which the civilian population is experiencing in the SPLA-N held areas of South Kordofan and Blue Nile. This seasonal pattern of attacks provides a strong indication that the Sudanese government is likely to increase its attacks with the harvesting season of late December-January 2014.

The tracking of the strikes is as tabled below. However these records are likely to represent only a small proportion, yet significant, of all bombings, deaths and injuries as they are not systematic, given the difficulties in collecting regular information in a large active conflict zone.

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Table I: Aerial bombardment in South Kordofan June –December 2013

Date location Bombs shells Killed Injured 6/6/2013 Alteis/Bruam county 3 - - - 7/6/2013 Abri/Delami county 4 - - 3 men 9/6/2013 Kauda/Heiban county 8 - - - 10/6/2013 Alnugra/Omdorein county 5 - - - 10/6/2013 Rigifi/Omdorein county 7 - - - 17/6/2013 Alatmour/omdorein county 6 - - - 17/6/2013 Daldako/Kadugli county 8 - - - 18/6/2013 Lima/kadugli county 4 - - - 30/6/2013 Kauda/Heiban county 4 - 1 man 1 child 30/6/2013 Heiban/heiban county 4 - - - 3/7/2013 Tima/lagawa county 8 - - - 3/7/2013 Katla/Dilling county 10 - - - 3/7/2013 Tumo/Kadugli county 4 - - - 3/7/2013 Mariam/kadugli county 6 - 3 men 2 children 7/7/2013 Katla/Dilling county 4 - - 1 man 7/7/2013 Temein/Dilling county 3 - - - 8/7/2013 Kujuria/Dilling county 6 - - - 8/7/2013 Mariam/kadugli county 4 - 1man - 9/7/2013 Tunguli/Delami county 4 - 2 men 1 man, 1 woman 10/7/2013 Salara/Dilling county 6 - - - 10/7/2013 Julud/Dilling county 4 - - - 7/8/2013 Shamshaka/new Tegali county 8 - 1 woman 3 women 8/8/2013 Tangal/omdorein county 5 - - 1 child 11/8/2013 Heiban/heiban county 4 - - - 22/8/2013 Mandal/Subei/Dilling county - 100 - - 6/9/2013 Tome/ Rashad county 2 - - - 7/9/2013 Tome/Rashad county 2 - - - 13/9/2013 Kujuria/Dilling county 2 - - 2 men 13/9/2013 Omdorein/Omdorein county 2 - - 1 woman 13/9/2013 Umsirdiba/Omdorein county 2 - - - 22/9/2013 Om shamshaka/new tegali county 5 - 10 persons 18 persons 22/9/2013 Hejeir 8 - 4 6 persons 23/9/2013 Om shamshaka/new tegali county 9 - - 2 children 23/9/2013 Tabula/Buram county 2 - - - 23/9/2013 Karkaraya/Omdorein county 2 - - - 24/9/2013 Tabula/Buram county 3 - - - 1/10/2013 Tabula/Buram county 4 - - - 3/10/2013 Ardaba/Buram county 4 - 1 man - 10/10/2013 Farshaya/Dilling county - 50 2 men - 10/10/2013 Salara/dilling county - 80 - - 10/10/2013 Mandal/Dilling county - 100 1 woman 2 men 20/10/2013 Saraf-jamous/Omdorein county 4 - - - 20/10/2013 Tabula/Buram county 3 - - 3 men 21/10/2013 Dere/delami county 2 - 1 woman 1 woman 28/10/2013 Kurchi/Omdorein county 4 - - 2 children 28/10/2013 Tabula/Buram county 4 - - - 28/10/2013 Umsirdiba/Omdorein county 2 - - 1 man 2/11/2013 Umsirdiba/Omdoreim county 8 - - 3 children 2/11/2013 Abuhashim/Omdorein county 6 - - - 5/11/2013 Abri/Delami county 4 - - - 6/11/2013 Angolo/Buram county 12 - - - 7/11/2013 Alreika 7 - - - 9/11/2013 Angarto 5 - - - 10/11/2013 Tunguli/Delami county 5 - - - 11/11/2013 Nyigir/Delami county 8 - - -

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15/11/2013 Kujuria 8 - 6 men 8 persons 15/11/2013 Kundakera 12 - 10 persons 7 persons 15/11/2013 shigel 6 - 16 persons 3 persons 17/11/2013 Tanasa/ Buram county 4 - - - 25/11/2013 Um kresha/Wali/Dilling county 8 - - - 26/11/2013 Atto/Dilling county 8 - 3 women 4 children 30/11/2013 Tushi/lagawa county 8 - 1 woman 6 children 30/11/2013 Tima/lagawa county 8 - - 1 man 5/12/2013 Jegeba/kadugli county 53 - - 1 man 6/12/2013 Kofa/kadugli county 16 - - 1 man 7/12/2013 Lima/kadugli county 3 - - - 7/12/2013 Miri-bara/kadugli county 2 - - - 7/12/2013 Kursi/kadugli county 4 4 - - 8/12/2013 Korongo/kadugli county 2 - 1 man 8 persons 8/12/2013 Hagar hatab/Heiban county 6 - - - 8/12/2013 Keiga/kadugli county 4 - - - 9/12/2013 Kanga/kadugli county 6 - - - 9/12/2013 Korongo/kadugli county 5 - 2 men - 10/12/2013 Tanasa/kadugli county 4 - - - 11/12/2013 Mandi/heiban county 4 - - - 11/12/2013 Komo/Heiban county 3 - - - 11/12/2013 Kamda/lagawa county 4 - - - Total 429 334 66 93

Source: SRRA tracking of aerial bombardment in South Kordofan June-December 2013 Table II: Aerial bombardment in Blue Nile June-December 2013

Date Location Bombs Shells Killed Injured 2/6/2013 Ulu 4 - 1 child - 2/6/2013 Ura/kurmuk county 5 - - - 2/6/2013 Balatona/kurmuk county 7 - - - 8/6/2013 Jirdan/Kurmuk county 2 - - - 8/6/2013 Alfouj/baw county 2 - - - 3/7/2013 Malkan/Kurmuk county 6 - - - 5/7/2013 Yabus/kurmuk county 3 - - - 6/7/2013 Wadaka/Kurmuk county 4 - - - 18/8/2013 Malkan/kurmuk county 8 - 2 men - 23/8/2013 Chali/Kurmuk county 12 - 2 women - 21/8/2013 Ulu/Baw county 4 - - - 23/8/2013 Umgar/kurmuk county 6 - 2 women - 24/8/2013 Ashimbu/kurmuk county 10 - 4 men - 25/8/2013 Samari/kurmuk county 3 - - - 7/9/2013 Yabus/Kurmuk county 3 - 3 women - 6/9/2013 Chali/kurmuk county 4 - 1 man - 9/9/2013 Wadaka/kurmuk county 2 - - - 15/9/2013 Samari/kurmuk county 6 - - - 27/10/2013 Wadaka/kurmuk county 4 - - - 28/10/2013 Mufu/kurmuk county 4 - 1 man - 30/10/2013 Ura/kurmuk county 4 - - - 30/10/2013 Gissan/Gissan county 6 - 4 men 5 women, 3 men 5/11/2013 Mayak/kurmuk county 4 - 4 women 4 women 9/11/2013 Wadaka/kurmuk county 4 - 2 men 3 men 9/11/2013 Mufu/kurmuk county 4 - 3 M 2 W 7 women 2/12/2013 Magoon/Baw county 4 - - 2 persons 17/12/2013 Ulu/Baw county 6 - 1 person 3 persons 13/12/2013 Khoradar/baw county 18 - 7 persons 20 persons 18/12/2013 Chali/kurmuk county 8 - 1 person 4 persons Total 157 - 40 51

Source: SRRA tracking of aerial bombing June-December 2013

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2. The humanitarian consequences of the conflict in the Two Areas

New displacement and trapped civilians At the outbreak of the war there were 958,541 people living in conflict-affected areas of South Kordofan and nearly 119,220 in Blue Nile. So far, an estimated 378,242 civilians, the 40% of the population of Southern Kordofan, have been forced from their homes to other host villages. In Blue Nile the entire affected population of 119,220 is internally displaced in their resident areas. It has been recorded by SRRA that nearly 30,920 civilians in South Kordofan and nearly 27,000 in Blue Nile have been recently displaced by the latest surge in fighting in November 2013.The large-scale civilian displacement is the consequence of previous serious displacements due to early year fighting and aerial bombardment. In Southern Kordofan the most affected areas are the counties of new Tegali/Al-abbassya around Umshamshaka and Hejeir, as well as in Northern Western jebels from Kujuria and Wali with many civilians moving towards Salara, Katla and Karko or temporarily displacing away from areas affected by the fighting (as per table III below). There are particular concerns for civilians trapped in Kujuria who have been displaced, sometimes more than once, within the county.

Reports suggest that tens of thousands of civilians are still on the move within Blue Nile while tens of thousands have already found refuge across the border (see table IV below). Reports also indicate that many people have moved down into the southern strip of the state, especially south of the Yabus river, controlled by the SPLA-N, and that many remain along the border with South Sudan. The majority of refugees come from areas in the South and East of the state, near the borders.

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Table III: Population and internally displaced persons (IDPS) in South Kordofan State

IDPs Total Population Subtotal Payam/Admin Unit County/Locality S/N 64121

132000

21562 21446 32360 56632

Almandal Alfarashaya Sallara Julud

Dilling 1-

44327

199000

32016 32370 54839 51055 28720

Alazreg Heiban Kauda Umdurdu Dabi

Heiban 2-

3452

32000

21859 8141 20000

Alshua Alarak Tima/Tulushi

lagawa 3-

35564

179000

56000 33000 25500 41500 23000

Umsirdiba Umdulu Umdorien SarafJamous Kaba

Umdorein 4-

48557

50000

9000 27000 4000 10000

Derre Tunguli Umheitan Abri

Dellami 5-

7000

17000

13000 4000

HajarJuad Kurgul

Habila 6-

15061

15061

5100 6061 3900

Betekel Werni Alliri

Talodi 7-

16458

16458

4840 6860 5758

Fungur Kao nyaro

Abujubeiha 8-

28000

51391

10000 14000 10100 12000 5291

Tome Shamshaka Tere Hejeir Tajilbo

Rashad 9-

30200 50631 13000 12300 15100 10231

Moreib Almanagil Tojona Gardud albadri

Abassieya (new tegali)

10-

51234

148000

8500 11400 21600 8500 19500 34500 37000 7000

Shat damam Katcha Farandalla Shatt saffia Alreika Alburam Toroje Alabiet

Buram 11-

28268 59000 59000 Western kadugli Kadugli 12- 5000

8000

1200 3500 800 2500

Alkiweik Damik Abu safifa Dandor

Eastern rural 13-

1000

1000

600 400

Alsonot Aldabkar

Alsonot 14-

378,242 958,541 Total

Source: SRRA assessment of population in South Kordofan SPLM/N held areas

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Table IV: Internally displaced population (IDPs) in Blue Nile state

S/N County/locality Payam/admin unit Village IDPS 1- Baw kurkur Fufi 2316 2- Baw kurkur Mandarsol 2600 3- Baw Soda Jaam 4100 4- Baw Soda Soda 3150 5- Baw Soda Mogum 3000 6- Baw Soda Mayfol 4370 7- Baw Soda Taga 900 8- Baw Gabanet Gabanet 1502 9- Baw kukur Fosa 900

10- Baw Soda Mamal 4000 11- Baw Wadabuk Malakan 1800 12- Baw Wadabuk Tormeleh 3247 13- Baw Wadabuk Kamer 3000 14- Baw Wadabuk GosDegen 1800 15- Baw Baw Baw 822 16- Baw Baw Romelig 450 17- Baw Wadabuk Algalla 3002 18- Baw Wadabuk Gostilim 4100 19- Baw Soda Jangon 3960 20- Baw Wadabuk Baladogo 5100 21- Tadamon Bot Umgan 2898 22- Tadamon Bot Yakan 4140 23- Tadamon Bot Tibilab 5210 24- Kurmuk Wadaga Mayak 6668 25- Kurmuk Wadaga Jurun 2910 26- Kurmuk Wadaga Mofo 3500 27- Kurmuk Wadaga Wadaga 1700 28- Kurmuk Wadaga Balela 2680 29- Kurmuk Wadaga Assama 6902 30- Kurmuk Yabus Yabus 5472 31- Kurmuk Yabus Ous 1500 32- Kumuk Yabus Sunda 3601 33- Kurmuk Yabus Dogobela 1340 34- Kurmuk Yabus Ishkob 980 35- Kurmuk Chali Fodom 1133 36- Kurmuk Chali Pash 1570 37- Kurmuk Bong Abogaya 276 38- Kurmuk Yabus Banbilan 1100 39- Kurmuk Chali balafuna 1235 40- Kurmuk Chali Soda 1833 41- Kurmuk Chali Panamayo 300 42- Kurmuk Chali Chali 2301 43- Kurmuk Chali Barfa 380 44- Kurmuk Chali Elgundi 1410 45- Kurmuk Jamam Foje 405 46- Kurmuk Bonj Khortumbak 2045

Total 119,220 Source: SRRA assessment of population in Blue Nile SPLM/N held Areas

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Humanitarian situation of the IDPs After two years and a half of conflict and denial of humanitarian access, unmet basic needs amongst the civilian population in South Kordofan and Blue Nile continue to grow, with particularly severe conditions of the recently displaced civilians due to the dry season offensive in Al-Abbasya (new Tegali) county, Northern Western jebels of Wali and Kujuria payams in Dilling county and Kega Alkheil in western Kadugli, in Southern Kordofan, as well as Geissan and Ingessana hills in Blue Nile. In the two areas the humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate with another poor harvesting season and growing food insecurity. A recent report by Famine and Early Warming Systems (FEWSNET) estimated that unless humanitarian assistance reaches the conflict-affected people in both South Kordofan and Blue Nile the situation could reach Emergency levels (IPC Phase 4, one below Catastrophe Phase 5) meaning, “either extreme food consumption gaps resulting in very high acute malnutrition or excess mortality, or extreme loss of livelihood assets leading to food consumption gaps.” Humanitarian assistance or basic services such as healthcare and clean water are extremely limited. The onset of the dry season and displacement is putting greater pressure on limited functioning water sources forcing people to move and to concentrate around water points, exposing them to increased protection risks. In many areas water points need repair or have been damaged by the conflict.

IDPs in Muguf, Blue Nile state, November 2013

Access to basic healthcare is also extremely difficult for the conflicted-affected population and the majority of health facilities are closed because of lack of basic drugs in the two areas. There is only one functioning hospital in the SPLM-N held areas in South Kordofan, whilst there are few if any operating primary health care centres because of a lack of even the most basic drugs and medical equipment. Lack of primary healthcare affects first the most vulnerable: children under five, mothers, the elderly and the disabled. The Government of Sudan on November 5th announced the launch of a polio vaccination campaign, but this will not reach the children in the conflict-affected areas because the Government refused cessation of hostilities to launch polio campaign in the SPLA-N held areas (see section 3).

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Education facilities face huge challenges due to lack of scholastic materials and trained teachers many children have abandoned the community supported schools to South Sudan, Kakuma in Kenya, northern Uganda and South Sudan.

Humanitarian conditions within South Kordofan continue to deteriorate. Due to insecurity, communities have cultivated significantly less land than normal, with many of the estimated 378,242 IDPs unable to cultivate at all and mainly rely on the food shared by host communities. Severe chronic food insecurity was assessed by local NGOs in Talodi and Abu Jubeiha counties. In South Kordofan sustained aerial bombardment has not only damaged crops and killed livestock but it has drastically reduced the area that was cultivated in the last season by 20%. There has been no mechanised farming in the conflict affected areas, preventing people from earning cash and limiting food availability. This November-December, communities harvested just a small amount of crops grown near homes. The small harvest is not expected to last much beyond January-February.

IDPs hiding in caves in Buram, November 2013 There are very few, mainly locally grown food commodities available in markets, and food prices remain high. Generally the price of cereals has increased of five times. A bag of 3.5kgs of sorghum, that used to cost 2 Sudanese pounds before the conflict, it costs now 10 pounds. Despite a trickle of commercial traffic cross border from Yida refugee camp and Unity state, as well as Maban and Ethiopian border for Blue Nile, where traders bring in soap, salt, clothing and some basic commodities, trade is not enough for the entire population. In Southern Kordofan there are a number of traditional migration routes used by pastoralist groups which pass through Kadugli, Buram and Umm Dorein at this time of year which will be blocked. This will create additional pressure on pastoralist groups because of the interruption of routes and increased conflicts with communities in competition to resources such as water and grazing areas. In October 2013 an outbreak of yellow fever was assessed in South Kordofan conflict areas by the SPLM-N health secretariat but the disease surveillance and vaccination by WHO could not be conducted due to the UN agency’s lack of access to the areas (see WHO Situation Report No 4: Yellow Fever in Sudan, 26, November 2013).

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In Blue Nile, the humanitarian situation of the IDPs in Blue is critical. While Southern Kordofan has seen a general deterioration of the humanitarian condition of its population, with more IPDs produced by the conflict and growing food insecurity, in Blue Nile the entire population living in the conflict areas, around 120,000 people, has been displaced and has lived in a critical conditions since the conflict erupted in September 2011.

An assessment conducted in the month of November in the war affected areas of Blue Nile by SRRA monitors, revealed a general lack of harvesting due to insecurity and little rains. The majority of the villages have been abandoned and the population live in the forest, hiding from aerial bombardments. Whilst IDPs living in the southern part of the State are still able to collect some food from the abandoned sorghum fields, and to cultivate some vegetables (onions, tomatoes, pumpkins), the majority of the IDPs live of wild fruits collected from the forest. In the southern part of the state, people could fish from the river but they lack of proper hooks and nets. There is a weekly market with traders coming from Ethiopia where people bargain wild fruits and gold but food is not enough and people can walk up to two days to reach it. Basic services are lacking, health facilities are closed and functioning water points are few. The lack of water, food and insecurity due to ground fighting are the main reasons for the population to move from place to place. Children and elders are the most affected with several cases of malnutrition and bad water related diseases assessed (no accurate figures could be produced from the data collected). A pregnant woman died of malaria while the team was in the area of Balatouma. The team could not find any school open in the areas visited. In Blue Nile the situation is worse than Southern Kordofan in terms of medical supplies, water sources and schooling has been severely interrupted. In the recently liberated Ingessana hills, the population of around 3,000 people was found in critical conditions without food, water and shelter. Hundreds are moving towards the border of South Sudan under extreme insecure conditions. A convoy of IDPs was attacked by SAF and PDF forces near Magaja and 5 people were reportedly killed. The overall number of people from the hills who died as a result of the conflict remains unknown. There is little information on the status of conflict-affected people in the northern part of state, in particular in areas of Bau and Al Tadamon counties where SRRA has no access. Following the fighting erupted in South Sudan on 15 December 2013 thousands of refugees from South Sudan have reached the two areas in search of protection in the SPLM/A-N areas. Their arrival has stretched the already limited resources available for IDPs. Major land and river routes have been abandoned by traders and the little stock of food and medicines in the conflict zones are about to end. The situation is critical and requires immediate attention. Human rights situation of the IDPS Abuses of civil and political rights and fundamental liberties have been reported in Sudan during the period of July-December 2013. Information with regard to political detainees in South Kordofan and Blue Nile is very scarce, however, according to human rights reports of Sudan human rights organization and Darfur relief and documentation Centre and other institutions, there are roughly 119 politically detained persons from South Kordofan at different detention centres in the country. It has been reported that nearly 36 women who were detained in Kadugli and El Obeid have been released by the current governor Adam Alfaki. In Blue Nile it is estimated that there are around 78 persons in detention and 11 of them are in front of courts for trial.

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More generally, unknown numbers of political dissidents are being detained without charges or trial in different parts of Sudan. Political detainees are usually held incommunicado under deplorable conditions in detention centres controlled by the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) where torture is reportedly rampant. Harassment and intimidation of journalists and political activists have also been reported. Violations of fundamental rights and liberties in Sudan are committed by the government apparatus against the background that Sudan is party to the core body of regional and international human rights and humanitarian law. As such, it is under legal obligation to respect the rights and liberties provided in these instruments.

Expanding refugee crisis According to the UNHCR statistics of Sudanese refugees in South Sudan and Ethiopia, there are now almost 238,408 refugees from South Kordofan and Blue Nile in South Sudan and Ethiopia. However, this figure is expected to increase because of the large number of people still on the move in particular from Blue Nile unless humanitarian assistance can reach the conflict-affected areas or there is a cessation of hostilities. It is estimated that there are 70,034 refugees from South Kordofan in Yida and 6,691 refugees in Ajuong Thok in Unity State in South Sudan. Refugee flows from South Kordofan have increased significantly due to the current dry season offensive. Tens of thousands are still on the move, either near the border or displaced in the southern west most part of the state.

New displaced in Kao Nyaro, October 2013

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The refugees continue to come to upper Nile from Kao Nyaro and Werni in South Kordofan, around 1,570 have arrived from Kao to Kadok, 1,775 more have arrived from Werni to Lelo, they have been settled in an informal camps or they have moved from their villages due to food insecurity and famine. The refugees refuse to move to Ajuang Thok according to instructions by UNHCR and they are currently being fed by local churches and organizations. Civilians continue to flee the fighting in Blue Nile in significant numbers, with reports of tens of thousands. The UN estimates that there are now almost 39,477 refugees from Blue Nile in Ethiopia, 11,211 in Sherkole camp, 10,497 in Tongo, 13,311 in Bambasi and 2,757 in Ad-Damazin. A total of 121,940 refugees are in Maban county in Upper Nile State, South Sudan, of which 18,613 in Kaya camp, 38,984 in Yusuf Batil camp, 17,192 in Gendrassa camp and 47,157 in Doro camp. The resources in the county of Mabanare overstretched; the area is extremely poor, remote and isolated, with no or little basic services and very few humanitarian actors present. Refugees are arriving with very little food and only a small number of household goods. Humanitarian agencies are facing significant challenges in scaling up support, and will face huge logistical obstacles especially during the upcoming rainy season.

The recent conflict erupted in South Sudan on 15 December 2013 has interrupted land and river movement of people from both South Kordofan and Blue Nile. The fighting if it continues will have far reaching security implications for refugees especially in Yida Upper Nile and in Maban in Unity states and their security will be at risk. Many civilians from South Sudan living in those areas have already left their land. Due to the evacuation of the international staff of UN and NGOs operating in the area, the assistance to the refugees has reduced. In Yida, nearly 1,200 people displaced recently from western Kadugli due to the recent SAF offensive have not been attended as the registration is on halt.

3. The political negotiations between GOS and SPLM-N

The African Union High level implementation panel (AUHIP) invited on 4th November 2013, the Government of Sudan (GOS) and SPLM-N for talks in Addis Ababa to allow the implementation of the polio vaccination campaign in the SPLM/A-N held areas where hundreds of thousands of people are displaced. The SPLM-N was ready to agree on the timeline of the campaign and on an impartial actor, e.g. the Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) to deliver the vaccines to the population. However GoS turned down the invitation. Contrary to what was circulating in the media and some diplomatic circles, GoS did not honour its own Cessation of Hostilities (CoH) declared by the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) to cover the period 1st to 14th November, which disrupted the agreed timetable for the WHO-UNICEF polio vaccination campaign planned to take place. Instead, it has launched its biggest ground and aerial offensive on Southern Kordofan between 2ndand 13th November. At the end of November GoS has announced that it is now ready for talks with the SPLM-N an intention that the SPLM-N can only accept if it receives an official invitation for talks from the AUHIP. The SPLM-N reaffirmed its commitment to implement the planned polio campaign on time and invites the GOS to reciprocate by accepting the AUHIP invitation to address the outstanding issues pertaining to making the vaccination of children possible. The SPLM-N is ready to sit immediately with the Sudan Government to agree on the arrangement needed for the polio campaign as the two parties were asked by the UN Security Council in its statement dated October 10th, 2013, “the members of the Security Council called upon the Government of Sudan and the SPLM-N to urgently resolve differences over the technical plans necessary, including for safe passages.” The AUHIP recently extended an invitation to the two parties for talks in the period 12-14th December in Addis Ababa. However the invitation coincided with the burial arrangement of the former South African

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president Nelson Mandela, the meeting was therefore postponed until further notice. The invitation for direct talks was accompanied with a proposal of a declaration of common intent that proposes the following issues:

Ø Cessation of Hostilities: the parties shall cease hostilities within seven days to facilitate the immediate, unhindered and safe delivery and movement of humanitarian assistance to displaced persons and other affected persons throughout Blue Nile and South Kordofan states. A military liaison unit is to be established to monitor the ceasefire and establish a humanitarian coordination and support unit for the planning, coordination and monitoring of delivery of humanitarian assistance.

Ø Formation of negotiations committees: the chief negotiator shall establish two committees, a security negotiations committee to negotiate a permanent ceasefire and comprehensive security arrangements and a political negotiations committee to address all relevant issues related to South Kordofan and Blue Nile including those requiring attention to national constitutional questions.

4. Likely scenario without large-scale unrestricted humanitarian assistance or cessation of hostilities

a. Further surges in aerial bombardment, shelling and ground offensives result in a greater number of

civilian casualties and IDPs throughout the next 4 to 5 months until the end of the dry season. b. Conflict continues to interrupt routes from South Kordofan to South Sudan, leading to a small

number of new refugees and a large number of internally displaced and conflict-affected civilians trapped within South Kordofan without humanitarian assistance. Numbers of refugees from Blue Nile continue to grow, but a large number of civilians remain in the state, in particular the most vulnerable, without access to humanitarian assistance.

c. Food security deteriorates further as small November-January harvest is exhausted, with some counties such as Dilling,new Tegali and Rashad as well as Kao Nyaro and Werni in the South East particularly affected. Food insecurity results in increasing malnutrition-related deaths amongst the most vulnerable, children under five years old and the elderly, and household coping mechanisms which undermine long-term food security and livelihoods. Conflict interrupts traditional cattle migration patterns, putting increased pressure on pastoralist livelihoods.

d. Increasing demand and lack of essential medical drugs results in large proportion of civilian population in particular in more remote areas going without access to healthcare, including lack of vaccination of children. This creates an increased risk of epidemics.

e. Continuing dry season, lack of capacity to repair water points and increased population concentrations due to displacement puts growing pressure on the few water points available.

5. Appeal to the international community

The human rights and humanitarian crisis in the two areas requires immediate attention and response by national and international humanitarian actors to alleviate the suffering of its population. The SRRA appeals to the UN Security Council, the Chairman of IGAD, the chair of AUHIP, the United Nations, the African Union and the international community at large to take the following urgent immediate actions.

Ø That the UN declares Blue Nile and South Kordofan states war affected areas as a humanitarian emergency that requires urgent response.

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Ø To press the Government of Sudan to lift restrictions on delivery of food and allow UN agencies and independent international organizations immediate free and unhindered access to the needy civilians in South Kordofan and Blue Nile States to stave off mass starvation.

Ø That the Government of Sudan heeds the call by SPLM/A-N for cessation of hostilities to allow delivery of humanitarian assistance to the populations in South Kordofan and Blue Nile. SAF and the SPLA-N would allow access to international humanitarian agencies to assist affected populations, protect civilians under their respective control, and provide safe corridors for the passage of civilians and goods.

Ø To consider the most effective means including urgent airdrops to access civilians trapped by ground attacks and lack of roads.

Ø That SAF immediately halts its aerial bombardments and air strikes against civilian targets in South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

Ø To conduct independent investigations on the mass graves, summary executions and persons put in

custody on ethnic and political affiliations in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

Ø That the parties respect international human rights and humanitarian law in the course of their operations, refrain from deliberate extra judicial killings, detentions and indiscriminate arrests on political and ethnic basis.