Sudan – KMAUPDATES

Sep32020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Coronavirus – Sudan: UN agencies support flood response in Sudan but warn aid stocks ‘rapidly’ depleting

HEALTH

NEW YORK, United States of America -- The UN and its partners are supporting the Sudanese Government as it responds to recent severe flooding, which has killed 90 people and affected 380,000 others, the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, said on Tuesday. The flooding was triggered by heavy seasonal rains, mainly in neighbouring Ethiopia, which caused the Nile River to rise to nearly 17.5 metres (roughly 57 feet) this past weekend: the highest level in 100 years, according to the authorities. OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke said the government has declared a state of emergency in Khartoum state alone, where more than 21,000 people have been affected by flooding since the end of July. Homes destroyed, water contaminated Across Sudan, some 37,000 homes were destroyed in the...

Aug132020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Tribal clashes in eastern Sudan, Dozens killed

AFRICA

At least 25 people have been killed in clashes between ethnic groups in a port city in eastern Sudan, according to a doctors' association.The Central Doctors' Committee said in a statement on Wednesday that about 90 others were wounded in the fighting that began on Sunday between members of the Bani Amer and Nuba ethnic groups in Port Sudan, a key international trade harbour on the Red Sea. Local media reported that several houses and shops were set on fire in the violence. "This is not the first time that clashes have broken out between the Bani Aarem and Nuba tribes," said Al Jazeera's Hiba Morgan, reporting from Khartoum. "This has been going on for years and has escalated for the past 12 months," she added. The latest tensions between the two tribes date back to ...

Aug42020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Coronavirus – Sudan: Floods Flash Update

AFRICA

GENEVA, Switzerland, August 4, 2020/ -- HIGHLIGHTS Heavy rains over the past week have led to flash and riverine flooding in different parts of Sudan, with Khartoum, Blue Nile and River Nile states amongst the hardest-hit.The storms have destroyed houses and displaced people, especially in the Blue Nile, where several hectares of crops have been flooded in the middle of the planting season. Other key infrastructure, including water points, latrines and schools have been damaged, increasing the need for humanitarian assistance.Government and aid organizations area already assisting people affected, and the Flood Task Force, led by the Humanitarian Aid Commission, has been activated at the Federal level to coordinate the operation. Partners are facing some challenges, especially in the B...

Jul312020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

SUDAN: Violence cuts off access to health services for 14,000 children

AFRICA, HEALTH

LONDON, United Kingdom, July 30, 2020/ -- A spike in tribal violence in western Darfur in Sudan has cut off more than 14,000 children from life-saving health services, as Save the Children was forced to close two health facilities and its field office in Masterei. The health facilities were the only two centres which provided health and nutrition services for children in the area.Earlier this week in Masterei, sixty people were reportedly killed in a conflict between communities, including five children. Nine more children were wounded. This followed an earlier attack by an armed group on July 17th, which also affected a Save the Children sub office in Elgeniena. For the safety of its staff, Save the Children had to close the sub office. A week later, the health facilities were temporaril...

Jul232020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

AFRICA: Sudan PM Hamdok announces reforms to rescue the economy

AFRICA, TECHNOLOGY

Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok announced a gradual float of the currency and the removal of fuel subsidies as part of a plan to address the country's long-running economic crisis. The measures will be implemented after amendments to the 2020 budget in order to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Mr Hamdok told a press conference on Wednesday. Mr Hamdok said the government would "gradually cut subsidies on petrol and diesel" but subsidies on medicine, electricity, bread and cooking gas would remain in place. He also announced the appointment of civilians to replace military officials as governors in the country’s 18 provinces, part of an ongoing transition to civilian rule after the overthrow of longtime dictator Omar Al Bashir last year. Battered by decades...

Jul222020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Sudan Launches the Cost of Hunger in Africa National Report

AFRICA

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, July 22, 2020/ -- The Republic of Sudan yesterday launched The Cost of Hunger in Africa (COHA)-Sudan report. The report was launched through the National Council for Child Welfare, which is the implementing body and coordinating partner for the COHA in Sudan. The COHA study was undertaken in Sudan from October 2018 to December 2019 and the launch of the report was graced by Hon. Minister of Labor and Social Development Mad. Lena Elsheikh. “This COHA programme is a priority for us in the government and the outcomes and indicators in this report are very important as we seek to review the policies relating to children. We need to start this programme this year and it is our commitment in the ministry to achieve the agenda of sustainable development and have a quick...

Jul212020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

SUDAN: Al-Bashir to go on trial in Sudan for 1989 military coup By DPA Time of article published 4h ago

AFRICA

Khartoum - Sudan is Tuesday set to begin a trial against ousted autocrat Omar al-Bashir for leading a military coup that brought him to power 31 years ago. Al-Bashir is scheduled to appear in court in the capital, Khartoum, at 0800 GMT to face charges of undermining the constitution, violating the Armed Forces Act and rebellion, Al-Moez Hadra, one of a group of lawyers who filed the criminal lawsuit, told dpa. The 76-year-old will stand trial with 16 co-accused, among them two of al-Bashir's former vice presidents as well as former ministers and governors. If convicted, al-Bashir, who is already imprisoned for corruption, could face the death sentence. Al-Bashir came to power in 1989 after he lead a military coup against democratically elected Prime Minister Sadek al-Mahdi. ...

Jul202020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Coronavirus – Sudan: US$ 283 million needed to support people affected by COVID-19 in Sudan

Uncategorized

KHARTOUM, Sudan, July 20, 2020 -- The United Nations and humanitarian partners, in support of the Transitional Government of Sudan, launched today an addendum to the 2020 Humanitarian Response Plan to respond to increasing humanitarian needs in the country. The Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Gwi-Yeop Son, today called on the international community to scale up its support to Sudan and help the country to address the most immediate and critical needs of millions of people affected by the health and humanitarian consequences of COVID-19. Over US$ 283 million is urgently needed to support the Government-led response and provide life-saving assistance to more than 6.7 million people across the country. “COVID-19 arrived in Sudan at a time when an increasing part of the population w...

Jul152020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Coronavirus – Sudan: UNAMID COVID-19 Media Update

Uncategorized

ZALINGEI, Sudan, July 15, 2020/ -- As of 8 July 2020, UNAMID recorded 20 cases of COVID-19 among its personnel. Out of the 20 cases, 15 have fully recovered from the disease and with one death. So far, 44 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests have been conducted on Mission personnel in Darfur as of 12 July, based on staff showing mild or moderate symptoms or having potentially been in contact with a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case. UNAMID support to the Government on COVID-19 UNAMID continues to provide support to the Government of Sudan to enhance its response to COVID-19. In this regard, and in line with UN Secretary General’s message of 5 April 2020 on gender-based violence and the women, peace and security framework, UNAMID in collaboration with the ministries of health an...

Jul102020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Coronavirus – Sudan: More than 350,000 people received humanitarian assistance in previously inaccessible areas of South Darfur

AFRICA

KHARTOUM, Sudan, July 10, 2020 --United Nations agencies and humanitarian partners have provided life-assistance to about 350,000 people in previously inaccessible parts of the Jebel Marra area, in South Darfur, over the past nine months, overcoming important challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, humanitarians reached different communities for the first time in 10 years, during a need’s assessment carried out at the end of June in the area. According to the preliminary findings of the studies, hundreds of thousands of people across several communities in the region have little or no access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation products, and also lack health, nutrition, education and protection services. The last mission, led by OCHA, could assess the situation in So...

Jul92020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Coronavirus – Sudan: Workshops and lectures on COVID-19 for the Mission’s health care professionals and paramedics

HEALTH

ZALINGEI, Sudan, July 9, 2020/ -- UNAMID Pakistani peacekeepers at the Mission’s Team Site in Kabkabiya, North Darfur, conducted a series of workshops and lectures on COVID-19 for the Mission’s health care professionals and paramedics. These efforts are part of the Mission’s ongoing preparedness activities to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 in its area of operation.

Jul52020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Coronavirus – Sudan Prepares to Receive Returning Nationals

AFRICA

KHARTOUM, Sudan, July 5, 2020 -- The Government of Sudan last month began facilitating the return home of the first of an estimated 15,000 Sudanese nationals stranded overseas, many in urgent need of assistance, with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). IOM, which has been advocating for the creation of predictable, safe return mechanisms that balance mobility with the need for the robust public health response to COVID-19, is working with the World Health Organization (WHO), to strengthen health surveillance measures at points of entry including Khartoum International Airport, Port Sudan New International Airport and Swakin seaport. “Khartoum International Airport has completed all the necessary preparations to receive Sudane...

Jun292020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Coronavirus – Sudan: UNAMID COVID-19 Update

Uncategorized

ZALINGEI, Sudan, June 29, 2020/ -- As of 25 June 2020, UNAMID has 17 cases of COVID-19 among its mission personnel, including two cases in Kenya and one national staff in Khartoum. A total of 10 out of the 17 cases have fully recovered from the disease. In line with the Mission’s mitigation measures, 31 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests have been conducted on mission personnel in Darfur as of 25 June 2020, based on their showing mild or moderate symptoms or having potentially been in contact with a confirmed or suspected case. UNAMID support to staff and uniformed personnel UNAMID continues to provide support to federal and state authorities to prevent and contain COVID-19. From 24 June 2020, UNAMID commenced implementation of a two-week sensitization campaign in several r...

Jun272020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

International community shows strong support for Sudan with $1.8 billion pledge

INTERNATIONAL

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, June 27, 2020/ -- Over $1.8 billion dollars in pledges for Sudan poured in during a high-level Sudan Partnership Conference held on Thursday, 25 June 2020, marking an important step in the African nation’s re-engagement with the international community. African Development Bank (https://www.AfDB.org/) President, Akinwumi Adesina, and the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund chiefs attended the Conference, which was co-hosted by the Republic of the Sudan, the Federal Republic of Germany, the European Union and the United Nations, and held virtually in Berlin. Other participants included delegations from 50 countries and international organisations. “This Conference signals the strong and full return of Sudan to the international community,” said A...

Jun272020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Coronavirus – Sudan: The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Announces a Contribution of $356.2 Million from the U.S. Government for Sudan’s Democratic Transition

INTERNATIONAL

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, June 27, 2020/ -- The United States is providing $356.2 million to support the democratic transition in the Republic of Sudan following a peaceful revolution in 2019. The Acting Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), John Barsa, announced this commitment today at the Sudan Partnership Conference, a virtual event co-hosted by the European Union, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Transitional Government of Sudan, and the United Nations. The U.S. commitment includes $20 million, subject to Congressional notification, for the Sudan Family-Support Program, a safety net administered by the World Food Programme to help a large part of the Sudanese population through a difficult period of economic reform needed to end unsustainabl...

Jun252020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Coronavirus – Sudan: UNAMID awareness campaign on COVID-19

Uncategorized

ZALINGEI, Sudan, June 25, 2020/ -- UNAMID Bangladeshi peacekeepers provide masks and hand sanitizers to local population in the streets of Elfasher town in North Darfur as part of their awareness campaign on COVID-19. This campaign is also extended to university students and lecturers at Elfasher University. These efforts are part of the Mission’s overall response to support the host community in combating the spread of COVID-19.

Jun232020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Coronavirus – Sudan: UNAMID conducts intensive street publicity awareness campaign on Covid-19 across Darfur

Uncategorized

ZALINGEI, Sudan, June 23, 2020/ -- More than one million residents from five Darfur states (north, south, east, central, west) are estimated to have directly benefitted from the recently concluded month-long Street Publicity Awareness Campaign (SPAC) on the fight against COVID-19 organized by UNAMID’s Communications and Public Information Section, in collaboration with the state health authorities in the western region of Sudan. The awareness campaign, led by local health experts from the State Ministries of Health and Social Development, comprised the use of megaphones mounted on open vehicles and vans adorned with posters and banners with slogans on the measures to mitigate and fight against COVID-19, that has so far claimed more than four hundred lives by mid-June 2020. The campa...

Jun222020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Coronavirus – Sudan: UNAMID COVID-19 Update

Uncategorized

KHARTOUM, Sudan, June 22, 2020 -- Situation update: UNAMID continues to implement measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As at 17 June 2020, UNAMID has sixteen cases of COVID-19 among its mission personnel including two cases in Kenya and one national staff in Khartoum. A total of eight out of the sixteen cases have fully recovered from the disease. So far, 29 PCR tests have been conducted on Mission personnel in Darfur based on their showing mild or moderate symptoms or having potentially been in contact with a confirmed or suspected case. UNAMID support to the Government on COVID-19 From 7-14 April 2020, UNAMID, through the state liaison functions (SLF) mechanism, supported the Sudan Police Force (SPF) in West Darfur to design, develop and print 4,000 brochures and flyers ...

Jun112020 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

Sudan embraces digital payments to build a more inclusive economy

AFRICA

KHARTOUM, Sudan, June 11, 2020/ -- As part of its vision to transform its economy, the Republic of Sudan announced yesterday a new commitment to accelerate the transition from cash to digital payments. By joining the United Nations-based Better Than Cash Alliance (www.BetterThanCash.org), the government commits to increasing financial inclusion and transparency, taking steps to build an economy that benefits all citizens. Moving from cash to responsible (https://bit.ly/2UrKZKg) digital payments is central to the government’s economic recovery and reform strategy. In particular, digital payments will be critical to the success of the recently announced Sudan Family Support Program, which will provide monthly direct digital transfers to around 80 percent of Sudanese f...

Jun102020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Ethiopia: The African Development Bank gives $1.2 million for Ethiopia-Sudan railway study

AFRICA

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, June 10, 2020/ -- The African Development Bank’s (www.AfDB.org) Board of Directors has approved a $1.2 million grant to Ethiopia’s government to finance a feasibility study for construction of a standard-gauge railway (SGR) link between Ethiopia and neighbouring Sudan. The grant, from the African Development Fund, the Bank Group's concessional-rate lending arm, would cover 35% of the total estimated $3.4 million cost of the study. The remaining funding will be provided by the NEPAD Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility (NEPAD-IPPF) in the form of a $2-million grant, and by a contribution of $100,000 each from the two countries involved. The financing was approved in January. The two-year, comprehensive feasibility study will assess the proposed project’s ...