FROM:     INTERNET:Unicef.OLS@unicef.unon.org, 
DATE:     3/20/98 3:27 AM

Subject: Northern Bahr El Ghazal Sitrep # 7

16  MARCH 1998

NORTHERN BAHR EL GHAZAL EMERGENCY SITREP  #7 
COVERING 8-10 MARCH

1.  FLIGHT CLEARANCES/GENERAL SITUATION
On 26 February, OLS resumed humanitarian  flights  into Bahr el 
Ghazal following clearance  to four locations from  the 
Government of  Sudan.   The locations were: Akuem, Pakor, Adet 
and Ajiep.  Clearance was also given for GOS-held areas Wau and 
Aweil following a needs assessment to those locations.  All 6 of 
these locations have  also been  confirmed for clearance  
throughout  March.

2.  CURRENT SITUATION
The reported cases of malnutrition in Thiek Thou and Panthou 
continues to rise.  Staff on the ground report tremendous 
pressure on already limited resources.  In Twic County, people 
have reportedly `turned into the ground' - excavating ant hills 
and sifting through the dirt to find any grains of wild rice.  
This process, which takes hours, usually yields about one cup of 
edible food.  Rivers and pools are low due to drought and fishing 
has been poor.  Reports also indicate that people have begun to 
slaughter animals for food much earlier in the year than usual.  
All of these factors are cause for concern, as the area has not 
yet entered the traditional `hunger gap' months, when natural 
resources are the lowest during the year.

3.  FOOD/NON-FOOD INPUTS
Food distributions  and deliveries are  ongoing in Lunyaker and 
Pakor, while teams  remain  on ground in Malual Akon. 

Non-food items are being distributed in Adet, Thiek Thou and 
Lunyaker. These items, primarily supplied by Save the Children 
Fund-UK and World Vision International, are mainly blankets, 
supplementary food and displaced kits.  Seeds and agricultural 
tools are being purchased and will be sent to the area within the 
next week.

4.  WATER AND SANITATION
The availability of water, though not completely satisfactory, is 
confirmed in most areas in the region.  Coordination of the water 
intervention has been passed from UNICEF to Save the Children 
Fund-UK, who have a permanent presence on the ground.  They will 
collaborate closely with World Vision International who are also 
based in the area.


5.   SUB-NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION DAYS FOR POLIO
(SNIDS) 
 SNIDs will proceed during March in Bahr el Ghazal.  This 
decision was taken following  a consultative process that looked 
at the implications  that SNIDs would  have on the emergency 
response  mechanism.   The resources and scheduling issues were 
carefully analyzed by the Emergency Response Team in Lokichokio 
and it was apparent that the campaign would not significantly 
interfere with the ongoing emergency response.  

6.  TRUCKING OPPORTUNITIES
Three trucks carrying supplementary food and non-food items from 
UNICEF and Save the Children Fund-UK arrived in Lunyaker on 7 
March.  World Vision International  trucks  carrying food and 
non-food items  arrived in Thiet  the same  day.   


For Further Information Contact: Gillian Wilcox, UNICEF/OLS Tel 
622403 and Christy Dow Murray, UNICEF/OLS, Tel 622410