At the request of the UN Country Team, through the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, Sudan, IOM has recently expanded its activities in Sudan to include IDP return, resettlement and reintegration programs in line with the new country strategy. With the advancement of the peace process, larger scale return, resettlement and reintegration of IDPs are under consideration for future implementation. The IOM Sudan Strategy foresees a phased approach to IDP Return and Reintegration in Sudan. Phase 1 will involve the activities that inform and assist planning in preparation for the actual implementation phase of return and reintegration activities (Phase 2 to start after a Peace Agreement has been reached in the current Machakos IGAD talks). Among other programmes, within Phase 1 IOM intends to carry out socio-economic and demographic survey of IDP populations, with the following purposes:
1. To support the operational function of Displaced Persons Task Force in coordination with OCHA.
2. To identify the profiles and needs of IDPs through socio-economic and demographic surveys, including information pertaining to home community and reintegration needs and levels of HIV/AIDS awareness.
3. To enter all data onto an IOM managed database and produce reports for stakeholders, including GoS, UN, NGO and other interested agencies.
4.To offer access to data through the UN OCHA Sudan Website.