Eastern Equatoria Trip Report
USAID Sudan Trip Report
Eastern Equatoria
December 2002
Background
For years, much of Eastern Equatoria was under a Government of Sudan-imposed flight ban, creating many problems for the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Travel by road from northern Uganda risked attack by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), complicating access. The UN negotiated air access in October 2002, which has improved security considerably. However, LRA terror tactics are preventing communities from resuming normal activities and are inhibiting the transition from emergency relief to more sustainable development.
Eastern Equatoria is affected by both Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)-Government of Sudan (GOS) conflict centered around the GOS-held garrison towns of Juba and Torit, and attacks by the Uganda rebel LRA. Until recently, the GOS-imposed flight ban required relief workers and commodities to travel by road from northern Uganda. Recent upsurges in LRA Activity over the past 12-18 months has made road travel increasingly dangerous, and a number of NGO staff have been killed in LRA ambushes. The road access negotiated in October now provides a safer means of entering Nimule, but road travel within the corridor still requires heavily armed SPLA escorts due to frequent LRA movements through the area.
Magwi County, which includes Nimule, hosts large numbers of IDPs both from within the region and from Bor County, many of whom have been displaced since the early nineties. In addition, the upsurge in LRA attacks in northern Uganda has resulted in a number of Sudanese refugees returning to Magwi County, adding to pressure on local communities.
Assistance to Date
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has been implementing emergency response programs with a focus on food security in Eastern Equatoria since 1989. CRS is also undertaking agricultural rehabilitation, including the distribution of seeds and tools and the successful introduction of cassava and sweet potato through demonstration farms. American Refugee Committee (ARC) has provided primary health care, water and sanitation services with OFDA support since 2001. ARC supports five health units and provides training for traditional birth attendants and community health workers. ARC also rehabilitates water points and drills boreholes to improve access to safe water.
Current Needs
Despite the continuing provision of food aid, there are relatively high rates of malnutrition in Nimule. The poor nutrition situation is undoubtedly linked to weak health and water services, and without the stability required to more effectively establish these basic services, nutritional needs will likely remain high. The health and nutrition situation will be exacerbated by the impending closure of the hospital in Nimule, which may be forced to close due to lack of external support. A USAID health assessment team visited the area in January 2003 and is considering how support to basic secondary health services can fill critical gaps in southern Sudan.
While air access has provided a safer means to transport staff and small-scale commodities to the Nimule area, food convoys and other road movement in northern Uganda continue to be targeted by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). NGOs have requested that the US government raise the issue of LRA insecurity in bilateral dialogue with the governments of Uganda and Sudan.
Conclusion
| Participants |
 Susan Bradley, USAID/FFP Emergency Officer
Ted Maly, USAID/OFDA Program Officer for Southern Sudan
Dan Suther, USAID/FFP Emergency Officer
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Despite relative stability and well-established humanitarian assistance programs, Magwi County of Eastern Equatoria has not been able to overcome the need for continuing relief interventions. This is largely due to continuing disruption and insecurity from the LRA. Continued support to emergency programs in health, water and food security is vita, as well as strengthened links to longer-term development initiatives as they take hold.
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