HDPO is holding a workshop for the local authorities and the international organization to introduce the Protection and Health Services Project in North Darfur state

Al-Fashir, June 25, 2023

HDPO held a workshop for communities and local authorities to raise awareness and introduce the project (protection, water, basic health, and hygiene services for newly displaced, vulnerable, conflict-affected, and host communities) implemented by the organization in Al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur state, funded by USAID and IOM.

The project includes three main activities represented in public health activities, through which (the rehabilitation and equipment of a health center in the Al-Thawra neighborhood south in Al-Fashir locality to provide services to the displaced and host communities, training 50 volunteers and 30 medical staff to provide counseling and campaigns to enhance community and health protection on infectious diseases and sexual and reproductive health, establishing trauma counseling to provide an opportunity to support the trauma cases management, referral pathways, and extensions, and the operation of a Mobile Health Clinic for Shaqar center.)

The second activity is represented in the protection activities. The organization is (holding enlightening workshops for the leaders of the local authority, the resistance committees, the sheikhs of the neighborhoods, and the newly displaced 50% of women, and the community protection workshop targets the host community and the newly displaced in neighborhoods of Al-Thawra, Al-Wehda, and Al Salam 50% of women, and the Child Protection Workshop targets the host community and the newly displaced in neighborhoods of Al-Thawra, Al-Wehda, and Al Salam 50% of women, and participants are awarded certificates of appreciation.)

In addition, (providing psychological support to 60 persons of women, orphaned children, the elderly, people with chronic diseases, survivors of violence, and people with special needs in Al-Thawra and, Al-Wehda neighborhoods, choosing 100 of the most vulnerable women and girls of childbearing age, distributing 100 packages of hygiene kits, and choosing 20 youth (50% women) to attend a training workshop in the field of monitoring and writing reports for gross violations of children.)

The third activity is to carry out (water and environmental sanitation activities by constructing 100 shared toilets with local materials, rehabilitating 60 toilets, and distributing 120 plastic utensils, hand-washing soap, and hygiene kits.)

In addition, (carrying out awareness campaigns to promote hygiene monthly in the targeted neighborhoods, covering water and sanitation, and repairing five Water Collection Points.)

The organization’s team gave a detailed explanation to humanitarian organizations and local authorities about the project for protection, water, and health services, which it began implementing on June 1 in Al-Fashir and will continue until September 30.

The Health Officer at HDPO, Mrs. Alwiya Ali expressed her ambition that the health services provided by the organization now play a role in reducing deaths among pregnant women and children under five years, combating some diseases, educating society about their danger, and paying attention to hygiene.

On his part, the Commissioner for Human Rights in North Darfur state, Mr. Abbas Youssef said that the localities that have been subjected to armed attacks since the start of the armed conflict in the state have forced thousands of families to flee to Al-Fashir and the surrounding camps and localities where security is available, causing an exacerbation of the humanitarian crisis among civilians.

The Commissioner called on United Nations and international organizations to commit to transforming development programs into emergency work programs to help the displaced and the communities hosting, pointed out that the degree of danger is very high, and encouraged organizations to resume their humanitarian activities to provide services to those in need during the humanitarian conditions, which he described as very bad.

The commissioner stated that the number of centers in Al-Fashir has reached 13, with 330 families displaced from neighborhoods affected by the conflict, 614 families displaced from Kutum Locality, and 1450 families displaced from Tawila Locality, who were sheltered in Zamzam, Naivasha, and Abu Shouk camps for the displaced.

Describing the current situation as very critical, stresses that it requires increased efforts to intervene and save people’s lives, despite the scarcity of resources.

He concluded by saying: (We thank HDPO for the rapid response to the appeal to provide services to some displaced from the Tawila Locality. The displaced people live in very bad humanitarian conditions; they are still in the open and need shelter materials, food, psychological counseling, clean water, and shelter urgently because they lost all their possessions.)

On their part, Representatives of the organizations participating in the workshop emphasized the need to provide health and other services to civilians affected by the war, to enhance social cohesion and alleviate suffering.

In addition to helping the most vulnerable groups in terms of the prevailing conditions in Sudan make they vulnerable to all forms of violations.

They stressed the need to provide awareness programs, strengthen social peace, and coordinate efforts between all organizations working in the international, regional, and national humanitarian fields.

On his part, the Protection Officer at HDPO, Mr. Adam Al-Reeh thanked the local authorities and international and regional organizations for their cooperation in implementing the protection project during the emergency conditions in North Darfur state, stressing the organization’s determination to implement the current project perfectly, similar to the projects it implemented previously.