ReliefWeb

HIGHLIGHTS

• Displacement surpasses 3 million

• Bentiu PoC site population increases to 120,300 IDPs

• IOM commences PSS programming at Malakal PoC site

As the crisis in South Sudan enters its fourth year, the total number of civilians displaced has reached more than 3 million people (a quarter of the population), with more than 1.87 million displaced internally and over 1.1 million displaced to neighbouring countries. The UN Refugee Agency reports that 414,500 South Sudanese have left the country since the surge in violence in July 2016.

Humanitarian space in South Sudan continues to shrink, with the UN reporting more than 90 access constraint incidents in November, 70 per cent of which involved violence against aid workers or assets. Relief agencies are continually denied access to populations in need, particularly in Greater Equatoria and outside of Wau town, Western Bahr el Ghazal. IOM continues to seek access to areas beyond Wau, where aid agencies have been unable to provide consistent assistance since July due to bureaucratic constraints and check-point blockages.

The displaced population seeking protection at the UN protection of civilians (PoC) site in Bentiu, Unity, increased by 19 per cent over the month of November, with a current population of 120,300 IDPs. Insecurity and corresponding increases in humanitarian needs in parts of Unity are likely driving the increase in displacement. Fighting, particularly in Leer, is likely to continue prompting people to move to the Bentiu PoC site or more stable areas of Unity.

Concerns regarding insecurity and humanitarian needs in the Greater Equatoria region are increasing. An IOM assessment team traveled to Mundri East and West counties, Western Equatoria, in late November to assess humanitarian needs in the area, which has been hard to reach due to insecurity throughout much of the year. In face of growing needs, IOM is implementing a combined water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and shelter and nonfood items (S/NFI) response. Teams are distributing shelter materials and WASH items, repairing boreholes and conducting hygiene promotion activities to reach an estimated 4,000 households.

A rapid response team has deployed to Yei, Central Equatoria, to provide emergency primary health care assistance to displaced and conflict-affected populations in the area, where thousands are in need due to recent insecurity. IOM teams are supporting the ongoing health support provided by Africa Action Help International.