sudan
Senior Member
- Oct 17, 2012
- 266
- 11
- 51
Climate change, environmental degradation and under-development have been among the key factors in the raging conflicts in Darfur and incited inter-tribal wars over the dwindling natural resources. This is why the DDPD (Doha Document for Peace in Darfur) signed in 2011 have focused on the importance of the formulation a comprehensive strategy for sustainable development in Darfur. A Darfur Donor Conference for Reconstruction and Development in Doha from 7-8 April, 2013 adapted the DDS Paper on which the implementations of some programmes have started. In this article we try to focus on the most important parts of the Document.
Darfur faced chronic under-development prior to the conflict. This is evidenced by the paucity of infrastructure: limited road access and the very poor state of existing roads that are often impassable at certain times of the year; and, the shortage or dilapidated state of public buildings, markets and water systems. There is a general lack of service and maintenance that further depreciates the majority of public infrastructure. Many Darfuris perceived the poor state of public services and infrastructure, despite the payment of taxes, as one of the root causes of dissatisfaction leading to the conflict.
The mainstreaming of environmentally sustainable practices will be a critical factor to mitigate the effects of an urbanizing populace. Taking into consideration the challenges of deforestation linked to production of fired bricks for construction, as previously mentioned, the need for identifying alternative construction solutions is also a priority; the use of SSB should be increasingly encouraged in urban areas, where necessary construction skills are available.
Any recovery and reconstruction program must infrastructure. As such, infrastructure is a recurrent predominant topic throughout this document. Purpose of this analysis and strategy, infrastructure be considered within three primary categories:
- Community infrastructure: as referenced above, community infrastructure includes wells/hafirs, markets, community centers and those for individual use: homes, latrines, granaries and production mechanisms, such as water harvesting systems.
- Public infrastructure: refers to schools, universities and vocational centers, police posts, health centres and prisons. Such infrastructure is essential to improve access to social services.
- Access infrastructure: refers to simple roads, bridges, transportation infrastructure and regionally-focused hardware - including power/energy, airstrips and trunk roads, railroads and media facilities. This type of infrastructure generally improves and facilitates economic activity.
It is vital to highlight two concerns that parallel infrastructure-focused issues. Firstly, that any infrastructure built must have planned and concomitant fiscal management, including maintenance costs that do not depend on external sources for upkeep and repair. Secondly, that infrastructure be planned and executed in a balanced fashion: each of the three categories is inter- dependent. Raising the bar equally and incrementally across these types is a key component of successful growth and development.
Basic Services
Water
The Darfur region is located within arid to semi-arid agroecological zones that are characterized by low rainfall of limited and variable duration and intensity. The main water resources are seasonal surface water catchments and alluvial and deep groundwater aquifers. Many rural water systems were damaged or destroyed as part of the conflict. High population densities in IDP camps have created intense water demand, which can lead to diminished and depleted ground water, particularly when rainfall is low. The humanitarian effort entailed extensive drilling of boreholes, as an emergency measure often in concentrated locations but without coordinated hydrological and suitability surveys. As a result, the ongoing extraction volume, especially in areas where deep wells have tapped into poor aquifers, negatively affects water resources, lowering the water table and drying up some shallower wells.
Access to adequate water supply for consumption 42 in Darfur fell sharply during the period 2000 to 2006. In 2000, the rate of access averaged 85%, but by 2006 it had fallen to around 45%. Within the overall trend there was an even steeper decline in the ratio of households with piped in water, which fell from 14% to 3% during the same period. This fall can be taken as an indication of the rapidly increasing demand being placed on urban supplies - as a result of very high levels of rural-urban migration and displacement - and of the under-capacity and under-performance of urban supply systems in connecting to new houses.
The remainder of the population relies on public tap stands, water vendors and private wells. This low level of access yields revenues that do not meet the cost of system operation, and which, coupled with institutional under-performance, mean that neither water production nor distribution capacities have been maintained or strengthened in line with urban population growth.
From 2000 to 2008, access to improved, as opposed to adequate, water sources in Darfur increased from 29.1% to 44.7%, yet this increase is largely attributable to the humanitarian efforts that installed water infrastructure in IDP locations. In reality, there is no guarantee of sustained supply, nor an equitable distribution of access to water among rural, urban and nomadic communities. Water quality, especially in rural areas, is poor. Traditional hand dug wells are open, usually untreated and are therefore frequently polluted.
Agriculture and livestock are the two key sources of livelihoods for Darfuris and are both dependent upon rainwater. It is estimated that across Darfur there exists more than 50 surface water reservoirs and 100 major hafirs along with numerous small storage structures and a scattering of other water harvesting schemes, along with over 400 deep borehole water yards and thousands of hand pumps. Many rural water supply structures have suffered from conflict destruction and a historic lack of maintenance. Most are used for both animal and human water supply and are in need of water treatment facilities. Their restoration - indeed an increase in the coverage of surface and sub-surface water infrastructure - will be central to successful, integrated water resource management, ideally at the catchment level. This will greatly contribute to the sustaining of peaceful coexistence among its people and is a prerequisite to supporting long-term sustainable return.
Darfur faced chronic under-development prior to the conflict. This is evidenced by the paucity of infrastructure: limited road access and the very poor state of existing roads that are often impassable at certain times of the year; and, the shortage or dilapidated state of public buildings, markets and water systems. There is a general lack of service and maintenance that further depreciates the majority of public infrastructure. Many Darfuris perceived the poor state of public services and infrastructure, despite the payment of taxes, as one of the root causes of dissatisfaction leading to the conflict.
The mainstreaming of environmentally sustainable practices will be a critical factor to mitigate the effects of an urbanizing populace. Taking into consideration the challenges of deforestation linked to production of fired bricks for construction, as previously mentioned, the need for identifying alternative construction solutions is also a priority; the use of SSB should be increasingly encouraged in urban areas, where necessary construction skills are available.
Any recovery and reconstruction program must infrastructure. As such, infrastructure is a recurrent predominant topic throughout this document. Purpose of this analysis and strategy, infrastructure be considered within three primary categories:
- Community infrastructure: as referenced above, community infrastructure includes wells/hafirs, markets, community centers and those for individual use: homes, latrines, granaries and production mechanisms, such as water harvesting systems.
- Public infrastructure: refers to schools, universities and vocational centers, police posts, health centres and prisons. Such infrastructure is essential to improve access to social services.
- Access infrastructure: refers to simple roads, bridges, transportation infrastructure and regionally-focused hardware - including power/energy, airstrips and trunk roads, railroads and media facilities. This type of infrastructure generally improves and facilitates economic activity.
It is vital to highlight two concerns that parallel infrastructure-focused issues. Firstly, that any infrastructure built must have planned and concomitant fiscal management, including maintenance costs that do not depend on external sources for upkeep and repair. Secondly, that infrastructure be planned and executed in a balanced fashion: each of the three categories is inter- dependent. Raising the bar equally and incrementally across these types is a key component of successful growth and development.
Basic Services
Water
The Darfur region is located within arid to semi-arid agroecological zones that are characterized by low rainfall of limited and variable duration and intensity. The main water resources are seasonal surface water catchments and alluvial and deep groundwater aquifers. Many rural water systems were damaged or destroyed as part of the conflict. High population densities in IDP camps have created intense water demand, which can lead to diminished and depleted ground water, particularly when rainfall is low. The humanitarian effort entailed extensive drilling of boreholes, as an emergency measure often in concentrated locations but without coordinated hydrological and suitability surveys. As a result, the ongoing extraction volume, especially in areas where deep wells have tapped into poor aquifers, negatively affects water resources, lowering the water table and drying up some shallower wells.
Access to adequate water supply for consumption 42 in Darfur fell sharply during the period 2000 to 2006. In 2000, the rate of access averaged 85%, but by 2006 it had fallen to around 45%. Within the overall trend there was an even steeper decline in the ratio of households with piped in water, which fell from 14% to 3% during the same period. This fall can be taken as an indication of the rapidly increasing demand being placed on urban supplies - as a result of very high levels of rural-urban migration and displacement - and of the under-capacity and under-performance of urban supply systems in connecting to new houses.
The remainder of the population relies on public tap stands, water vendors and private wells. This low level of access yields revenues that do not meet the cost of system operation, and which, coupled with institutional under-performance, mean that neither water production nor distribution capacities have been maintained or strengthened in line with urban population growth.
From 2000 to 2008, access to improved, as opposed to adequate, water sources in Darfur increased from 29.1% to 44.7%, yet this increase is largely attributable to the humanitarian efforts that installed water infrastructure in IDP locations. In reality, there is no guarantee of sustained supply, nor an equitable distribution of access to water among rural, urban and nomadic communities. Water quality, especially in rural areas, is poor. Traditional hand dug wells are open, usually untreated and are therefore frequently polluted.
Agriculture and livestock are the two key sources of livelihoods for Darfuris and are both dependent upon rainwater. It is estimated that across Darfur there exists more than 50 surface water reservoirs and 100 major hafirs along with numerous small storage structures and a scattering of other water harvesting schemes, along with over 400 deep borehole water yards and thousands of hand pumps. Many rural water supply structures have suffered from conflict destruction and a historic lack of maintenance. Most are used for both animal and human water supply and are in need of water treatment facilities. Their restoration - indeed an increase in the coverage of surface and sub-surface water infrastructure - will be central to successful, integrated water resource management, ideally at the catchment level. This will greatly contribute to the sustaining of peaceful coexistence among its people and is a prerequisite to supporting long-term sustainable return.
