Sudan

Last Updated: 18 October 2011

Casualties and Victim Assistance

Casualties Overview

All known casualties by end 2010

At least 1,651 mine/ERW casualties (493 killed; 1,158 injured)

Casualties in 2010

67 (2009: 40)

2010 casualties by outcome

15 killed; 52 injured (2009: 11 killed; 29 injured)

2010 casualties by device type

4 antipersonnel mines; 26 ERW; 37 unknown

In 2010, the Monitor identified 67 mine/explosive remnants of war (ERW) casualties in Sudan.[1] Overall, 88% of casualties were male (59). Half of all casualties for which the age was known were children (31 of 61) and most of these (26) were boys. There were eight female casualties: five of these were girls. One casualty occurred during demining operations in the eastern state of Kassala: a Sudanese deminer was injured by an antipersonnel mine.[2] All other casualties were civilians.

The 67 casualties reported in 2010 is an increase from the 40 casualties in 2009.[3] Improvements in Sudan’s data collection system and more available data, with a new national casualty database launched in September 2010, may have contributed to the increase in reported casualties.[4] In 2009, casualty data only included information on casualties that occurred in the Darfur region; in 2010, casualties were recorded in six States, three of which are in the Darfur region. Over half of all casualties recorded in 2010 (33) were in the state of Kassala.

No casualties from cluster munition remnants were identified in Sudan in 2010. However, given that devices are not adequately differentiated, it is possible that unexploded submunition casualties were among those recorded as caused by ERW (26) and unknown explosive items (37), which together made up 94% of all casualties in 2010. As of July 2011, six casualties from cluster munitions had been reported for 2011.[5]

UN Mine Action Office (UNMAO) recorded 1,651 mine/ERW casualties (493 killed; 1,158 injured) for the period from 1964 to the end of 2010. Of all casualties, 1,477 or 89% were male.[6] UNMAO reported 29 casualties from cluster munitions in South Sudan through July 2011, 23 of which occurred in 2009 or before.[7] No further details were available.

Victim Assistance

There were at least 1,158 mine/ERW survivors in Sudan at the end of 2010.[8]

Assessing victim assistance needs

No national survivor needs assessment was carried out in 2010. However in 2009, casualty data collection had been carried out in the states of Kassala and Khartoum.[9] A national casualty database to record existing casualty data was designed in consultation with members of the Victim Assistance Working Group and adopted in September 2010. Thirty representatives from the National Mine Action Center (NMAC) and NGO members of the Working Group were trained in data collection and needs assessment to enable them to participate in survivor needs assessments planned for the Eastern States, Blue Nile, South Kordofan, and Khartoum in 2011.[10] Data collected was to be shared with all relevant stakeholders, including government ministries and NGOs.[11]

The Organization for Care of War Disabled and Protection from Landmines (ABRAR) developed a comprehensive database of survivors in the state of Khartoum.[12] NGOs working with survivors updated data on the services received and the needs of their beneficiaries regularly in 2010.[13] 

Victim assistance coordination[14]

Government coordinating body/focal point

NMAC

Coordinating mechanism

Victim Assistance Working Group, Chaired by the NMAC; held monthly meetings with government, NGO, and UN stakeholders

Plan

National Victim Assistance Strategic Framework 2007–2011

 

In 2010, the Victim Assistance Working Group met 11 times to share updates on progress in implementing ongoing projects and to discuss issues such as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), data collection, physical rehabilitation, and best practices in socioeconomic reintegration.[15] The Working Group also served as a forum for consultation during the development of the national casualty database and to revise the National Victim Assistance Strategic Framework 2007–2011 to align it with the Cartagena Action Plan. Working group members participated in three training sessions on victim assistance and needs assessments.[16] NGO members of the Victim Assistance Working Group found the meetings to be effective as a venue for sharing information and for coordinating advocacy efforts on disability issues.[17]

The National Disability Council was established on 7 October 2010 to monitor the implementation of all national policies and plans related to disability and victim assistance. It serves as the national focal point for the implementation of the CRPD.[18] By decree, 50% of the Council’s members are persons with disabilities; members are representatives from government ministries and NGOs, including disabled persons organizations and survivors associations. The NMAC and JASMAR Human Security Organization (JASMAR), a member of the Victim Assistance Working Group, are members.[19] The Disability Department of the Ministry of Social Welfare was strengthened in 2010 through the employment of additional staff members.[20]

Sudan provided comprehensive updates on progress and challenges for victim assistance at the Tenth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in Geneva in December 2010 and at the Mine Ban Treaty intersessional meetings in Geneva in June 2011. Statements noted progress made in the inclusion of survivors and their representative organizations in victim assistance.[21] Sudan also completed Form J of Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 report for calendar year 2010 to share information about victim assistance implementation.[22]

Survivor Inclusion

Towards the implementation of the Cartagena Action Plan, in 2010, the Ministry of Social Welfare issued a decree recommending the involvement of all mine/ERW survivors associations in all decisions and activities related to victim assistance policies and plans. Survivors and their representative organizations were included as members of the Victim Assistance Working Group. [23] Through NGOs, survivors were involved in the design and implementation of victim assistance projects, especially social and economic reintegration projects, and in advocacy for disability rights.[24]

Service accessibility and effectiveness

Victim assistance activities in 2010[25]

Name of organization

Type of organization

Type of activity

Changes in quality/coverage of service in 2010

National Authority for Prosthetics and Orthotics (NAPO)

Government

Seven rehabilitation centers, includes limited psychological counseling

Suspended services for three months due to lack of funds; Center in Kadugli remained closed due to a shortage of staff

ABRAR

National NGO

Psychological counseling and awareness-raising; economic reintegration

Increased geographic coverage of services and introduced employment system for persons with disabilities; quality of services decreased due to lack of funding

JASMAR

National NGO

Economic reintegration targeting disabled former combatants, including mine/ERW survivors; advocacy

Increased geographic coverage and number of beneficiaries; quality of services improved due to increased technical capacity and increased funding

Rufaida Health Foundation

National NGO

Psychological counseling and economic inclusion for survivors and other persons with disabilities

Launched new psychological support program and increased number of beneficiaries

ICRC

International organization

Assisted five of seven NAPO rehabilitation centers with materials and training; developed referral system for Darfur region

Activities limited in Darfur due to security concerns; support maintained at same level elsewhere

In 2010 in Sudan, several projects targeting mine/ERW survivors continued to generate opportunities for survivors to participate in income-generating projects and receive psychological support services. However, most projects targeting survivors were dependent on international funding, due to end in March 2011.[26] Long distances, the lack of a transportation system and constraints caused by the security situation hampered access to services of all kinds.[27] The government pointed to the lack of funding as the greatest challenge for the victim assistance program.[28]

In 2010, the government sought to improve survivors’ access to medical assistance by registering beneficiaries of socio-economic inclusion projects for medical insurance. UNMAO also saw a need to initiate a community-based rehabilitation program.[29]

For the third year in a row, NAPO received reduced budget allocations from the Ministry of Finance. Lacking sufficient funding to coordinate physical rehabilitation activities in the country and maintain services at the level needed in its seven rehabilitation centers, it was forced to suspend services for three months during the year and one center, in Kadugli, remained closed for a second year for lack of technical staff.[30] Insufficient raw materials also hampered the provision of physical rehabilitation services.[31]

There was a significant gap in available psychological support services as compared with need.[32] However, there were some improvements in access to psychological support in Khartoum with the launch of a new project by Rufaida Health Foundation.[33] In 2010, Rufaida trained psychologists and social workers in addressing the needs of survivors and other persons with disabilities and formed a network of psychologists specializing in this area. Nearly 50 survivors also received direct psychological assistance.[34]

In 2010, there was an increase in availability of economic inclusion programs.[35] During the year, six projects were ongoing to support income-generating activities and economic empowerment for survivors with funding from the Canadian International Development Agency.[36] Increased funding for the reintegration of disabled former combatants also generated additional opportunities for the economic inclusion of mine/ERW survivors.[37]

In Sudan, the rights of persons with disabilities were guaranteed by law.[38]  Some improvements in the implementation of the legislation through the newly formed National Disability Council were reported.[39] There were no laws or policies that ensured access by persons with disabilities to buildings and public spaces.[40]

Sudan ratified the CRPD on 24 April 2009.

 



[1] This casualty figure does not include those casualties that occurred in South Sudan, an independent state since 9 July 2011 but previously part of Sudan. For more information on casualties and victim assistance in South Sudan, please see ICBL-CMC, “Country Profile: South Sudan: Casualties and Victim Assistance,” www.the-monitor.org. All casualty details, unless otherwise specified, provided by emails from Mohammad Kabir, Chief Information Officer, UNMAO, 5 April 2011, 13 April 2011, and 4 May 2011; from media monitoring from 1 January to 31 December 2010; and from “Database of accident records: The record of accidents in Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA),” www.ddasonline.com.

[2] Email from Mohammad Kabir, UNMAO, 4 May 2011; and “Database of accident records: The record of accidents in Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA),” www.ddasonline.com.

[3] 2009 casualty data was provided by email from Mustafa Bawar, Information Management System for Mine Action Database Manager for the Northern Region, UNMAO, 31 March 2010; and by email from Mohammad Kabir, UNMAO, 10 August 2010.

[4] Statement of Sudan, Tenth Meeting of States Parties, Mine Ban Treaty, Geneva, 1 December 2010.

[5] Email from Mohammad Kabir, UNMAO, 24 July 2011.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Ibid.

[9] UNMAO, “Victim Assistance Program – Sudan Summary update – January 2010,” provided by email from Davide Naggi, UNMAO, 22 March 2010.

[10] Statement of Sudan, Tenth Meeting of States Parties, Mine Ban Treaty, Geneva, 1 December 2010; and UNMAO, “Sudan Mine Action Sector, Multi Year Plan 2010–2014,” February 2011, p. 29.

[11] Statement of Sudan, Tenth Meeting of States Parties, Mine Ban Treaty, Geneva, 1 December 2010.

[12] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Zahra Mohammed Alamin, Project Coordinator, ABRAR, 20 March 2011.

[13] Ibid.; and Enas Gaafar, Project Officer, Rufaida Health Foundation (Rufaida), 20 February 2011.

[14] Statement of Sudan, Tenth Meeting of States Parties, Mine Ban Treaty, Geneva, 1 December 2010; and UNMAO, “Sudan Mine Action Sector, Multi Year Plan 2010–2014,” February 2011.

[15] Mine Ban Treaty, Article 7 Report, April 2010.

[16] Statement of Sudan, Tenth Meeting of States Parties, Mine Ban Treaty, Geneva, 1 December 2010.

[17] Responses to Monitor questionnaire by Zahra Mohammed Alamin, ABRAR, 20 March 2011; Sami Ibrahim, Information Technology Manager, JASMAR, 31 March 2011; and Enas Gaafar, Rufaida, 20 February 2011.

[18] Statement of Sudan, Tenth Meeting of States Parties, Mine Ban Treaty, Geneva, 1 December 2010.

[19] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Sami Ibrahim, JASMAR, 31 March 2011; and Statement of Sudan, Tenth Meeting of States Parties, Mine Ban Treaty, Geneva, 1 December 2010.

[20] Statement of Sudan, Tenth Meeting of States Parties, Mine Ban Treaty, Geneva, 1 December 2010.

[21] Ibid.; and Statement of Sudan, Mine Ban Treaty Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-economic Reintegration, Geneva, 22 June 2011.

[22] Mine Ban Treaty, Article 7 Report, April 2010.

[23] Statement of Sudan, Tenth Meeting of States Parties, Mine Ban Treaty, Geneva, 1 December 2010.

[24] Responses to Monitor questionnaire by Zahra Mohammed Alamin, ABRAR, 20 March 2011; Sami Ibrahim, JASMAR, 31 March 2011; and Enas Gaafar, Rufaida, 20 February 2011.

[25] In Sudan, there are numerous organizations with vocational training and other economic reintegration programs for mine/ERW survivors that, if they did not indicate any changes in their activities or did not respond to requests for information, have not been listed here. Statement of Sudan, Tenth Meeting of States Parties, Mine Ban Treaty, Geneva, 1 December 2010; ICRC Physical Rehabilitation Programme (PRP), “Annual Report 2010,” Geneva, August 2011, p. 31; ICRC, “Annual Report 2010,” Geneva, May 2011, p. 180. UNMAO, “VA Projects Funded by CIDA 2008–2011,” provided by email from Adina Dinca, Northern Region Programme Officer, UNMAO, 27 April 2011; and responses to Monitor questionnaire by Zahra Mohammed Alamin, ABRAR, 20 March 2011; Sami Ibrahim, JASMAR, 31 March 2011; and Enas Gaafar, Rufaida, 20 February 2011.

[26] UNMAO, “Sudan Mine Action Sector, Multi Year Plan 2010–2014,” February 2011, p. 28.

[27] ICRC PRP, “Annual Report 2010,” Geneva, August 2011, p. 31.

[28] Statement of Sudan, Tenth Meeting of States Parties, Mine Ban Treaty, Geneva, 1 December 2010.

[29] UNMAO, “Sudan Mine Action Sector, Multi Year Plan 2010–2014,” February 2011, p. 28.

[30] ICRC PRP, “Annual Report 2010,” Geneva, August 2011, p. 31.

[31] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Sami Ibrahim, JASMAR, 31 March 2011.

[32] Ibid.

[33] Responses to Monitor questionnaire by Zahra Mohammed Alamin, ABRAR, 20 March 2011; Sami Ibrahim, JASMAR, 31 March 2011; and Enas Gaafar, Rufaida, 20 February 2011.

[34] Rufaida, “Psychological support for Mine Victims and PWDs in Khartoum State Progress report 31/10/2010–28/2/ 2011,” provided by email by Enas Gaafar, Rufaida, 8 March 2011.

[35] Responses to Monitor questionnaire by Zahra Mohammed Alamin, ABRAR, 20 March 2011; Sami Ibrahim, JASMAR, 31 March 2011; and Enas Gaafar, Rufaida, 20 February 2011.

[36] Statement of Sudan, Tenth Meeting of States Parties, Mine Ban Treaty, Geneva, 1 December 2010.

[37] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Sami Ibrahim, JASMAR, 31 March 2011.

[38] US Department of State, “2010 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Sudan,” Washington, DC, 8 April 2011.

[39] Responses to Monitor questionnaire by Sami Ibrahim, JASMAR, 31 March 2011; and Enas Gaafar, Rufaida, 20 February 2011.

[40] US Department of State, “2010 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Sudan,” Washington, DC, 8 April 2011.