SUDAN / LOWCOCK VISIT

UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock called on the international community to act faster to scale up humanitarian support to Sudan. The humanitarian situation is deteriorating for millions of people, particularly in the central and eastern regions, as the country strives to address the effects of erratic weather, multiple disease outbreaks and the economic crisis. OCHA

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:39
• Production Date: 25 November 2019
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - OCHA
• Subject Topical: HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE; PEACE
• Geographic Subject: SUDAN
• MAMS Id: 2506354
• Parent Id: 2506354
• Alternate Title: unifeed191125d

Description

STORY: SUDAN / LOWCOCK VISIT
TRT:2:39
SOURCE: OCHA
RESTRICTION: NONE
LANGAUGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 23 NOVEMBER 2019, KASSALA, SUDAN / 24 NOVEMBER, KHARTOUM, SUDAN

Shotlist

23 NOVEMBER 2019, KASSALA, SUDAN

1.Wide shot, street view Kassala state
2.Wide shot, children in Kassala rural area
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Lowcock, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator:
“There’s no conflict here. It’s peaceful and stable and humanitarian organizations haven’t been very present here historically. But now there’s a real economic crisis, there’s a real malnutrition problem. There’s an outbreak of infectious diseases, killer diseases, like cholera and dengue, and measles and diphtheria.”
4.Med shot, health workers doing vector control in Kassala city
5.Wide shot,women walking in Kassala city
6.Wide shot, Mark Lowcock and UN delegation entering Kassala teaching hospital
7.Various shots, USG Lowcock meeting with women and man from the community of Daresta village
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Lowcock, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator:
“There’s a new government in Sudan and they have an agenda to reform and move the country forward. But they need a lot more help, much faster from the international community. We’re expecting to see a growing humanitarian problem here, even in peaceful parts of the country over the next few months.”

24 NOVEMBER, KHARTOUM, SUDAN

9.Various shots, USG Mark Lowcock and delegation greeted by Sudan Prime minister Abdalla Hamdok
10.Wide shot, Lowcock and Prime minister meeting

Storyline

UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock on Sunday (24 Nov) called on the international community to act faster to scale up humanitarian support to Sudan.

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock went on a two-day mission last week to the country. It was his first visit to the country since the formation of a transitional government in August 2019.

The humanitarian situation is deteriorating for millions of people, particularly in the central and eastern regions, as the country strives to address the effects of erratic weather, multiple disease outbreaks and the economic crisis.

While conflict is still a major driver of humanitarian needs in Sudan, incidents have significantly reduced in recent years. The deepening economic crisis, the climate crisis and pockets of violence also continue to drive humanitarian needs. More than 8.5 million people require food, nutrition, protection or other assistance to survive and millions of others struggle to make ends meet. These numbers are projected to grow. Years of conflict have left nearly two million people displaced in the Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile areas of Sudan.

During a visit to Kassala, in eastern Sudan, the Emergency Relief Coordinator met local communities who have been affected by recent economic and climate shocks and recurrent disease outbreaks.

Lowcock said, “there’s no conflict here. It’s peaceful and stable and humanitarian organizations haven’t been very present here historically. But now there’s a real economic crisis, there’s a real malnutrition problem. There’s an outbreak of infectious diseases, killer diseases, like cholera and dengue, and measles and diphtheria.”

In Kassala State, over 400,000 people are in crisis levels of food insecurity and only 13 per cent of the rural communities have access to safe water. Communicable disease outbreaks are proliferating at the same time as the economic situation hampers the Government’s capacity to respond. There are acute shortages of basic medicines and health services across the country.

The humanitarian chief also said, “there’s a new government in Sudan and they have an agenda to reform and move the country forward. But they need a lot more help, much faster from the international community. We’re expecting to see a growing humanitarian problem here, even in peaceful parts of the country over the next few months.”

During meetings with the Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, members of the Government and the Sovereign Council, Lowcock welcomed the country’s commitment to improve access for humanitarian organizations to reach people in need. He acknowledged the positive steps taken thus far, and also noted that reducing administrative procedures are crucial to facilitate movement for aid workers inside the country.

The Government is also supporting efforts to access areas still under the control of non-state armed groups. The UN is encouraged by the priority the Government is placing on peace building and conflict resolution across the country.

The humanitarian chief concluded his visit by underscoring the fragility of the situation.