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South Sudan

SMART survey report in Aweil North county, Northern Bahr El Ghazal state, South Sudan (March 2024)

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South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, has been embroiled in internal conflict since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011. This conflict has led to widespread displacements, disrupted livelihoods, and high levels of acute food insecurity and malnutrition across the country. Although a peace deal was signed in September 2018, challenges persist. According to UNHCR, as of July 2023, approximately 2.32 million South Sudanese refugees reside in neighboring countries1 .

As per the results of the latest Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, 46% of the total population, or 5.83 million people, are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, with 1.64 million in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency). Additionally, 35,000 people are classified in IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe) in specific areas. Specifically in Aweil North, 45% of the population were classified in phase 3 and above with 10% in phase 4 during the analysis period. It is expected that this will increase to 50% with 15% in phase 4 in projection 1 (Oct 2023 – Mar 2024), and further to 55% with 20% in phase 4 in projection 2 (Apr – Jun 2024).

Aweil North County, located in Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State, is predominantly occupied by the Rek Dinka (Malual) people. It borders Aweil West County to the south, Aweil East County to the east, and Sudan to the north. The county's economy relies heavily on farming, with sorghum, groundnut, sesame, maize, and vegetables (such as okra and jews mellow) being the main crops.

The nutrition situation in Aweil North County has been a concern as per nutrition information working group (NIWG) priority counties, and the latest SMART survey conducted in April 2023 showed a Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate of 24.7%, which is above the emergency threshold of 15%. There have been developments since then, including the influx of Sudanese refugees and South Sudanese returnees2 , which have created an information gap.

To address this gap, REACH Initiative, present in South Sudan since 2012, planned and conducted a SMART survey in Aweil North County from March 18th to 22nd, 2024. This survey aimed to collect anthropometric and mortality data, as well as key multi-sectoral indicators, to better understand the nutrition situation and its drivers in the county.

This report outlines the objectives and methodology of the SMART survey, including details on sampling procedures, team training, and data collection. Results will be presented across thematic sectors, with conclusions, recommendations, and priorities to inform stakeholders working in the context.