April 4, 2014

Highlights

Relief agencies are working to quickly decongest the overcrowded the U.N. Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) bases in Juba town, Central Equatoria State, and Malakal town, Upper Nile.

To reach conflict-affected populations displaced outside of UNMISS bases, relief agencies are deploying mobile response teams to remote, difficult-to-access areas.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

Since hostilities erupted in South Sudan on December 15, violence has displaced more than 1 million people within South Sudan and to neighboring countries. Between March 20 and 27, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) rose from 708,900 to 803,200—an increase of more than 13 percent.

Ongoing humanitarian access constraints and transportation impediments imposed by the Government of the Republic of South Sudan (RSS) continue to challenge relief efforts and hinder life-saving assistance from reaching populations in need of assistance. On March 31, an RSS spokesperson declared that the RSS reserves the right to monitor U.N. activities in South Sudan and that it would continue to stop and search U.N. vehicles. The pronouncement follows a joint statement issued on March 28 by leading western government officials, including U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Larry André, condemning the obstruction of UNMISS operations and threats and attacks on U.N. personnel.

Humanitarian actors are growing increasingly concerned regarding deteriorating food security and nutrition conditions in South Sudan, with approximately 3.7 million people at risk of food insecurity, according to the U.N. Risk of acute food insecurity among displaced and conflict-affected populations is highest in remote areas of Jonglei, Unity, and Upper Nile states.

INSECURITY, DISPLACEMENT, AND ACCESS CONSTRAINTS UPDATE

Ongoing hostilities continue to affect populations across South Sudan, particularly in Jonglei, Unity, and Upper Nile, with approximately 803,200 people internally displaced and an estimated 270,000 additional people seeking refuge in neighboring countries, according to the U.N. While nearly 67,400 IDPs are sheltering at several UNMISS bases in South Sudan, the majority of IDPs in the country have fled to rural areas where humanitarian access is limited.

In recent days fighting erupted in Duk County, Jonglei, between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army and opposition groups. The U.N. reports that the insecurity displaced more than 10,400 people into Bor town, Jonglei, from Twic East and Duk counties. Additional populations continue to flee insecurity in other areas of Jonglei and Unity states to Bor; Mingkaman County, Lakes State; and Bentiu town, Unity.

HUMANITARIAN NEED ASSESSMENTS AND RESPONSE ACTIVITIES

Following a March 30–31 visit to South Sudan, the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) Executive Director Ertharin Cousin and the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres raised alarm at the scale of humanitarian needs in South Sudan, noting that the situation could become catastrophic if warring parties do not achieve peace. Executive Director Cousin and High Commissioner Guterres traveled to Nyal town, Unity, to observe a WFP airdrop, witness the deployment of mobile response teams, and meet with conflict-affected populations. After the two-day trip to South Sudan, the officials also visited South Sudanese refugees in Gambella Region, Ethiopia, to raise awareness about the poor physical and psychological conditions of the new arrivals. Upon completion of their trip, the two officials noted that, while the RSS bears ultimate responsibility for the protection and well-being of its citizens, humanitarian agencies and donors have a strong role to play in ensuring that assistance reaches those most affected by the crisis.

To provide humanitarian assistance to populations displaced outside UNMISS bases, the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF), WFP, and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization launched a rapid response mechanism that aims to reach people located in remote areas. According to UNICEF, mobile teams—comprising humanitarian staff from multiple sectors—will target approximately 396,500 people located in 22 priority locations in Jonglei, Unity, and Upper Nile. As of April 3, partners had reached populations in seven of the 22 identified locations, including Akobo town, Jonglei; Ganyiel, Mayendit, and Nyal towns, Unity; and Melut, Nasir, and Ulang towns in Upper Nile, according to the U.N.

Inter-agency needs assessments took place in Ulang and Nasir counties in late March, identifying approximately 6,000 people displaced in Nasir town from Malakal town, Upper Nile, and in need of emergency food, health, and shelter assistance. In Ulang County, over 35,000 displaced people are in acute need of food and livelihoods support, in addition to shelter and health care services.

Insecurity and access constraints continue in Maban County, Upper Nile, impeding relief agencies’ ability to pre-position food and other supplies. Humanitarian actors remain concerned about the deteriorating nutritional status of displaced populations and increasing tension between refugee and host communities due to the shortage of food commodities and other life-saving relief items.

With the use of mobile rapid response teams, UNICEF plans to provide health, nutrition, protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) assistance to approximately 250,000 people, including 132,500 children, by June. In addition, WFP plans to provide food assistance to approximately 300,000 people dispersed across 15 remote locations by the end of April.

The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) continues efforts to clear unexploded ordnances from all major areas of fighting and all IDP sites in South Sudan, particularly in Bentiu town, Unity State, one of the areas most affected by violence since December 15. The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO) reports that while numerous parts of the country remain inaccessible, UNMAS teams will mobilize in these areas to clear the way for additional humanitarian operations, as security permits.

CAMP COORDINATION AND CAMP MANAGEMENT

UNMISS has expressed its intent to close the overcrowded IDP site at the UNMISS Tong Ping compound in Juba town, Central Equatoria State, in May, according to the U.N. Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of UNMISS Hilde Johnson announced the closure on April 2 and reiterated that the overcrowded and low-lying UNMISS base is ill-suited for long-term IDP housing. UNMISS and other humanitarian agencies continue sensitization efforts with IDP community leaders and civilians to explain the danger of remaining at Tong Ping and the advantages of moving to U.N. House 3, where IDPs will have increased access to adequate shelter, humanitarian services, and improved drainage and sanitation conditions.

At the Malakal UNMISS base, where approximately 21,500 people are sheltering, relief agencies are working to construct additional space for IDPs due to severe overcrowding and resultant dire health and WASH conditions. In recent days, the absence of heavy machinery in Malakal has hindered construction of the new site. However, IOM plans to airlift heavy clearing equipment to Malakal in the coming days and reports that the new site will be ready to receive IDPs by May 10. Construction at the new site will include earthworks to mitigate some of the negative effects of heavy rains, such as raising the site 30 centimeters.

FOOD SECURITY AND LIVELIHOODS

Conflict-related disruptions to markets, commerce, and agriculture have increased food insecurity across South Sudan, with populations in Jonglei, Unity, and Upper Nile, most at risk due to unseasonably high grain and pulse prices. Increased market demand from growing numbers of IDPs and constrained market supply will likely continue to result in increased food prices, according to the USAID-funded Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET). In addition, as the food security situation in the country deteriorates, malnutrition levels are likely to rise, according to relief agencies. In March, a mobile UNICEF team deployed to Akobo County, Jonglei, as part of the rapid response mechanism, and found that approximately 11 percent of children screened exhibited severe acute malnutrition, according to UNICEF.

Without humanitarian assistance, IDPs are expected to face Crisis—IPC 3—levels of food insecurity through April and beyond[1]. The number of people experiencing Emergency—IPC 4—levels of food insecurity is likely to increase in remote areas, including Akobo, Duk, and Uror counties, Jonglei; Leer, Mayendit, Panyijiar, and Pariang counties, Unity; and Baliet, Manyo, Nasir, and Panyikang Fashoda counties, Upper Nile. According to FEWS NET, the effects of widespread market disruptions, agricultural season interruptions, and damage to infrastructure will have a lasting negative impact on food security outcomes in conflict-affected areas of South Sudan, even if the security situation improves.

HEALTH

Poor humanitarian access to locations hosting large IDP populations, depleting stores of medical supplies, and the onset of the rainy season are contributing to deteriorating health conditions among conflict-affected populations and raising the risk of diseases, such as cholera and measles, according to the U.N. World Health Organization (WHO).

In an effort to prevent a cholera outbreak, UNICEF conducted a second round of cholera vaccinations, reaching nearly 54,200 people in the Tong Ping UNMISS site, and in Mingkaman town, Awerial County, Lakes State, as of March 31. UNICEF and partners also increased hygiene promotion activities and provided soap to an estimated 21,000 families, according to UNICEF. In addition, WHO began a second round of cholera vaccinations on March 31, reaching more than 5,100 people as of April 3.

LOGISTICS AND RELIEF COMMODITIES

The Logistics Cluster—the coordinating body for humanitarian logistics activities, comprising U.N. agencies, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and other stakeholders—facilitated the delivery of nearly 130 metric tons (MT) of emergency relief items, including fuel, WASH supplies, and household items, to Akobo, Ganyiel, Maban, Malakal, Mayendit, and Rumbek towns, via airlift operations in early April, according to the U.N. In addition, WFP delivered 130 MT of food commodities to the border town of Pagak in Upper Nile on April 3. The U.N. and other humanitarian agencies continue to press the RSS for unfettered access to key transportation routes for the unrestricted delivery of urgently needed humanitarian relief commodities via land and air.

PROTECTION

In response to increasing reports of sexual and gender-based violence (GBV) in IDP sites and surrounding areas, protection partners conducted trainings on GBV prevention and response in Awerial County, Lakes; Bentiu; Bor town, Jonglei; and Juba, reaching an estimated 160 people.

Since December 15 relief agencies have reached nearly 74,400 children and more than 54,200 adults with protection services. According to the U.N., protection actors reunited more than 100 unaccompanied and separated children with their families. Additionally, an estimated 60 child-friendly spaces, benefiting more than 36,000 children, are operating across eight states in South Sudan.

WASH

USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) recently provided more than $205,000 to an international NGO partner—through the IOM-managed Rapid Response Fund—to address the emergency WASH needs of IDPs and affected host communities in Mayendit County, Unity State. The funding will provide much-needed assistance to increase access to safe drinking water through the repair and maintenance of hand pumps, improve the availability of sanitation services through the construction of emergency latrines and hand washing facilities, and improve hygiene practices by training community hygiene promoters and supporting community-wide hygiene campaigns.

OTHER HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

To date, international donors have provided approximately $386 million—nearly 30 percent of the $1.27 billion total requested funding—to support humanitarian activities through the South Sudan Crisis Response Plan. Humanitarian partners have identified that a minimum of an additional $232 million is necessary to maintain current service levels and prevent a severe deterioration of humanitarian conditions in the next three months, according to the U.N.

As of April 3, the Government of Japan had contributed $4.4 million to UNICEF to support emergency humanitarian activities in conflict-affected areas of South Sudan. The new funding will support increased access to safe drinking water, improved sanitation and hygiene services, infant and maternal health care, and protection and nutrition interventions. To date in 2014, the Government of Japan has provided a total of $16.6 million in humanitarian assistance to South Sudan.

*Funding figures are as of March 28, 2014. All international figures are according to OCHA’s Financial Tracking Service (FTS) and based on international commitments during the 2013 and 2014 calendar years. USG figures are according to the USG and reflect the most recent USG commitments based on the 2013 fiscal year, which began on October 1, 2012, and ended September 30, 2013, as well as the 2014 fiscal year, which began on October 1, 2013.