CONFLICT, CAMPS AND COERCION: THE CONTINUING LIVELIHOODS CRISIS IN DARFUR Final report A Report to WFP Sudan June 2006 Margie Buchanan-Smith and Susanne Jaspars Acknowledgements Many people have given generously of their time and knowledge of Darfur to the study team. This has greatly assisted the field work for this study and the analysis that is presented in this report. We would particularly like to thank Abdul Rahim Norein, Dr Abdul Gabbar Abdulla Fadul, Mohammed Ibrahim Mohammed, Helen Young and Alex de Waal. Caterina Galluzzi was a great support, working tirelessly on the preparations and logistics to make the study happen, and in the preliminary analysis and write-up of Team 3’s field work in North and West Darfur. Many thanks to all the WFP field offices in Darfur that hosted us and facilitated our field work, and to the NGOs that hosted us, especially German Agro-Action in Malha and Solidarité in Muhajeria. We also appreciate the contribution of NGOs that seconded team members to this study: SCUK, Oxfam GB and ACF. Finally, our greatest thanks and thoughts are with the conflict-affected people of Darfur, who so openly and with such dignity shared their experiences and aspirations with us. We hope that this report can make some contribution to better protecting and eventually rebuilding their livelihoods. The study was conducted and this document has been produced with the financial assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the European Union (EU). The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of USAID or EU. Responsibility for the opinions expressed in this report rests solely with the authors. Publication of this document does not imply endorsement by WFP of the opinions expressed. Study team members Mohammed Salih (WFP) Bakri Osman (WFP) Mohammed El Hafiz (FAO) Tunna William (WFP) Magda Abdalla (Oxfam GB) Tehani Adam (ACF) Caterina Galluzzi (WFP) Yousif Abaker (SC-UK) Moloney Tong (WFP) This study owes a huge amount to their excellent skills in interviewing and running focus group discussions, their local knowledge and insights. 1 1 Front page pictures by Caterina Galluzzi, WFP, Sudan 2 Executive summary ......................................................................................... 6 Recommendations ..................................................................................... 14 ACRONYMS .............................................................................................. 24 1. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................... 25 1.1 Purpose of the study ....................................................................... 25 1.2 Timing and team members.............................................................. 26 1.3 Guide to this report.......................................................................... 26 2. METHODOLOGY ...................................................................................... 27 2.1 The conceptual framework: livelihoods framework............................... 27 2.2 How the study incorporated links between livelihoods and protection28 2.3 Sample ............................................................................................ 28 2.4 Methods .......................................................................................... 29 2.5 Constraints encountered ................................................................. 30 3. OVERVIEW OF CONFLICT ...................................................................... 32 3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................... 32 3.2 The changing nature of conflict: 2004 to 2006 ................................ 32 3.3 Role of the African Union ................................................................ 35 3.4 Local efforts at self-defence and reconciliation................................ 36 4. LIVELIHOODS IN DARFUR: OVERVIEW OF THE IMPACT OF THE CONFLICT 38 4.1 Livelihoods in Darfur before the conflict .......................................... 38 4.1.1 An introduction to livelihoods in Darfur .......................................... 38 4.1.2 Livelihood zones in North Darfur ................................................... 39 4.1.3 Livelihood zones in West Darfur.................................................... 40 4.1.4 Livelihood zones in South Darfur................................................... 42 4.2 Impact of the conflict ....................................................................... 43 4.2.1 Population displacement and restricted mobility ...................... 43 4.2.2 Destruction and loss of assets ................................................. 43 4.2.3 Reduced labour migration and remittances.............................. 44 4.2.4 Declining agricultural production .............................................. 45 4.2.5 Livestock losses and disruption of migration............................ 45 4.2.6 Daily labouring and petty trade................................................. 47 4.3 Conclusions..................................................................................... 48 5. TRADE AND MARKETS............................................................................ 50 5.1 Disruption to trade: an overview...................................................... 50 5.1.1 Introduction .............................................................................. 50 5.1.2 How trade has been disrupted ................................................. 50 5.1.3 How the market network has changed ..................................... 51 5.2 The grain trade................................................................................ 52 5.3 The livestock trade .......................................................................... 56 5.4 Trade in cash crops......................................................................... 60 5.4.2 Tombac .................................................................................... 60 5.4.3 Groundnuts .............................................................................. 61 3 5.4.4 Fruit and vegetables................................................................. 62 5.5 Conclusions..................................................................................... 64 6. CHANGES IN LIVELIHOOD STRATEGIES IN NORTH DARFUR......... 65 6.1 Introduction .......................................................................................... 65 6.2 IDPs in camps and towns as well as urban populations in GoS held areas 66 6.2.1 History of conflict and population movement........................... 66 6.2.2 Changes in livelihood strategies............................................... 67 6.3 Exploited and coerced rural populations and IDPs in GoS held areas. 72 6.3.1 Brief history of conflict and population movements....................... 72 6.3.2 Changes in livelihood strategies.................................................... 72 6.4 Pastoralists in SLA held areas......................................................... 75 6.4.1 Brief history of conflict and population movements .................. 75 6.4.2 Changes in livelihood strategies............................................... 75 6.5 Settled farming populations and IDPs in SLA held areas..................... 78 6.5.1 Introduction, history of conflict and population movements...... 78 6.5.2 Changes in livelihood strategies............................................... 79 6.6 Arab nomads in GoS held areas ..................................................... 82 6.6.1 Brief history of conflict and population movements .................. 82 6.6.2 Changes in livelihood strategies............................................... 83 6.7 Conclusions..................................................................................... 85 7. CHANGES IN LIVELIHOOD STRATEGIES IN WEST DARFUR ............. 87 7.1 Introduction ..................................................................................... 87 7.2 IDPs in towns and urban residents, in Geneina, in the agro-pastoral South and West Jebel Marra lowland livelihood zones......................................................... 88 7.2.1 Overview of conflict and population movements ...................... 88 7.2.2 Changes in livelihood strategies............................................... 89 7.3 Exploited and co-erced rural populations and IDPs......................... 94 7.3.1 History of conflict and population movements.......................... 94 7.3.2 Changes in livelihood strategies............................................... 94 7.4 Population groups who are less directly affected or who have some access to land 96 a) Population groups with some access to land ..................................... 96 7.4.1 History of conflict and population movements.......................... 96 7.4.2 Changes in livelihood strategies............................................... 97 b) Population groups less directly affected............................................. 98 7.4.3 History of conflict and population movements ............................... 98 7.4.4 Changes in livelihood strategies............................................... 98 7.5 Arab nomads and the occupation of land ........................................ 99 7.6 Conclusions................................................................................... 100 8. CHANGES IN LIVELIHOOD STRATEGIES IN SOUTH DARFUR .......... 102 8.1 Introduction