In the East, according to the Refugees Baseline Household Survey (RBHS) conducted in 2015 by the Central Bauru of Statistics (CBS), Food poverty line is estimated at 209.7 SDG per capita per month. This line is referred to extreme poverty line and households whose consumption falls below that line are in extreme poverty as they cannot afford their food basic needs. Using food poverty line, overall poverty in Refugees’ camps stood at 46%, indicating that almost half of the population living in refugees’ camps cannot afford to obtain their basic food needs; giving up consumption of necessary food item to spend on essential non-food goods and services. Using the lower poverty line, the percentage of the poor increased to 65% for refugees who could not obtain basic food and non-food needs. A situation similar to that of the host communities. The refugees live in three livelihood zones - 1) irrigated (Kilo 26, Fau5), 2) rain-fed (Abuda, Um-Gargour, Shagarabs), and 3) commercial (Girba, W.Sharify) zones. The main source of employment for refugees is through agriculture. However, limited access to arable land, the lack of adequate equipment, limited access to agricultural technical services and limited opportunities of income diversification hinder refugees’ access to self-sufficiency. Due to these challenges, refugees are engaged in casual labor in agricultural, and in small-scale income-generating activities. UNHCR will explore partnerships with development actors; GIZ, World Bank, JICA, German Agro-action to enhance refugee self-reliance as a mean of reducing the illegal onward movement of refugees. This will be aligned with the comprehensive refugee response framework (CRRF) and the global livelihood strategy. The current livelihood strategy for UNHCR in East Sudan will be updated to reassess the level of self-reliance and establish a new benchmark that will promote refugee community self-management in livelihood interventions. UNHCR and partners will support sustainability of value chain projects, agriculture and livestock production, access to land, establish drip irrigation and poultry farming, and provide associated extension services and provision of marketable vocational /life skills training courses.
In Darfur, refugees continue to struggle meeting their daily needs as a result of limited access to livelihood opportunities, and in particular women. As a result, negative coping mechanisms affecting individual and communities has been observed/reported. Although UNHCR managed to provide a limited income generating activities project for CAR refugees living in Nyala town, the majority of the refugees, and women in particularly in remote villages like Dimsu and Elradoum are still struggling to meet their daily needs as a result of limited access to livelihood and employment opportunities, especially due to overall deteriorating economic situation in the host country. The AGDM participatory assessment found the lack of livelihoods to be one of the most urgent priorities to be addressed for both CAR and Chadian refugees, which if addressed would enhance self-reliance and allow refugees to meet their basic needs in terms of food, shelter, medical, education and other costs. In South Darfur, the cash-based intervention for livelihoods and technical skills training targeting urban CAR refugees has been a success and can be built upon for newly arrived refugees from CAR. With full prioritization of this objective, UNHCR will be able to provide vocational training and livelihood start up for CAR refugees in Nyala and out of camp locations. In addition, through the provision of income generating activities, vocational and skills training and cash-based intervention to people with specific needs, UNHCR will empower identified PSN and assist them in becoming self-sufficient and self-reliant.