OCHA-SUDAN
OCHA-Sudan supports the Humanitarian Coordinator and the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinators for North and Southern Sudan, mobilizing and coordinating the collective efforts of the international community to meet the humanitarian needs in the ongoing crisis in Darfur as well as other vulnerable populations in need of assistance. OCHA-Sudan also provides coordination and policy support for relief to recovery and transition activities. OCHA-Sudan has central offices in Khartoum and Juba and a network of four main field offices throughout Darfur.
OCHA-Sudan’s key activities in 2009 include the following:
(a) Continue to play an essential role in coordinating and promoting the humanitarian operation in Darfur, while maintaining a strong response capacity for contingency planning and emergency preparedness in Southern Sudan and the Three Areas (Abyei, Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile).
(b) Under the guidance of the Humanitarian Coordinator focus on advocacy efforts, both internal and external stakeholders – including all parties to the conflict, regional actors, and Member and donor states.
(c) Remain committed to delivery of life-saving assistance in Darfur in spite of the deteriorating security which has seriously undermined the international humanitarian effort.
(d) Promote the humanitarian reform mechanisms in order to improve contingency planning and response, coordination of humanitarian efforts, fund mobilization, information management and advocacy.
(e) Continue to play a lead role in implementing the “Regaining Humanitarian Space Strategy;” to monitoring the implementation of the Joint Communiqué on the facilitation of humanitarian assistance in Darfur and managing the Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) to provide flexible funding options for the humanitarian and early recovery community.
(f) Focus on inter-agency contingency planning for natural disaster, disease and conflict threats.
(g) Lead the preparedness and response effort in Darfur and Southern Sudan and support the Resident Coordinator’s Support Office (RSCO) in the north of the country.
OCHA-Sudan has central offices in Khartoum and Juba, a liaison office in Nairobi and an extensive network of 6 field offices throughout Sudan and Darfur.
Area Coordination: OCHA is expanding coverage and response to the rest of the country by setting up new field offices in areas of concern such as the East and the South and along return routes. Area Coordination assists in setting up cross line coordination and missions, to identify needs and ease access. The Area Coordination Offices facilitates coordination, prioritizes needs for the timely and effective delivery of assistance; improving methodology for needs and situation assessments; planning and reporting; developing common plans for the assistance programme; and regularly monitoring the impact of assistance provided.
OCHA Southern Sudan: now based in Juba, with a liaison office in Nairobi, OCHA Southern Sudan promotes greater access to populations in need of assistance including developing specific measures to remove constraints and overcome obstacles to humanitarian delivery, including restrictions on travel, telecommunications and cross-line cooperation to ensure that agreements reached between the GoS and the SPLM are duly implemented without exception. The office prepares material and messages for public advocacy for humanitarian issues and also maintains the Sudan Transition and Recovery Database (STARBASE).
Darfur Cell: through a Darfur cell based in Khartoum and six field offices, OCHA facilitates the massive response to the crisis by leading needs assessment missions, identifying gaps and encouraging agencies to cover the gaps and devising mechanisms to increase the quality of services provided. The Darfur Humanitarian Needs Profile, produced monthly, provides key information and indicators of the situation. OCHA advocates for key cross cutting and fundamental issues such as protection, including on return and relocation issues. OCHA facilitates access through consistent negotiations resulting in the establishment of clear guidelines and procedures with both GoS and SLA.