HEALTH SERVICE GAPS EMERGING IN NORTH DARFUR - A health service gap has emerged in North Darfur State affecting about 14,000 refugees living in settlements, as well as their host communities who benefit from- and rely on this clinic and health services. Health partners are urgently needed to sustain health services in the area.

HEAVY RAINS DAMAGE SHELTERS AND REFUGEE SCHOOL IN SOUTH KORDOFAN STATE – Heavy rains in May damaged shelters and homes of refugee and host communities in Kadugli, affecting over 120 households. UNHCR, COR and the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) are planning for shelter replenishment. In Sirajiya, heavy rains damaged classrooms at a refugee school, and the refugee community has requested UNHCR’s support to build permanent classrooms that withstand the weather conditions.

HEAVY RAINS IN SOUTH KORDOFAN STATE RENDER FIVE REFUGEE SETTLEMENTS INACCESSABLE DUE TO WASHED OUT ROADS - Over 8,000 refugees live in the affected areas. Some partners are using tractors to access the area. In White Nile State, heavy rains left health facilities in Alagaya and Jouri camps flooded, highlighting the need to improve the health facility structures.

Individual registration by UNHCR and Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) has begun in White Nile State, starting in Jouri camp.

Inter-agency assessment confirms critical latrine coverage gaps across all refugee camps in White Nile state.

Joint inter-agency partners complete needs assessment (4-6 December) for 47,000 refugees living in Khartoum's 'open areas'.

LARGE INTERNAL REFUGEE MOVEMENTS OBSERVED WITH START OF HARVEST SEASON – In White Nile State, the Government of Sudan’s Commission for Refugees (COR) estimates that at least 50,000 refugees are working on farms outside of the camps. Refugee schools in camps are temporarily closed, and will reopen in November, when families are anticipated to return to camps. Education partners and the State Ministry of Education agreed in September to adjust the school calendar to address low attendance rates anticipated during the harvest season. In East Darfur, a 10 per cent reduction in attendance to therapeutic and supplementary feeding nutrition programmes in camps has been observed. Where possible, programming is being adapted so beneficiaries can still receive sufficient nutrition support.

Local authorities at El Leri, South Kordofan have allowed the construction of 300 household latrines by UNICEF at the Dar Batti settlement after being halted in Fall 2017, following a request by authorities to relocate refugees living there due to increasing demand on local water supply and services.

MEASLES AND POLIO CAMPAIGNS – Countrywide measles and polio vaccination campaign was launched in April. The vaccination campaign is part of the response to the measles outbreak that affected all Sudan States since November 2018, with over 5,959 cases reported across resident, host and refugee communities. The campaign is targeting 3.4 million children between 9 months and 10 years of age for measles, and below 5 years of age for polio. The vaccination campaign is being paired with health promotion initiatives to raise awareness of the benefits of the measles vaccine and support symptom recognition and reporting by communities at risk.