ICRC - Sudan bulletin No. 22

Sudan bulletin No. 22 - 31 January 2005
Latest report on ICRC activities in the field

General situation
On 26 January, the African Union (AU) reported that a government attack on the village of Rahad Kabolong, in Northern Darfur, had resulted in over 100 casualties. The AU is investigating the incident.

The local media spoke of about 20 deaths in violent incidents reported to have occurred on 28 and 29 January in Port Sudan, during a demonstration by the Beja people.

In the eastern part of the country, the Governor of Kassala State announced the withdrawal of Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) forces from the region.

The Dutch Development Cooperation Minister, Agnes van Ardenne, visited Rumbek in Southern Sudan; she opened a joint liaison office for Britain and the Netherlands, thus establishing the first Western diplomatic presence in the south since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Government of Sudan and the SPLM/A.

Health and immunization
In support of the Sudanese Ministry of Health national polio immunization campaign, the ICRC vaccinated 300 children under the age of 5 in the Jebel Mara area (Western Darfur) and a further 438 in the Kutum area (Northern Darfur).

In Zalingi (Western Darfur), the ICRC evacuated a woman presenting complications during labour to Zalingei hospital. The first of the woman’s twins was delivered safely during the trip, on board the ICRC Landcruiser.

Food distribution
In Northern Darfur’s Sayah area, 4,562 people received food aid and 6.4 tonnes of food were provided to two villages.

Dissemination activities
For the first time, the ICRC organized a dissemination session for 20 AU military observers in Darfur, at the AU's headquarters in Al-Fashir.

Red Cross and Crescent Movement
The ICRC continues to work in close cooperation with the Sudanese Red Crescent and other partners from the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to provide a proper and effective response to the humanitarian needs arising from the current conflict.

In Nyala (Southern Darfur), for example, the Finnish Red Cross intends to provide secondary health care for the local population. It is currently assessing conditions in the local hospital before deploying its 12-delegate team.

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