PEOPLE IN NEED IN 2016 6.1M
PEOPLE TARGETED IN 2016 5.1M
PEOPLE REACHED BY THE END OF Q3 2016 4.2M
The third quarter of 2016 saw the rapid deterioration of the humanitarian situation in South Sudan following the eruption of conflict in the capital, Juba, and multiple other locations across the country. The violence caused mass internal displacement and forced hundreds of thousands to flee across borders to neighbouring countries. Inside South Sudan, sporadic clashes in Unity displaced tens of thousands of civilians from Leer, Mayendit and Koch counties.
Many fled into remote and swampy areas, while others undertook long and arduous journeys south to Panyijiar and north to the Bentiu Protection of Civilians site. Elsewhere, fighting escalated in the Greater Equatoria region. In Central Equatoria, an estimated 30,000 people fled into Yei following deadly attacks and looting in nearby villages in mid-September, while thousands were displaced in Eastern Equatoria, particularly in Magwi County, and Western Equatoria, particularly in Mundri. In Western Bahr el Ghazal, people continued to arrive at the protected site in search of assistance and protection.
Meanwhile, the outflow to neighbouring countries escalated exponentially and, by September, the number of South Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries surpassed the one million mark. At the same time, communicable diseases continued to spread, with a new measles outbreak reported in Gogrial West in Warrap and cholera cases confirmed in six counties by the end of September.
The operating environment became more complicated during the quarter with the resumption of fighting in multiple locations. Violence against humanitarian staff and assets increased, as highlighted by the attack against the Terrain compound in Juba in July, during which one aid worker was killed and others were sexually assaulted. From 1 July to 30 September, 260 access incidents were reported, representing a monthly average of 87 incidents, well above the average number (64) of incidents reported during the first six months of 2016.
Funding increased by 45 per cent during the quarter, with around $228 million received for projects in the 2016 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP). This brought the HRP to 57 per cent funded ($734 million received out of the $1.29 billion required) as at the end of September. By the end of Q3, nearly 135 humanitarian organizations across South Sudan had reached about 4.2 million people in need.
Disclaimer
- UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
- To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.