South Sudan: Humanitarian Snapshot (January 2017)

In January 2017, renewed fighting in Upper Nile and the Equatorias displaced thousands of civilians. In all, over 58,000 South Sudanese sought refuge in neighbouring Uganda in January alone, mainly from Yei, Morobo, Lainya and Kajo-Keji. In Western Equatoria, about 4,000 people fled to Yambio town and another 3,000 displaced to Makpandu, Rimenze Church and Kasia Boma following attacks on Bazungua, Bazumburo, Bodo, Gitikiri and Rimenze villages, north of Yambio town. In Upper Nile, fighting broke out in the vicinity of Wau Shilluk and Malakal town on 25 January, displacing thousands civilians and disrupting humanitarian activities. Wau Shilluk, which had a population of around 20,400 prior to the fighting, was reportedly deserted by the end of January. Most civilians fled north to Padiet, Pathaw, Lul and Kodok, where partners have reported the arrival of more than 8,000 displaced people. Still in Upper Nile, fighting also erupted in Nasir, forcing over 30,000 people from Kueturenge, Madeng to flee their homes to Jikmir and areas along the Baro and Giro rivers bordering Ethiopia. During the month, Wau also received around 12,000 new arrivals, displaced from Jur River region where fighting and increasing insecurity also reported. In Unity, new cholera cases were confirmed in Mayendit County.

Key Figures

• 1.89 million Internally displaced people

• 223,994 IDPs in Protection of Civilians sites

• 262,560 Refugees in South Sudan

• 1.5 million South Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries