Some of the findings are as follows:
The first refugees, who arrived in the last quarter of 2011, were farmers or agro-pastoralists, whereas those who arrived in the first and second quarters of 2012 were mainly herders. They brought sheep, goats and cattle. Small ruminants are the majority followed by cattle. The host community also keeps livestock, most of which are pigs, followed by small ruminants and then cattle.
Rough estimate of livestock numbers
Species Host community Refugees Total
Cattle 15,000 80,000 95,000
Sheep 3,000 100,000 103,000
Goats 8,000 130,000 138,000
Pigs 35,000 35,000
In Yusuf Batil camp alone, there is a total of 113,700 animals (Ruta Donato, 2012). For planning and response purposes, FAO estimates that 20-30% of total livestock population from Blue Nile state will migrate to Upper Nile with the refugees.
CESVI reported about 31,052 animals died (18% mortality rate).
The presence and the level of disease incidence are high and urgent measures are needed to protect livelihoods, especially in view of animals’ mobility and introduction of a new livestock population in the area. The spread of disease also triggers conflict when one community blames the other.
None of the organizations (UN and NGOs) providing assistance to the refugees (protection, food, education, shelter, health, household items etc), or managing the camps (ACTED), are responding to livestock emergency issues, nor have the capacity to respond to them in to protect household assets.
The livelihoods of both the refugees and the host community need to be protected and therefore urgent actions are needed to reduce the morbidity and mortality of livestock. Protecting the livestock will provide an opportunity for the refugee community to rebuild their assets and diversify their income.
Markets
Maban is likely to be an important hub for livestock marketing, with a growing number of livestock brought in by the refugees. CESVI reported the number of livestock sold in Maban to be over 28,000, with a market value of 1.4 million dollars.
Entrepreneurship skills are beginning to be evident amongst the refugees who are participating in the local trade providing services much appreciated by their host. According to Philip Bala, Assistant Executive Director, Maban County, there were no daily meat sales in the local market before the arrival of the refugees.
The only challenge is that there is no proper slaughterhouse and animals are slaughtered close to the market, which in the long term may pose a health hazard.
Natural Resource Management
Severe shortage of water, over-grazing in some areas, competition for grazing rights with the Ambororo/
Felata (nomadic herders) and Arabs, increased exposure to risk of being raided, conflict with the farming/agro pastoral communities, disease outbreaks and increased mobility that increases refugees risk of being killed, raided or wounded are likely situations that can occur if proactive actions are not taken.
There is an abundance of forage for grazers for the current number of livestock, but depletion of forage is expected in the first and second quarters of 2013. The critical months are March to May, and during this time livestock migration beyond the refugee camp would be crucial to the survival of the animals. However, there is competition for water (for human, livestock, wildlife) especially in the drier months (February – May).
There are complaints by the local government and host communities of livestock thefts, destruction of farmlands by livestock of the refugees and in Jamam rumors of thefts on farms.
Organizations in the long term will have to consider intervening in natural resource management. They also need to closely monitor all indicators of conflicts and actively engage community to dialogue and negotiate for access.
Livestock watering points needs to be considered as the dryer months approach. Motorized water points and troughs need to be constructed in selected locations, considering the environmental impacts of this activity. Issues of overgrazing, sanitation control and management should also be discussed with both communities. Whilst it is true that lifesaving is a current priority, the issue of access to natural resources could result into death and property loss if not taken seriously.
There is a need for an interagency assessment focusing on all aspect of livelihoods especially agriculture, perennial gardening, and water for garden production by the communities.
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Its interesting to read reports like this, as these are issues that we often don't think about (especially as WASH-focused people), but that have huge implications on the survival of the Sudanese refugees who will be in South Sudan for a long time to come. The main focus we have recently had on livestock is the health risks they pose from Hepatitis E, an outbreak of which was declared in the camps in Maban. Hep E is a waterborne disease spread through contact with faeces; normally it is human faeces causing the problem, due to a lack of sanitation facilities (ie toilets!), but in this case Hep E can also be spread by animals, and so part of our Hep E prevention campaign has been working with the refugee community to keep animals separate to their living areas. Difficult.
But there is a much bigger picture emerging here, and given there is no-one addressing it, it's going to be a challenge. Let's see what happens...
