All three Eastern Sudan states are implementing 5 years strategic plans (2007-2011), with priority sectors and relevant interventions and resource needs identified. The states mobilized resources from various partners, including federal government, the UN, NGOs, donors, and private sector. For example, overall contribution of the government in the implementation of the strategic plan of Red Sea state in 2009 represented 77% of the overall state strategic

UNDP SudanGama'a Avenue,House 7,Block 5P.O. Box 913Postal Code 11111Khartoum - SudanPhone: (+249) 1 83 783 820 (+249) 1 83 773 121Fax: (+249) 1 83 783 764 (+249) 1 83 773 128Email: registry.sd@undp.org

493,100 people in Red Sea (67%), 1,059,300 people in Kassala (61%,) and 1,728,000 people in Al-Gadaref (37.3%) do not have access to improve drinking water, mainly in the rural and semi-urban areas,. The figures for access to sanitation are also poor in the region. 49% in Red Sea, 61% in Kassala, and 85.4% in Al-Gadaref do not have access to adequate sanitation. According FNC 2009, the area covered by Forest in the Red Sea state was 331434.1 ha (1.5%

of the total area). Per-capita consumption of forest products stood at 0.54 m3. Number of Forest Reserves was 165 ha. The area covered by Forest in Kassala state was 902277.8 ha (18.04% of the total area). Per-capita consumption of forest products was 0.67 m3. Number of Forest Reserves was 67 ha. Area covered by Forest in Al-Gadaref state was 545196.6 ha (9.3% of the total area). Per-capita consumption of forest products was 0.71 m3. Number of Forest Reserves was 254 ha.

plan budget.The contribution from the government was 45% for Kassala state, while the UN and NGOs contributed 27%. The private sector’s contribution stood at 9%. The federal support for Al-Gadaref state improved from nil in 1998 to 50% in 2006. The resources allocated for development from the total Al-Gadarestate budget for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 reached 24%, 32% and 31% respectively.

www.sd.undp.org

Poverty is widespread especially in Red Sea state (57.7%), followed by Al-Gadaref (50.1%) and Kassala (36.3%).

This means that almost two-third of the population of the Red sea state, half of the population in Al-Gadaref, and one third of the population in Kassala are living below the National Poverty Line (148 SDG/person/month).

Depth of hunger (amount of calories the deprived populations miss to reach the level of daily Minimum Dietary Energy Requirement (MDER) per person) was 370 Kcal in Red Sea State (highest in Northern Sudan), 356 Kcal for Kassala and 283 Kcal for Al-Gadaref.

MDG Profile of Eastern Sudan- 2010

Fast Facts and Highlights

• 58% of the population in the Red Sea and 50% of the population in the Gadaref state live below the national poverty line. 44% of the population is food deprived in the Red Sea. These are among the highest figures among the Northern states.

• 36.1% Gross Enrollment Rate for Red Sea makes it the lowest among Northern states. The level of investment in Eastern Sudan in education is not matching the increases in the growth of population at school age.

• 25% women representation in the parliament brought the Eastern states at par with the national averages. But only14.3% of women contribute to employment in three ُ Eastern Sudan states combined- a meager rate compared to men’s contribution.

• 56 in1000 and 55 in1000 children die every year in Red Sea and Kassala States. These are over 4 times higher than the average for the Northern states. The trends are similar for infant mortality rates.

• 1,414 in 100,000 women die when giving birth in Kassala state. This figure puts Kassala on top of the list for all the Northern states. Institutional deliveries account for 13.4% of all births in Gadaref, a figure far below than the 34.3% average for Northern states.

• 0-1.6% malaria prevalence rate puts Eastern Sudan states low to moderate prevalence category, making it better off compared to other regions in the country. The region also fares well in terms of tuberculosis treatment.

• 61% of the population in Kassala do not have access to improved drinking water and sanitation. This is almost double the Northern Sudan average. All three states of Eastern Sudan suffer in varying degrees from deforestation, soil erosion and degradation and desertification.

Gross Enrollment Rate in basic education for Red Sea state was 54.9% and 36.1 in 2004 and 2009. The rate for Red Sea State was the lowest among Northern States for 2009. In Kassala state, the rate was 55.1% in 2004 and 44.8% in 2009. In Al-Gadaref, it was 46.3% in 2004 and improved to 69.4% in 2009. The GER in Basic Education showed gender disparities between the two sexes in the three eastern Sudan states in 2009.

Under-five Mortality Rate (U5MR) in eastern region is very high compared to other northern Sudan states (average 70/1000 LB) as it showed 81, 137 and 126 in Kassala, Al-Gadaref and Red sea respectively. In Northern Sudan states, the child mortality rate (CMR) is 13/100 LB, while in the Eastern Sudan region the lowest rate is in Kassala (26/1000 LB), which is double the average. The rates in Red Sea and Al-Gadaref are much higher, (56 /1000 LB) and (55/1000 LB), respectively

There is a wide variation in MMR among the three eastern states. For instance, in Kassala state, the MMR is 1,414/100,000 LB which puts the state at the top of the list for all the northern states. The ratio is 609/100,000 LB in Al-Gadaref and 366/100,000 LB in Red Sea which is relatively low compared to other states. Women of reproductive age represent 22% of the total population in Red Sea state.

The trends are similar for infant mortality rates (IMR): Al-Gadaref (86/1000 LB), Red Sea (73/1000 LB), and Kassala (56/1000 LB).

The nutrition situation in Eastern Sudan is serious with underweight prevalence in Kassala reaching 38.4% compared to 33.8 in Al-Gadaref and 32.4 in Red Sea states

Delivery by trained personnel in the eastern part of the country accounts for 63.7%, 64.5% and 54.7% in Red Sea, Kassala and Al-Gadaref respectively compared to a national average of 49.2%. Institutional deliveries account for 32.3%, 16.2% and 13.4% of all births in Red Sea, Kassala, and Al-Gadaref respectively compared with 34.3% as an average for all other northern states (SHHS 2006).

Regarding Secondary Education Enrollment in 2009; in Red Sea state the GER was 17% (14% boys and 20.7% girls). Kassala state reported 14.6% (12.9% boys and 17.2% girls). Al-Gadaref state reported the highest secondary education GER of 31.5% (34.7%

Gender indicators are lagging behind in the region, also partly due to some community traditions and customs that somewhat limit women's active participation in political and economic sphere. The problems are evident with respect to girls' education. Gender disparity in the formal sector is also quite noticeable. There are many social and cultural aspects that hinder women in the eastern region from accessing employment in the formal sector especially senior management positions.

Regarding the participation of women in state legislative assemblies; the quota system secured 25% of the seats to be filled by women. The three states benefited from this measure, catching up with the rest of the regions in the country. The Government adopted a national policy on women's empowerment that included measures for girls' education. Women associations were established in all eastern states with a mandate to support women participation in all aspects. They also adopted national policy for girls' education supported through their own strategies. For instance more girls’ schools were established and renovated.

The national strategy on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) of 2008 gave Eastern Sudan a special consideration due to the high prevalence of the practice in the region. A lot of campaigns and sensitization programmes were implemented to combat FGM as a harmful community traditional practice.

Estimated HIV prevalence among the general population (15-49 years) in North Sudan is 0.67% (SNAP, 2009). Prevalence rates are higher in the capital, the southern and eastern regions and major port areas. Eastern States host high numbers of vulnerable populations, including refugees and IDPs. Considering the fact that access to essential health and other services are limited in the region, the danger of HIV/AIDS infection and spread is extremely high.

Adding to the risk is the low level of HIV/AIDS awareness among the general population, which, according to SHHS 2006 result, were 78.6%, 66.9%, 76.3% in Red Sea, Kassala and Al-Gadaref states, respectively. This is far below the northern states average 87.6%.

Malaria rate in eastern Sudan states has been low to moderate. The reported malaria cases in 2009 were 156.619 in Al-Gadaref, and 199,634 in Kassala. In Red Sea, the number was 22,547, considered to be a low prevalence rate.

boys and 28.3% girls). This figure is much closer to the national figure for the percentage of boy’s enrolment in secondary education which was 26.3% to 29.9% for boys and girls respectively. Kassala state reported the lowest percentage of GER in secondary education and Red Sea state the second to the last among the Norhern States.

In Red Sea state, the literacy rate was estimated at 66.5% whereas in Kassala this rate was 56% in 2009.