nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
Although DRC  [ Danish Refugee Council ]  and other actors should aim to tackle the natural resources issues causing intercommunal conflicts in Golo, a robust peacebuilding approach that engages other actors in the the humanitarian sector as well as other stakeholders is needed to build relationships and end hostilities
The conflict between the villages and the damrahs are influenced by the overall political and governance context of Darfur and the rest of the Sudan. Laws and institutions that organise access to land have changed significantly in Darfur.
The prevalence of small arms has been identified by all the communities visited and individuals interviewed as a destabilising factor in the local context. Smuggling of small arms via routes through the Chadian border has become a major economic activity for many Darfuri individuals from different backgrounds.
Indeed, the security sector in Sudan is fragmented and the new civilian component of the transitional government at national and local level appears to have very limited capacity to manage and monitor its different components. The lack of civilian control over the security sector makes it act against the interest of local communities. It is the driver for continuation of abuses and attacks against Golo dwellers.
The triggers of the intercommunal conflicts, whether committed by individuals at the local level or armed groups at the national level, stems from contextual factors that create a conducive environment for disputes and conflict in the area. These factors are diverse and represent the proximate causes of conflicts between the villages and the damrahs.
On the other hand, elements of SLA AW  [ Sudan Liberation Army  Abdulwahid ]  attack herders from the damrahs and steal their livestock. The actions of individuals associated with the RSF  [ Rapid Support Forces ]  and SLA AW  [ Sudan Liberation Army  Abdulwahid ]  fuel the conflict between the villages and the damrahs because the villages associate RSF militias with the damrahs and the damrahs themselves associate the SLA AW with the villages.
Despite the existence of local peace actors and local conflict prevention mechanisms in Golo, the local resilience to conflicts is undermined by actions of spoilers at the national level. On one hand, militias associated with the RSF  [ Rapid Support Forces ]  target farmers from the villages.
There are different local peace actors and conflict resolution mechanisms in Golo. The Native Administration plays a key role in conflict prevention and peacebuilding in the area. They continue to play the role of organising access to land for farmers and pastoralists via the customary institution of talaig. Moreover, Native Administration in Golo manage the customary reconciliation groups of Ajaweed. They are also involved in the government agricultural season protection committees. Recently, a  ( PRC  [ Peace and Reconciliation Committee ]  was formed by Native Administration leaders to resolve intercommunal conflicts and achieve social cohesion. The PCR enjoys good relationships with national level actors including the State's government, the security sectors and the SLA.
Intercommunal conflict between Golo villages and Golo damrahs are often triggered by incidents affecting individuals from both communities. These triggers include villages' farmers crop damage by livestock of pastoralists from the damrahs; theft of livestock from villages; and theft of livestock from damrahs.
In many cases, these incidents result in murdering, wounding or abducting community members. When they happen, those single events can lead to retaliation and revenge by individuals or groups from the affected communities against the community with whom they associate the perpetrators.
The illicit cross border arms trades continue to supply small arms to the region. Without regional and global actions to ensure that arm trade is confined by international regulations, the flow of arms would continue to destabilise Golo and the rest of Darfur.
The rule of law needs to be restored and the security sector needs to be reformed. This is very important given the spoiling effect the actors at other levels have on the relationship between the communities of Golo. Moreover, a comprehensive peace must address all the injustices faced by the communities of Jebel Marra, those who lost their relatives in atrocities committed through violations of human rights committed by government forces throughout the period of conflict.
In all the FGDs  [ Focus Group Discussions ] , the communities complained about the way with which relief services are being delivered. The lack of transparency by community leaders is fuelling disputes within Golo villages. To avoid exacerbating divisions within communities, humanitarian actors need to pay more attention to ensure inclusive community engagement and transparency in the preparation/  consultation phases, implementation and monitoring of the relief activities.
Organising social events that bring community members from the villages and damrahs together could play a positive role in restoring the relationship between these communities.
All communities complained about poor access to water during the dry season. Supporting the existing water facilities in the area would play a very important role in improving social cohesion within communities as issues of access to water services are beginning to cause tensions between different communities sharing the same water resources.
DRC  [ Danish Refugee Council ]  would contribute to the overall wellbeing of the communities by investing in the promotion of social services of education and health. This would ease the hardships the communities face from the gaps in these sectors and would indirectly respond to the grievances of the local populations.
The high rate of unemployment in Darfur pushes many individuals, particularly youth, to seek illegal emigration or to join militias. It is very important that youth employment is supported through vocational training and small businesses.
Women were the most affected in all communities, the death of household head and sons of many women in Golo has overburdened them with huge household responsibilities. Supporting women through vocational skills and small business would reduce their vulnerabilities and improve their households' resilience.
Due to the rough roads and the difficult topography of the areas, producers find it difficult to access big markets in Darfur and the rest of the Sudan. Any contribution to improving roads and constructing crossing points would have a direct impact on the local economy in the area. Access to markets could be strengthened by organising different categories of producers in associations or cooperatives. This would allow them to obtain inputs with relatively lower cost  ( fertilisers, seeds, etc. )  and sell their produce for better prices.
The Native Administration and their local executives should be encouraged to be more transparent, accountable and inclusive to their communities. This entails encouraging the Native Administration to support the participation of women and youth in their structures to make these structures more representative of different needs within the population.
The long history of marginalisation of the region and the destruction caused by the conflict have reduced the economic wellbeing of the population overall in Jebel Marra. There is a need to support the traditional livelihoods of pastoralism and agriculture, and the services associated with them including water, improved seeds, crop protection and veterinary services. These services need to be extended to other areas in Central Jebel Marra locality.
DRC  [ Danish Refugee Council ]  should consider working with other actors including PRC  [ Peace and Reconciliation Committee ] , the Peacebuilding Coordination Forum and the local government to mediate between Golo villages and Golo damrahs and negotiate settlements for their conflicts. An entry point could be through enhancing the relationship between Guldo villages and Golo damrahs.
The PRC  [ Peace and Reconciliation Committee ]  needs to be logistically supported in order to facilitate their movement and to enhance their ability to settle conflicts. In many cases, their limited ability to move limits their capacity to respond to tensions and conflicts before they escalate.
Approximately seven out of ten primary school aged and nine out of ten secondary school aged refugee children are not receiving any formal education, with refugees from South Sudan particularly affected.
Designing inclusive development projects that address the needs of all communities equitably through a consensus building modality could be a good way to improve the intercommunal relationships. For example, access to water is a major issue facing all these communities, as expressed in all communities visited in this study. A durable solution could be by investing in facilities that could be shared by villages and damrahs community members.
UNAMID  [ United Nations   African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur ]  has been organising peaceful coexistence forums in Golo and elsewhere in Central Darfur. These forums were good opportunity for communities to discuss the issues that are essential for promoting peace between different communities in the area.
There is a need of reinforcing the existing practices, structures and institutions that organises access to land and other natural resources. The expertise the Native Administration leaders developed over years is very crucial to build on for restoring the symbiosis between mobile pastoralists and farmers in the area.
The Peacebuilding Coordination Forum led by the Locality Commissioner and UNDP  [ United Nations Development Programme ]  in Golo has the potential to play a positive role in coordinating the peacebuilding and development activities in the area an inclusive manner.
Towards promoting peaceful coexistence in Jebel Marra and the rest of Central Darfur, UNAMID  [ United Nations   African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur ]  organised several festivals and sports events under the “Together for Peace' campaign in which people from different communities participated. The effectiveness of these events is not clear, but in different interviews participants thought that this is a good way to build relationships amongst the youth of different communities.
The appointment of a new civilian governor to Central Darfur in July 2020 by STG  [ Sudan Transitional Government ]  was a very good move towards fulfilling the demands of the local people in Central Darfur. People and their organisations began to engage with the government actively through meetings and memoranda to raise their demands for security and development. The new civilian government can play a positive role in ending intercommunal clashes if it treats them equally.
The local PRC  [ Peace and Reconciliation Committee ]  plays a vital role in settling intercommunal disputes, despite the contextual and logistical challenges they face. The representation of the Native Administration from different communities, in both villages and damrahs, makes it a trusted entity by all communities. The networks of its individual members within the local government and the respect it enjoys amongst other actors further underpins its position within the peacebuilding architecture.
the government succeeded in reaching a peace deal with the Sudan Revolutionary Front  ( SRF )  and they are engaging with the other rebel groups of Sudan People's Liberation Movement  Abdelaziz Al Hilu  ( SPLM al hilu )  and SLA AW  [ Sudan Liberation Army  Abdulwahid ] . This commitment to tackling the root causes of the conflict, if genuine, may result in a comprehensive peace agreement with all the opposition groups, including SLA AW. A comprehensive peace agreement would address the grievances of all the communities in Jebel Marra.
The Talaig institution that organises access to land by farmers and pastoralists is recognised by pastoralists and farmers in all communities. In Golo areas, farmers use the land from June to February and allow pastoralists to graze their animals in crop residues from March to May.
The traditional judiya system led by Native Administrations is crucial for resolving intercommunal conflicts. This system is cross cutting and plays a vital role under other thematic areas as well. The capacities of mediation and conflict resolution have been very successful in de escalating tensions between different groups.
In partnership with Siyag Charity Organization, the UNDP  [ United Nations Development Programme ]  implemented a livelihood project in which planting Acacia Senegal trees for gum Arabic production was a core activity. The trees were grown through collaborative action involving community members of Golo villages and Golo damrahs in areas of contiguity between the two clusters of community. Although fires destroyed the gum Arabic trees grown, participants in the analysis workshop indicated that the activity was effective in bringing people from these communities together to build their relationships.
Denying pastoralists access to Golo villages markets led to an increase in meat prices in Golo. On the other hand, the insecurity prevents many farmers from trying to grow flocks as they are exposed to the risk of thefts. The tense conflict between the damrahs and the villages have destroyed the historical social cohesion that characterised relationships in the past.
Youth in all communities were affected by the overall situation of war, but intercommunal conflicts exacerbate their suffering. Youth lost their educational opportunities because of the damage to schools in the area as well as the economic hardships that limited the capacity of their families in meeting the costs of their education.
The loss of a husband or a child has psychological and economic consequences. When women lose their husbands, all the responsibilities of their households fall on them. This includes securing a household income besides the traditional roles assigned to them.
The chaotic security sector that is uncontrolled by a competent civilian authority is the main driver for violations of human rights by individuals and militias associated with the different components of the security sector. Diverting government spending from security to development in marginalised areas like Darfur would also be challenged by the powerful position of the military generals in the transitional government.
The generals of the TMC  [ Transitional Military Council ]  , who were part of the previous regime, managed to secure powerful ppolitical positions within the transitional government including in the Sovereign Council and the ministries of defence and interior. This represents a huge challenge for implementing a security sector reform as part of the transition to ensure that peace prevails in the country.
The political transition that took place in Sudan in 2019 is not expected to reform the security sector in a way that serves the interests of the Sudanese citizens across the country.
According to other analyses, this violence is fuelled by elements of the previous regime who are trying to destabilise the transition in Sudan through their supporters within different formal and informal structures.
In many cases, the institutions of law enforcement failed to prevent intercommunal violence and elements from those institutions were involved in the violence. This was quite stark in Genina and eastern Sudan. There is a need to further investigate this trend of increase in intercommunal conflicts and the political interests it may serve.
Based on the testimonies of the analysis participants, disputes between these groups are caused by issues related to access and control of natural resources including land and water.
The most serious intercommunal conflict in Golo, Central Darfur is the one between the village dwellers who are mostly Fur and damrahs' dwellers who are predominantly from mobile pastoralist groups of Nawaibha, Mahryah and Awlad rashid and associate themselves with the ‘Arab' identity
Resistance committees are grassroot local associations that were formed during the uprising against the Bashir regime. They are mostly led by youth in their neighbourhoods. In Golo, there is a resistance committee and it is actively engaged with the local government in identifying the priorities of Golo residents for development and security.
In recent years, the PRC  [ Peace and Reconciliation Committee ]  were able to resolve some of the major events of conflict in the area including those resulting from homicide crimes or animal thefts.
The most serious intercommunal conflict in Golo, Central Darfur is the one between the village dwellers who are mostly Fur and damrahs' dwellers who are predominantly from mobile pastoralist groups of Nawaibha, Mahryah and Awlad rashid and associate themselves with the ‘Arab' identity.
In Golo area, a pregnant woman was beaten and seriously injured when she resisted pastoralists who drove their cattle into her farm. The woman was reported dead and her death escalated tensions between the Northern Rezeigat and Fur communities in the area.
Intercommunal clashes in Dulayq village Wadi Saleh resulted in displacement of 900 people and claimed the lives of 13 people. The source was not clear about the communities involved. Moreover, the 2019 farming season, particularly in Nertiti Thur area of Central Darfur, was disrupted by attacks on farmers by the Nawaiba branch of Northern Rezeigat pastoralists who prevented Fur communities from accessing their farmlands.
These clashes take place around the area of Daya north east of Golo. During the period from May to September 2020, the infighting amongst SLA AW  [ Sudan Liberation Army  Abdulwahid ]  displaced 9,419 families and caused 17 fatalities.
According to the panel of experts on Sudan, the fighting between the two groups involved attacks by each of them on villagers supporting the other faction with reports of displacement, murder and rape. Indeed, the number of incidents of armed clashes between the two factions of SLA AW  [ Sudan Liberation Army  Abdulwahid ]  is significantly higher than those involving SAF  [ Sudan Armed Forces ]  and SLA AW.
In the last three months, the relative stability in Jebel Marra was disrupted by 48 incidents of armed clashes. According to the UNSG  [ United Nations Secretary General ]  António Guterres, these 48 clashes led to 115 fatalities, which is significantly higher than the casualties between March and May 2020.
Over the last two years, attacks on civilians in Central Darfur by RSF  [ Rapid Support Forces ]  and other militias took place intermittently. These attacks brought to the surface the question of whether UNAMID  [ United Nations   African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur ]  should withdraw from the region.
the Report of the Secretary General on the situation in the Sudan and the activities of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in the Sudan reported that a SAF  [ Sudan Armed Forces ]  checkpoint was attacked by SLA AW  [ Sudan Liberation Army  Abdulwahid ]  in Kutrum, leading to the killing of 27 soldiers from SAF and 9 elements of SLA AW.
In the past three years, the security situation in Golo has relatively improved due to two factors. First, a peace agreement between the government and some SLA AW  [ Sudan Liberation Army  Abdulwahid  ]  factions in Jebel Marra. Second, the SLA AW and central government announcement of a unilateral ceasefire in 2019
According to different participants in this baseline study, people have been caught in instability up until 2016, as they were fleeing the area and returning to it on many occasions
Since 2003, the fighting between the central government and SLA  [ Sudan Liberation Army ]  in the area has resulted in dire humanitarian conditions. Many people were displaced from Golo and the surrounding villages to other areas of Central Darfur and beyond.
According to the International Organisation for Migration  ( IOM )  estimations, the locality's population is 164,000 including returnees and internally displaced persons  ( IDPs ) . The area is characterised by mountainous terrain with extremely difficult movement due to absence of paved roads
The baseline aimed at developing recommendations for conflict sensitive programming and direct interventions that could contribute to tackling the causes of the conflict.
Towards achieving the goal of enhancing its understanding of the conflict in Golo, DRC  [ Danish Refugee Council ]  commissioned a baseline conflict analysis in the area to assess the relationships between communities and identify the root and immediate causes as well as the drivers of the intercommunal conflicts in the area.
In addition, in 2020, DRC  [ Danish Refugee Council ]  initiated Safer Communities programming. Engaging in this sector requires developing a deeper understanding of the causes and drivers of conflict in Golo to explore if and how DRC could play a more effective role in community peacebuilding and conflict prevention.
Recently, the Government of Sudan granted DRC  [ Danish Refugee Council ]  access to Golo to respond, amongst other organisations, to the needs of the people affected by the instability in Jebel Marra. Besides its protection activities, DRC implements food security and livelihoods programmes as well as emergency shelter and distribution of non food items  ( NFIs ) .
At that time  [ early 2016 ] , the fighting between the government and SLA AW led to the displacement of 129,000 individuals from Jebel Marra  ( OCHA, 2016 ) . By mid 2016 people began to return to their areas in Jebel Marra as the government controlled Golo and aimed to improve the security of the area  ( OCHA, 2016 ) .
Early in 2016, the area was adversely affected by the fighting between Sudan Armed Forces  ( SAF )  and Sudan Liberation Army – Abdulwahid  ( SLA AW )  when the government of Sudan launched a military operation in Jebel Marra  ( OCHA, 2016 ) .
Nominal wholesale prices of sorghum reached record highs in most markets in November 2020, ranging from SDG 6 200 to SDG 7 700/90 kg sack. In the observed markets, the year on year increase in prices was on average 320 percent. Similarly, wholesale prices of millet, mainly grown and consumed in Darfur Region, followed a sustained increasing trend during 2020  ( Figure 6 ) . In November 2020, prices were about SDG 12 200/90 kg sack in North Darfur State producing area, corresponding to an annual increase of 370 percent.
Since August 2020, torrential rains triggering widespread flash floods, combined with the historical overflow of the Nile River and its tributaries have affected most states of the country, with the only exception of South Darfur, causing severe damages alongside riverbanks in northern, central and eastern regions of the country. The areas most affected have been Gedarif, Eastern Darfur, Blue Nile and Sennar states. In addition, flash floods also occurred in several areas of the country, including the Greater Kordofan and Darfur regions, damaging standing crops, seed stocks, tools, equipment, machinery, irrigation and other agricultural infrastructures.
The impact of COVID 19 related restrictions on crop and livestock production in Tokar Scheme, Red Sea: Labour shortages, Fodder shortages, High costs of agricultural labour, Shortages of vaccines and drugs, Lack of transportation services
In the Rahad Scheme, the irregular electricity supply from the Mina station in the months of May and June led to a delay in planting of groundnut and sorghum crops. Subsequently, heavy rains in July and August led to waterlogging of more than 30 000 feddans. While maintenance and cleaning of canals was adequately performed, the drainage system was not adequately maintained
The traditional practice of farmers allowing herds to graze crop residues, with animals simultaneously fertilizing land, is declining as farmers prefer to sell their residues for cash. Clashes between pastoralists and farmers are common, even in years of good rainfall, prompting the Government to set up committees in each state to resolve disputes.
The abundant rains and the extended duration of the rainy season also improved the availability of pasture and water for livestock. However, the expansion of the cultivated areas at the expense of rangelands is reported to have disrupted transhumance routes, leading to conflicts between pastoralists and farmers.
Livestock is raised in almost all parts of the country and animals are owned primarily by nomadic tribes. In 2020, the livestock population was estimated at about 109.9 million heads, comprising about 31.8 million cattle, 41 million sheep, 32.2 million goats and 4.9 million camels. Pastoralists efficiently use natural resources, moving herds around the country in response to weather conditions and availability of forage. The major problem faced by pastoralists is the loss of rangeland due to the expansion of mechanized farming.
Large scale mechanized federal schemes account for about 1.26 million hectares  ( 3 million feddans ) , including the Aj Jazirah Scheme which, at approximately 1 million hectares  ( 2.38 million feddans ) , is one of the largest irrigation schemes in the world. The irrigated sector is the main user of imported agricultural inputs as production is more reliable. However, yields in the federal irrigated schemes remain low compared to world standards, largely due to the poor maintenance of canals, the low capacity of drainage systems and the shortage of efficient modern pumps. In addition, the adoption of traditional agricultural practices that do not allow to make the most efficient use of the constant water resource and exploit the full potential of more intensive farming.
Viewed globally, yields are generally low in all sectors for various reasons in addition to rainfall. These include, inter alia, a shortage of efficient, well maintained farm machinery, a shortage of credit and working capital, the use of low yielding crop varieties and low plant density with scarce availability of improved seeds, inadequate maintenance of irrigation canals, inefficient irrigation pumps and poor agricultural practices such as inadequate weed and pest control.
Although the official exchange rate was pegged at SDG 55.3 per US dollar since March 2020, USD 1 was traded up to SDG 250 as of November 2020 in the parallel market. The weakening of the Sudanese Pound exerted upward pressure on prices, especially those of imported goods, including fuel, wheat and agricultural inputs. Furthermore, the difficult macro economic situation, exacerbated by the COVID 19 pandemic, prevented the country from attracting foreign investments
According to the CBS  [ Central Bureau of Statistics ] , prices in food and beverage as well as transport sector increased most sharply, reflecting higher input costs, including fuel, which are mostly imported. High inflationary pressures have contributed to diminish the purchasing power of urban consumers and farmers, significantly constraining their access to food and agricultural inputs.
The increase in exports of these crops is due to strong international demand, especially from China  ( mainland ) , as well as the above average production in 2019. The country has been the most important supplier of sesame and the second largest supplier of groundnuts to China  ( mainland )  in 2020.
With regard to agricultural commodities, exports in volume terms in the January September 2020 period were 15 percent higher than the same period in 2019. Total revenues from exports of sesame and groundnut, which generate the highest export earnings, are estimated at USD 855 million between January and September 2020, about 32 percent higher than in the same period in 2019.
The Central Bureau of Statistics  ( CBS )  estimates the country's GDP in 2020 at about SDG 4 066 billion  ( at current prices ) . According to its estimates, the agricultural sector contributed to about 20 percent of the GDP in 2020, while contributions of the industrial and service sectors were 23 and 57 percent, respectively. In the agricultural sector, the contribution to the GDP is highest in livestock  ( about 65 percent ) , followed by staple and cash crops  ( about 33 percent ) , while the importance of the forestry and fishing sectors is marginal.
The country has been facing macro economic challenges since the secession of South Sudan in 2011, which took three quarters of the oil output, leaving the Sudan with half of fiscal revenues and one third of export earnings. After the secession, the country has been also suffering from shortages of foreign exchange reserves, mainly due to low foreign investments, limited access to international financing and fiscal deficits as a result of weak revenue collection and heavy subsidies on fuel  ( more than 10 percent of Gross Domestic Product  [ GDP ]  in the 2018 2019 period, according to the International Monetary Fund  [ IMF ]
The rise in total  [ food ]  production is mainly due to the increase of both planted and harvested areas. Planted area increased due to the high market prices of the crops, which prompted farmers to increase plantings, and to an increased availability of fuel and agricultural finance.
The rainy season was characterized by exceptionally abundant rainfall amounts that, coupled with the overflow of rivers, resulted in widespread floods, affecting nearly all states, with substantial crop losses and a decrease in yields compared to 2019.
For the over one million refugees, the need for shelter and NFI remained significant, especially for those living in camps in East Sudan, White Nile, and East Darfur – and those in collective settlements in the Kordofan State and South Darfur
[ There are five million vulnerable residents... ] They are in the Blue Nile, Central Darfur, East Darfur, North Darfur, South Darfur, West Darfur, West, and South Kordofan states. Out of these, 2.1 million will need continued and increased support to access hygiene services, 1.4 million will need support accessing sanitation, and 400,000 will need continued support to access basic water services.
The situation of WASH in health facilities is even worse. Lack of gender segregated sanitation facilities is a challenge. Menstrual hygiene management is often not prioritized, negatively impacting girls' attendance and enrolment in schools.
COVID 19 exposed WASH gaps in urban and densely populated areas. More than 80 per cent of cases were from Khartoum and Aj Jazirah. Darfur states recorded very high case fatality rates during the first half of 2020.
There are also high WASH needs related to hygiene and water safety in flood prone states where thousands of latrines collapse every year and water sources inundate.
Nearly a third of households  ( over 10 million people )  practice open defecation which poses grave public health risks, including the transmission of water borne diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid, and polio.
Diarrhoea kills one in ten children, attributed mainly to poor WASH. Two million children suffer from acute malnutrition, 50 per cent of which is associated with repeated diarrhoea or worm infections related to poor WASH conditions.
About three quarters of the population have access to basic drinking water, 39 per cent have access to limited sanitation services, and 13 per cent have access to basic handwashing facilities. The people in need of WASH is 9.1 million people across Sudan, including 1.05 million refugees.
The economic crisis may worsen the impact of floods and the sector may need to increase the number of beneficiaries, as people's loss of purchasing power reduces their ability to cope and adapt.
The socio economic crisis may lead to additional displacement as people move to locations in the hope of accessing services provided to existing IDP camps and settlements.
Heavy flash floods also affected North and East Darfur and other states such as River Nile. An estimated 40 per cent of flood affected people in Sudan reside in some 34 localities across 15 key states and for 2021 have been ranked as severity level 5 by the sector.
In eastern Sudan and many parts of central and north Sudan the severity  [ of Shelter and NFI needs ]  is projected to remain low  ( severity 1 ) . However, populations in Khartoum, Blue Nile, Gedaref, Aj Jazirah, Kassala, Red Sea and Sennar states remain vulnerable to hazards such as floods.
Those who chose to remain, face complex issues regarding land rights that often prevent them from constructing durable shelters. With the reduction in armed conflict there has been a slight increase in the number of people returning home.
The affected population includes a variety of groups – including those displaced or affected by natural disasters and conflict. Pregnant and lactating women, the chronically ill, the elderly, unaccompanied minors, and people living with disabilities are particularly vulnerable. Shelter and NFI support can help protect them and improve their physical and mental health.
Solar lanterns and street lights can reduce crime and improve security at night.
In the refugee camps in White Nile and East Darfur, complex land rights make the issue of space particularly problematic. Refugee camps and settlement areas need adequate lighting to improve the quality of life and provide protection.
There is not enough space to accommodate new arrivals and basic services cannot be provided without compromising what is offered to existing camp residents.
Displaced people  ( new IDPs, protracted displaced people, returnees and refugees )  need shelter and NFIs such as plastic sheeting, plastic mats, jerry cans, blankets and cooking sets. These items help restore a minimal sense of dignity and protection against exposure to the elements, mitigate health risks and provide some privacy and security to those in need.
There is a need for durable solutions  ( return and urban integration )  for IDPs, refugees and returnees alike including a need to provide environmentally friendly transitional shelters, together with community training on building techniques and livelihood opportunities to promote self reliance and resilience, while ensuring the availability of basic services in their area of choice and advocating for House, Land and Property  ( HLP )  rights.
There are negative coping mechanisms used by people in need of other services, such as health or education. This includes the selling of humanitarian aid, such as NFIs, to pay for school fees, medical assistance, water, and food.
Over crowding and congestion remain a serious concern, with all camps currently hosting populations beyond initial planned capacity. This is particularly problematic in camps hosting South Sudanese in White Nile and East Darfur where land rights with private landowners and host communities are complex.
In 2020, flooding affected close to 900,000 people across the country, with the highest water levels were recorded in the Blue Nile in a century. Heavy rains caused damage to houses, livestock, farmland, infrastructure, and services.
The economic crisis continues to be a driver of deteriorating humanitarian needs, exacerbated by COVID 19. Containment measures increased the cost and time delivering shelter and NFIs.
Shelter and NFI needs have increased in 2020, despite the decline in armed conflict since 2015. New displacement has occurred in West Darfur and eastern Sudan due to inter communal conflict among the Bani Amer and Nuba tribes.
Considering the peace agreement, an increase of people's movement through locations affected by landmines/ERW  [ Explosive Remnants of War ]  may be observed. This will require urgent land release interventions, road verification, and clearance for delivering the humanitarian aid.
Explosive Ordnance Risk Education remains high priority intervention for the adoption and ensuring of safe behaviour among the conflict affected population within the contaminated areas.
According to the MSNA  [ Multi Sector Needs Assessment ]  results, two out of three households that have experienced an ERW  [ Explosive Remnants of War ]  related accident need support. Furthermore, 43 per cent of households that need support and have reported an ERW accident still live near ERWs.
Up to 2020, a total of 2,196 mine action victims were registered in the Information Management System of Mine Action IMSMA, with 36 per cent of them children and 22 per cent female. However, the actual numbers of mine victims are not fully known.
More than 2.7 million people in 232 dangerous areas  ( covering about 30 square kilometers of land )  are exposed to the threat of landmines and contamination in Blue Nile, South Kordofan, West Kordofan and Darfur states, from which 64 per cent are IDPs and 17 per cent are returnees.
Landmines and ERW  [ Explosive Remnants of War ]  continue to affect the safety and livelihood of the displaced, returnee and local communities, and the safety of humanitarian actors.
IDPs, returnees and refugees are at most risk due to the limited information and awareness about local landmines and ERW  [ Explosive Remnants of War ]  contamination. Following the signing of the peace deal, cross state movement of people and goods could resume which will increase the risk that people will be killed or injured by landmines and ERW.
South Kordofan maintains the highest contamination records of landmine and ERW  [ Explosive Remnants of War ] , followed by Blue Nile and West Kordofan, while Darfur states are affected by ERWs only.
To date, the Information Management System for Mine Action  ( IMSMA )  has registered 2,196 casualties as a result of landmines or ERW victims, including 1,573 people who have been injured and 623 fatalities. In 2020 children and women accounted for approximately 84 per cent of the known victims of ERW's and UXO's  [ Unexploded Ordinances ] .
Specialized lifesaving GBV services, especially the clinical management of rape  ( CMR ) , mental health and psycho social support  ( MHPSS ) , GBV case management and referral mechanisms need to be both available and accessible. This is in addition to strengthening GBV coordination both at national and sub national level.
The needs  [ GBV prevention, mitigation and response needs ]  will continue to increase due to effects of COVID 19 measures, communal tensions and tribal clashes, the worsening economic crisis, heightened food insecurity and the flooding and associated disease outbreaks. As affected people become more accessible, and as the protection space opens, demand for services is likely to rise.
Efforts to address the root causes and the immediate drivers of GBV, such as improving social norms, reducing conflict, strengthening access to and availability of justice mechanisms, increasing the awareness of human rights, addressing inequality and strengthening access to multi sectoral lifesaving services have potential to mitigate GBV concerns as well as shape the conversation on the issue.
GBV prevention, mitigation and response needs are likely to remain high in 2021 due to the continued erosion in social protection systems, weak response services, and lack of investment by the Government in social protection coupled with prevailing social stigma, existing impunity, crimes and harmful cultural practices.
GBV survivors are treated within traditional justice system as they have very limited access to formal justice and legal aid, these systems are, however, a reflection of the sociocultural norms in the community and often do not protect the rights of women and girls. There also remain gaps in specialized services for protection, psychosocial support, and medical services.
Female headed households and households with many dependants are among the most vulnerable because they now have additional burdens. More women are expected to fall into poverty during the COVID 19 pandemic, severely affecting female headed households in the country.
UNHCR's 2019 participatory assessment findings for refugees in Sudan indicate risk of GBV as a major issue with physical protection, domestic violence, risk of rape while collecting firewood and early marriage among the top ten issues of concern.
GBV risks are further aggravated by inadequate lighting in camps/settlements, access to energy and water supply gaps that require women and girls to travel long distances to collect water and firewood, and lack of toilets.
The lack of dignity kits further exacerbate risks for women and girls of reproductive health age.
Displacement and poverty heighten cases of domestic violence and this has been reported to have increased in the IDP camps as husbands' demand income from their wives.
Domestic violence rates are high and according to MICS  [ Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys ]  2014 findings, 34 per cent of women across Sudan agreed it is permissible to be beaten by their husbands.
Women and girls in IDP camps are particularly exposed to protection risks, such as threats, harassment, and sexual violence from armed men.
There are 2.3 million people in need of GBV prevention, mitigation and response activities. Women and girls continue to suffer disproportionately from GBV, poverty and violations of basic rights due to insecurity, low economic status and lack of livelihood opportunities, lack of community awareness on women's rights due to cultural and societal norms.
About 55 per cent of IDPs are women and girls, with 27 per cent below the age of 18. According to available information on GBV cases, women and girls account for over 90 per cent of survivors, and although grossly under reported, cases of sexual violence against men and boys have been recorded.
Sudan still suffers from lack of GBV data and lack of information and data adversely affects needs analysis for programming as well as advocacy.
The collapse of traditional community support structures has increased the vulnerability in particular people with specific needs, including those living with disabilities. COVID 19 exacerbated GBV risks for girls and women with anecdotal reports suggesting an increase in domestic violence and sexual abuse.
GBV is underreported due to a culture of denial, social stigma, fear of harassment, physical and psychological trauma, the lack of protection afforded to victims and witnesses, and the perceived inaction of law enforcement and justice institutions.
There is a gap of survivor friendly integrated services, such as one stop centres, with only three states in Darfur having functional GBV confidential corners.
Patients pay 70 per cent of their medical costs and in 2020, these costs increased by 90 per cent. At the same time, the availability of emergency medicines declined steadily. As of September, only about half the medicines required were available.
According to the MSNA  [ Multi Sector Needs Assessment ]  data, 29 per cent of households have access to GBV services with 87 per cent of households preferring reporting GBV cases to the police, while 24 per cent preferring leaders, four per cent preferring social worker, and only one per cent preferring health staff, community midwife, teacher or NGO staff.
CMR  [ Clinical Management of Rape ]  services are available in less than one in five health facilities. The gap in services is exacerbated by the lack of trained personnel and weak referral pathways. Survivors face procedural obstacles e.g. complicated and lengthy police form
Survivors of GBV lack access to quality specialized lifesaving GBV services, such as clinical management of rape  ( CMR ) , and psycho social support  ( PSS ) , legal aid, GBV case management and referral mechanisms. These services continue to be unavailable or of low quality in over 90 per cent of localities.
Domestic violence, child marriage and female genital mutilation  ( FGM )  remain a common practice. In a recent GBV study by UN Women, four out of five women interviewed in Darfur recognized domestic violence as a problem, 70 per cent identified economic violence as an issue, while five per cent cited rape as a concern.
Lack of services, negative coping mechanisms and negative social norms were identified as some of the exacerbating factors contributing to GBV.
In 2020, communal tension and conflict affected dozens of villages in over twenty localities resulting in GBV risks including gang rape, abduction, physical assault, harassment, and humiliation. Analysis shows that conflict related sexual violence  ( CRSV )  is especially common in IDP camps and in the vicinity of camps. Girls and young women in Darfur face a high risk of sexual violence.
Gender Based Violence  ( GBV )  is a key concern within the communities affected by emergencies i.e. conflicts, tribal clashes/tensions, floods, drought as well as disease outbreaks. Women and girls amongst the IDP communities and refugees are especially at a risk of GBV.
Needs of children are likely to remain high in 2021, with an expected increase in areas affected by localized conflict such as Jebel Mara. This is particularly during the lean season, when there is often an increase in conflict and attacks on farmers. Needs of adolescents are likely to increase as their specific concerns including safety, property rights and livelihoods remain unaddressed.
According to UNICEF, approximately 38 per cent of girls in Sudan are married before the age of 18, and 12 per cent of them are married before their 15th birthday. Child marriage is most prevalent in South and East Darfur  ( 56 per cent of girls ) , Central Darfur  ( 55 per cent ) , Blue Nile  ( 50 per cent )  and Gedarif  ( 49 per cent ) . About 10,000 boys and girls are living outside of a family environment as either unaccompanied or separated children and need protection.
Child and adolescent survivors of sexual abuse are some of the most vulnerable given their age, dependency on adults, and limited participation in decision making processes. GBV survivors, especially child survivors of sexual abuse, need access to quality response services – including clinical care, PSS, and case management. These life saving services need to be tailored to child and adolescent survivors, especially of sexual abuse.
There is a need for institutional/ system strengthening through more sustainable methodologies such as coaching, mentoring and additional partnerships between international and national actors based on collaborative and principled partnership models. Poor quality of services is, within itself, a protection risk to children as it may cause further harm.
There are significant funding gaps in the Child Protection AoR  [ Area of Responsibility ] , contributing to challenges in providing quality services to children in need of care and support. Whilst child protection interventions have been scaled up in 2020, challenges remain.
According to the MSNA  [ Multi Sector Needs Assessment ] , an average of three quarters of children  ( 40 per cent girls )  reported having challenges accessing quality child protection response services, including but not limited to: clinical care, Psychosocial services, social workers, legal services, community based child protection structures, and referral systems.
Based on the MSNA  [ Multi Sector Needs Assessment ]  data, 27 per cent of people reported lack of accessibility due to high cost of transportation to reach health facilities.
According to a recent child protection assessment conducted across 16 states, child protection risks were already on the rise in the first half of 2020 compared with the same period in 2019, with a reported 24 per cent increase in child marriage  ( girls more affected than boys )  and a 35 per cent increase in child labour; boys more affected than girls.
Children and their families are exposed to daily risks of mutilation and death in the areas with exploitative remnants of war  ( ERW ) . According to the Information Management System for Mine Action  ( IMSMA ) , some parts of the country remain littered with ERW, including landmine and other explosive hazards.
The COVID 19 pandemic compounds protection risks and well being of girls, boys and their caregivers. According to the Family and Child Protection Unit of the police  ( FCPU )  over 12,000 children  ( 30 per cent of whom are girls )  witnessed or experienced domestic violence in 2020, with the highest number in South Darfur, Blue Nile and Khartoum.
Due to COVID 19 and conflict, during the first half of 2020, the number of children requiring family tracing and reunification services reached 65,000  ( 40 per cent female ) .