South Sudan: Humanitarian Snapshot (March 2017)

March saw thousands of people displaced in and from South Sudan due to clashes and conflict in multiple locations. In Eastern Equatoria, there was a significant spike in displacement, as people fled from Agoro, Umeo and Panyikwara into Magwi town, as well as from Magwi to Uganda, following additional troop deployments and clashes. Attacks were also reported in Loming, in Torit East, with homes razed forcing more people to flee. In Central Equatoria, tensions remained high around Yei, with multiple reports of attacks on civilians while attempting to carry food into town. Elsewhere, in Jonglei, new arrivals were reported in Akobo, Lankien, and Duk, while in Western Bahr el Ghazal, clashes between cattle keepers from Warrap and farmers in the Jur River area caused displacement, and violence was reported in areas south east of Wau town. In Unity, skirmishes were reported in Mayendit, during which aid workers were detained and subsequently released, while new arrivals were reported in Bentiu town, fleeing insecurity in Koch, Leer and Mayendit and hunger in Mayom. In Upper Nile, there were new arrivals into Aburoc, as government forces gained additional territory on the West Bank. At least 1,000 people left the Malakal Protection of Civilians site in March, with family reunification cited as the main reason for departure. Refugee outflows to Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda all increased. The cholera outbreak continued to spread, with cases confirmed in Malakal, and more than 3,000 people reportedly fled the cholera outbreak in Yirol East to the highlands.

Key Figures

• 1.9 million Internally displaced people

• 223,895 IDPs in Protection of Civilians sites

• 265,921 Refugees in South Sudan

• 1.74 million South Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries