IOM’s latest assessment report of 206 villages in Southern
Kordofan and four States in Southern Sudan (Northern and Western
Bahr El Ghazal, Warrab and Unity) reveals continuing shortfalls in
basic services and infrastructure with particular needs in the
water, shelter, health and education sectors.

The total reported population within the assessed villages is
1,524,370 persons of which returnees represent around 22 per cent
(340,773 returnees).

Data compiled by IOM and its partners shows that water is the
main concern in almost 100 villages since more than 500 people use
a single water point.

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"border-style: none; background-image: none; vertical-align: top; width: 100%; background-color: rgb(51, 102, 204); text-align: left;">Download "border-style: none; background-image: none; vertical-align: top; width: 100%; background-color: rgb(153, 204, 255); text-align: left;">

"/jahia/webdav/shared/shared/mainsite/media/docs/reports/village_assessment_report_march_to_august07.pdf"
target="_blank" title=""> "background-color: rgb(153, 204, 255);">Village Assessment Report
March - August 2007

The report establishes that more than 40 per cent of the assessed
returnees live with relatives or friends, 38 per cent have their
own shelter, which needs rehabilitation, and only 17 per cent live
in new shelters. More than 55 per cent of the returnees say they
want to rehabilitate or rebuild their shelter using grass or thatch
and 23 per cent using plastic sheeting.

Farming and the purchase of locally produced goods on the local
markets remains the main source of food, although additional
sorghum remains the greatest need for returnees. 

In the health sector, the main requirement is for medical
buildings (29.17 per cent) followed by the need for more medical
staff (26.39 per cent) and medicine (25 per cent).

In the education sector, the total number of functioning primary
schools is 188 of which 52 per cent are made of thatch and 20 per
cent are ‘under the tree’ schools. The main educational
needs are in order of priority: buildings, furniture, teachers and
textbooks.

“The assessments were conducted to identify shortfalls in
basic infrastructure and needs for services,” says Gerard
Waite, IOM’ Senior Protection Officer.  “This
information will serve as the basis for interventions through
IOM’s own High/Quick Impact and Community Stabilization
projects and will also be shared with Sudanese government partners
and the international community working in these areas to
coordinate reintegration assistance for returnees and to address
broader protection concerns.”

While there are considerable difficulties in estimating the
total number of returns to Southern Sudan and Southern Kordofan in
2007, the United Nations (UN) estimates that 1.2 million internally
displaced people have returned to their former homes in the 10
states of Southern Sudan.

Since 2006, IOM has assisted more nearly 60,500 South Sudanese
internally displaced persons to return to Southern Sudan and
Southern Kordofan by land, barge and air.

To access the report, please go to "paragraph-link-no-underline" href=
"http://www.iom.int">www.iom.int.

For further information, please contact:

Simona Opitz

IOM Sudan

Tel: + 249 9123 39700

E-mail: "mailto:sopitz@iom.int">sopitz@iom.int