The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has expressed concern over the future of its humanitarian responses in both South Sudan and Sudan. Amidst the ongoing war in Sudan and the profound repercussions for displaced communities in South Sudan, NRC’s Regional Head of Advocacy Media and Communication for East Africa and Yemen, Jeremy Taylor, has made a critical call for immediate international intervention.
In an interview with Radio Tamazuj, he talks about reorganizing operations due to destroyed offices to address the influx of half a million displaced individuals and discusses the challenges faced, the impact on education, the looming funding crisis, and the urgent need for international engagement to find lasting political solutions in the region.
Below are edited excerpts:
Question: Could you provide more insights into NRC’s work in Sudan and the specific activities the organization is involved in?
Answer: Certainly. NRC operates in both Sudan and South Sudan, focusing on providing humanitarian aid to displaced communities, whether internally displaced or those crossing borders. Our services encompass a wide range, including water, sanitation, shelter, education, food, non-food items, and cash programs aimed at enabling people to support themselves.
Q: To what extent have NRC’s activities been affected since the outbreak of the war in Sudan in April last year?
A: Our operations have been significantly impacted in two main ways. In Sudan, we had to swiftly reorganize our work due to the destruction and looting of our Khartoum office. We relocated our country office to Kosti in the White Nile State. While we are still operational in the east, Blue Nile, and South Kordofan, the conflict has also affected these areas, presenting ongoing challenges. In South Darfur, our office in El Geneina was similarly destroyed and looted, prompting us to reopen operations in Darfur and later move them as the conflict escalated.
In South Sudan, our operations have expanded, with the establishment of a field office in Renk and substantial operations around the border region since the onset of the conflict in Sudan.
Q: Does this mean NRC was not operating in South Sudan before the conflict in Sudan?
A: No, we have been present in South Sudan for many years, predating its independence. However, our operations in Renk are a recent development. We previously operated through offices in Upper Nile, Unity, Central Equatoria, and Jonglei, with approximately six area offices across the country.
Q: NRC recently issued a statement indicating that the number of displaced people in Sudan has surpassed half a million. Can you provide a breakdown of the refugees and displaced individuals in camps?
A: In our recent press release, we highlighted the surpassing of the half-million mark. As of today, the figures have risen to over five hundred and forty-two thousand individuals who have crossed into South Sudan. This influx places significant strain on available services and aid capacity. Notably, people are also seeking refuge in Chad, with almost 400,000 entering Egypt.
The regional impact of the conflict in Sudan is considerable, affecting neighboring countries with existing humanitarian needs, many of which are landlocked and face logistical challenges. It’s crucial to emphasize that this displacement is growing, with approximately 1,800 people crossing the border into South Sudan daily. This ongoing influx poses increasing challenges for agencies and government entities working to respond and provide services amid the escalating numbers.
Q: Regarding funding, can you shed light on NRC’s financial situation and the challenges it faces in terms of resources?
A: Certainly. The humanitarian system as a whole, including NRC, is facing significant strain. Indications suggest potential substantial funding cuts, particularly in South Sudan this year, from many traditional donors, with anticipated reductions of up to 40 to 50 percent.
Presently, the humanitarian response plan for South Sudan remains nearly 79 percent unfunded. While it’s early in the year, securing funding early is crucial for efficiency and prioritization. Unfortunately, the reality is that without adequate funding, tough decisions have to be made about whom we can support and whom we cannot.
Q: Has NRC experienced any loss of staff during the ongoing conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan?
A: Fortunately, NRC staff remain safe, with no reported injuries or fatalities. However, South Sudan remains a perilous environment for aid workers, as demonstrated by the unfortunate deaths of more than 28 aid workers in different parts of the country in 2023. The ongoing danger complicates our efforts to respond to needs within South Sudan and address the influx from across the border.
Q: What services is NRC providing to returnees in South Sudan, and how suitable are these services?
A: This is a crucial question, given that the majority of those crossing the border are of South Sudanese ethnicity identified as returnees. Many left South Sudan in recent years, while others were born in Sudan with limited connections to South Sudan.
As they return to their places of origin, these areas face extreme pressure, struggling to cope with the new arrivals. With existing humanitarian needs, such as severe food insecurity affecting approximately 46% of the population before the conflict, the influx exacerbates the strain on these communities.
As people return and find it challenging, there’s a likelihood of continued movement to seek opportunities or places where they can support themselves. This dynamic may lead to increased pressure on urban centers.
Q: Besides providing food support, does NRC offer other services, such as education for children in these communities?
A: Education is one of NRC’s focal areas, and we have extensive experience working in crises and conflict contexts. Our programs aim to bridge educational gaps for children and young people who missed schooling when fleeing their original homes. Despite challenges, including locations where government services are lacking or overburdened, we run education programs to address the needs of recently displaced individuals.
Q: Can you estimate the number of children who have missed school since the conflict began in Sudan?
A: Unfortunately, I don’t have the specific number at hand, but considering that over half a million people have fled to South Sudan, with additional significant numbers in Chad, Egypt, and Ethiopia, we must assume that a substantial percentage are children. Education is a critical component of our response in all the locations where we operate, given that children often form the majority of those fleeing conflict situations.
Q: Regarding the safety of civilians, does NRC engage in policy advocacy for the protection of civilians across Sudan, and if so, could you elaborate on this plan?
A: Certainly. Our protection response primarily focuses on the policy side. While we lead the protection cluster in South Sudan, we don’t handle individual case management; instead, we refer such cases to other agencies offering specific services. The dynamic situation in Sudan presents challenges, and we employ protection through presence and various on-ground operations. However, operating safely is complex due to changing dynamics and expanding conflict areas.
Q: Considering South Sudan’s existing food insecurity, what plans does NRC have for providing food to refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs)?
A: Our efforts are contingent on available funding, and the harsh reality is that we’ll operate within those constraints. We’ll continue advocating for increased funding, striving for efficiency in programming.
While closely collaborating with donors and entities like the World Food Program, we run existing programs providing food aid and cash programming. Despite these efforts, the challenge remains that without sufficient funding, agencies like ours won’t be able to meet all the needs.
Q: South Sudan has long relied on food aid. What sustainable plans does NRC have to help communities become more self-reliant?
A: In South Sudan, with a history of prolonged humanitarian response, agencies, including NRC, emphasize building resilience within communities. This involves equipping them with skills and capacities for self-sufficiency. However, continuous cycles of violence, instability, and environmental challenges, such as flooding, hinder communities from effectively sustaining themselves. While there are success stories, breaking the cycle of emergencies remains a challenge. New arrivals pose additional strains on communities, pushing them beyond their capacities and impacting existing services.
Q: How does NRC collaborate with media agencies to provide communities with reliable information?
A: While our primary focus is on ground operations, we engage in media advocacy and outreach. We utilize social media and traditional media to explain our work, aiming for clarity and transparency. We address misinformation directly where possible and allow systematic processes to counteract it. We are open about our operations, clearly communicating who we are, where we work, and our funding sources. This information is readily available on our website, and we respond to media requests to ensure clear communication.
Q: South Sudan is grappling with climate change, including flooding in Jonglei state. With returnees joining their loved ones in these affected areas, does NRC have specific plans for assisting these vulnerable populations?
A: Climate change is a key focus area for us, as we seek to understand and prepare for its impact. In regions facing high humanitarian needs, including South Sudan, we are developing programs tailored to respond to climate shocks. For instance, we have piloted a successful rice cultivation program in flooded areas.
This dual-policy approach involves developing programs that address existing needs, such as dike development and water management, and planning for different climate dynamics, like flooding in South Sudan or drought in Somalia. It’s a challenging area, and we are working globally to mitigate the impact of climate shocks on vulnerable populations.
Q: What is the budget for NRC’s crisis response efforts?
A: In terms of budget, we operate within the realm of millions of dollars. Our work spans over 40 countries, including regions like Myanmar, the Middle East, Africa, West Africa, Ukraine, and South America.
Q: Can you provide an annual spending estimate for Sudan and South Sudan?
A: I don’t have the exact figure off the top of my head, but it would likely be within the range of tens of millions for the two countries combined.
Q: What are the major challenges faced by NRC in operating in both Sudan and South Sudan?
A: In Sudan, the ongoing and dangerous conflict poses significant challenges. The sheer scale of displacement, with at least 9 million internally displaced people, and the dynamic nature of the conflict make it difficult to access affected populations. Bureaucratic constraints, frontlines, and bombardment areas further hinder our ability to assist.
In South Sudan, logistical challenges are prominent, especially during the rainy season when road access becomes impossible in some areas. River access becomes crucial, but it’s expensive.
Local obstacles such as roadblocks and taxes on river boats compound the complexity. The overarching challenge in South Sudan is the scale of existing needs, strained further by the impact of new arrivals, outstretching funding resources.
Q: What do you anticipate happening to displaced people in Sudan if aid agencies are unable to access them due to ongoing conflict?
A: Unfortunately, the outlook is grim. Without access, people will face increased hardship, and the situation may lead to more casualties. The ongoing conflict could result in continued displacement, with the potential for hundreds of thousands more people seeking safety in South Sudan, Chad, or internally within Sudan. The hope is for international engagement in peacemaking to bring stability and end the cycle of displacement.
Q: With South Sudan considering elections in December, how might this impact displaced individuals, refugees, and IDPs?
A: South Sudan hosting millions of refugees is facing increased pressure due to the displacement of refugees from Sudan. The fragile political situation in South Sudan, combined with the prospect of elections, introduces uncertainty. The hope is for peaceful elections, as any disruption or local conflicts could compound humanitarian needs, overwhelming the capacity of aid agencies to respond effectively.
Q: Do you have a final message you would like to convey?
A: Our crucial message emphasizes the pressing need for the humanitarian community, international partners, and political leaders to actively pursue a political resolution in Sudan. Without this, the strain on regions like South Sudan will reach unsustainable levels.
As mentioned earlier, we witness 1,800 people crossing the border daily. The collective capacity of the aid industry, including NRC, is at risk of being overwhelmed. Failing to find a resolution would place an excessive burden on humanitarian efforts, amplifying needs across the entire region to a point where effective response becomes nearly impossible.