Commander's assessment

1. Assessment.
The missions Area of Operation still endures the rainy season. Although some troop movements have been tracked, the overall assessment is that calm prevails.

2. Concerns.
The Mission’s greatest concern still remains with the current budgetary situation. There have been clear indications from donor countries that funding will be available for the mission, however, no additional funds have yet been made available.

1. JMC still awaits the Commander Central Command formal letter outlining suggested GoS interpretations to the CFA regarding JMC inspections of 15TH Div. As soon as this has been received, it will be forwarded to the FoNM
   
2. An increase in SPLA troop movements has been noticed the last weeks. This, by order of the SPLA, is to review their units in preparation of the upcoming formation of the Joint integrated Units (JIU). JMC has received some information to these movements and are actively pursuing the matter.
   
3. Operation BORAM BADGER started on 8 September. The operation was launched in order to target and possibly defuse the building tensions along the Talodi – Frandella road.
   

3. Intentions.
In addition to resolving the specific concerns above:

1. Continue to monitor the SPLA current troop movements
   
2. To prepare the large number of planned incoming visits and other events during September.
   
3. To invite and continue to prepare for UN SRSG Mr Pronk and the designated UN Force Commander for a familiarisation visit to the JMC operations and AoR.
   

4. Mines and Mine Clearing.

1. Land Mine Action (LMA). Operations continued on Katcha AP minefield; cleared 526 m2 in difficult terrain (4 x No 4 mines). Second team continued work on Krongo AP minefield; cleared 373 m2 (1 x No 4, 1 x 82mm mortars, 1 x RPG7). UNMAS conducted QA visit to both sites.
   
2. Danish Church Aid (DCA). JASMAR 1 cleared 45.5 m2 and JASMAR 2 cleared 25.7 m2, both in village of Sama. Both OSIL teams (SPLA) returned to work after 5 day strike period, working in Umm Serdiba. UNMAS conducted QA visit to JASMAR 1 site.
   
3. RONCO Consulting Corporation (JMM team). Waiting for RONCO to complete WFP task in Rumbek and potential visit by Dept of State to Nuba region early Oct timeframe.
   
4. Fondation Suisse de Deminage. FSD non-operational until medics trained to adequate level, currently awaiting travel permit and arrival of FSD international Medical Coordinator.
   
5. Additional Mine Activities.
   1. The two SLIRI impact survey teams have continued with Impact Survey in Eastern Jebels.
   2. Field orientation continued for SRSA EOD Coordinator.
   3. UNMAS and PAE Engr continued to work on design and layout for new office space.
   4. UNAMS prepared two project proposals for German Embassy, delivered by HoM, for (1) mine marking stores and (2) route clearance.
   5. UNMAS assisted in JMC National Training Day on 7 Sep by providing mine awareness brief.
   
6. MRE Activities.
   1. DCA: OSIL and JASMAR MRE teams commenced operations after completing refresher training.
   2. SC (US): SC(US) conducted MRE in Katcha on 2 Sep 04 and conducted MRE in 4 schools in Kadugli.
   3. UNMAS MRE:
   a) MRE Associate coordinated 4-day MRE Workshop in Nuba early in Oct at IFAD facility.
   b) MRE Associate will visit JASMAR MRE 9 Sep.
   

5. CIMIC

1. Malaria. The AOR is in the middle of the rainy season and malaria is a major concern. Malaria continues to be considered one of the greatest scourges of humanity. At least a million deaths are caused by malaria every year, principally among children, about 9% of all childhood deaths. Mortality though, is only a small fraction of morbidity.
   It is estimated that in the highly epidemic regions of Africa, the approximately 650 million inhabitants are infected, on average, more than once a year. The economic implications of a frequently sick population are evident. The rise of drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum, the deadly species of the disease, to conventional treatments such as chloroquine, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, or the combination of these drugs, is the leading cause of the global increase in childhood malaria deaths.
   There is a new, highly effective treatment known as artemisinin-class combination therapy (ACT) to treat drug resistant malaria. Artemisinins are derivatives from Artemisia annua (sweet wormwood). In due time, resistance to artemisinins will develop, so they should be given in combination with some other medication. One such ACT is artesunate, however, its availability in the Nuba Mountains is not foreseen in the immediate future, as it is “rather expensive” (about US$2 a treatment). Some specialists (for sources: hao@jmc.nu ) wonder how then the WHO will make good on its 1998 “Roll Back Malaria” campaign to halve deaths from malaria by 2010.
   One way to reduce the number of malaria cases is the distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets. MEDAIR distributed 7300 nets in the SPLM administered Western Jebels (Sector V) among pregnant women and children below the age of five years. Equally Save the Children – US and the Ministry of Health distributed nets in the GoS administered areas. These nets, or at least the insecticide part of it, will last five years. The nets are available at SD100 – SD200 whereas those who cannot afford this price, “the very vulnerable,” receive them without charge. Some medical experts say the use of bed nets would cut the number of children killed by malaria by 27%. Prevention is, of course, essential. Radio Kadugli now broadcasts a series of programmes by MEDAIR that addresses the different ways to control and reduce the incidence of malaria.
   
2. Peace building, Christianity and Islam. The Sudan Council of Churches for Western Sudan Region (represented by the Roman Catholic Church and the Episcopal Church) organised a two-day seminar in collaboration with the South Kordofan Ministry of Social and Cultural Affairs in the Kadugli Forestry Hall 1 – 2 September. About 50 religious leaders, state and local authorities attended the seminar focusing on the role of Muslim and Christian religious leaders in the peace building process, the role of local leaders in conflict resolution and reconciliation. The interfaith seminar resulted in a total of 36 recommendations, which centred on enhancing an inclusive and community driven approach to peace building with the two religions playing a major role in attaining this goal. When it comes to the community, many recommendations are a plea for the re-introduction of a truly indigenous administration with, for instance, local leaders chosen by the population and invested with more judicial and financial authority.
   
3. Security Meeting. The biweekly security meeting will take place Monday, 13 Sep, at 10.00 hrs in the CIMIC Centre.

H M Granlund
Chief Operations Officer
For Head of Mission