Hi Glenn Geelhoed

04-SEP-A-7

LATE WORD FROM SUDAN

REGARDING RELIEF EFFORTS TOWARD DARFUR

I was able to access a bit of your web site recently – quite amazing.

I am presently in Khartoum (traveling to Darfur) via Nairobi having visited “my” staff and people in Zeraf (the sSudan place I have been).

This is the little I know of Darfur now (via MSF Swiss) I can say very little about Darfur. There is no famine but there are surely areas of food crisis. The MSF’s and others have logistics to get food (soon WFP should get their act together). It seems as though maintaining security for the displaced – who have lost everything – is what is the top agenda. And big oil is others agenda of course. Medically the only out of the ordinary problem is an outbreak of Hep E (alas for the pregnant women). The amount of sexual violence is not well know. The south of Darfur is still somewhat unstable. Getting to Darfur via Khartoum is quite a political adventure and I am sure changes depending on the world politics. I know nothing about access in Chad. I imagine those interested in working in Darfur might do well to apply to the traditional aid agencies. There are no longer contracts I know of shorter than 3 months (mine may be the last of the 1 month contracts for experienced staff…)

I will be back in sSudan in a month. We gave “our” program was given to an Italian NGO (COSV). I have enough longevity etc with the area that I am virtually unimpeded in work. I presently am a “volunteer consultant” with COSV in Old Fangok town near where I was and where most of the national staff I worked with are now. I keep my status as independent – I have my old adjoining “compound” – that is nice mud hut in progress. I will be in and out as I will offer free consultancy to WHO regarding kala azar control. I may also move to a little village near by if the kala azar outbreak increases. This nearby village, Kuernyang (not on maps) is where we think the epicenter of our small kala azar outbreak last year was. Several of the national staff are from there, and the chiefs have already built us 3 huts! It all depends on what happens in the next month or 2. The peak of kala azar in s Sudan is between Oct and Jan.

One interesting thought is regarding surgery. There has been NO surgical intervention within sSudan since about 1993 except to the far south. Select patients (i.e. all that can be called emergencies) can be evacuated to Loki in Kenya via the ICRC (if they stay alive long enough…) In Old Fangok is the remains of the administrative buildings from the British – one such run down building was given to COSV (I prefer the mud and thatch huts myself) – and the dear hope of the people is that they will establish surgery there! Even the much loved Camboni brother who is also in Old Fangok has requested such! COSV is not really interested but, it might be an idea. If you were to consider doing surgery I would have to see how that could be organized because of this new relation with COSV. Of course I do minor procedures – and some not so minor to me. I do have spinal available (though no one knows I have it…). But I suspect that infectious diseases will top the list of diagnoses anyone coming will deal with.

I am curious also how you would travel. There is NO land route to where I work – all the airstrips (dirt tracts) are accessed either by the UN (Operation Lifeline Sudan - OLS) or by private charters. To travel with the UN could be cheaper as you pay only for your seat not the whole plane. But you have to be invited by an OLS organization and take the UN security course and follow so so many rules. To travel non-OLS is by small charter planes – usually around 3000 USD round trip (that is about 900 kg cargo plane). I am non-OLS but consult with OLS organizations giving me lots of freedom. If you were to come it is a possibility to arrange the timing with when I might want supplies by one of these non-OLS charters (I use in fact an ex-boss of mine) – and then try to divert some non-OLS plane to get you all out. Every person who goes is considered 80-90 kg so it does limit access. Or do you already have connections?

I am so curious what sort of itinerary you have planned? The time from about 15 Dec to 10 Jan is when most NGO personnel pull out! I get to stay of course.

By the way, a dream list of items to come would have to include something like nu gauze for pyomyositis drainage (as a non-surgeon I have been told I cut like an internist – it works if I can leave in a drain!)

I am sorry this is such an unfocussed letter! I simply do not know where to start? I’m sure I could learn lots from you – and the people would be so happy to have your expertise.

Take care,

Jill

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