South Sudan: Humanitarian Snapshot (March 2024)

In March, clusters have prioritized their humanitarian response to the bare minimum and are only reaching people with the greatest needs, focusing at about 4.5 million people in 32 of the 78 counties in South Sudan. During March, the South Sudanese pound depreciated¹ by 48.93 per cent relative to the US dollar compared to the same period in 2023. WFP data reveals increase in food prices² ranging from 55 per cent for maize flour to a staggering 84 per cent for beans, highlighting the severe consequences of the worsening economic situation.

Price increases are pushing basic necessities out of reach for many people. Affordability of essential food items is worsening food insecurity and raising malnutrition concerns, particularly among vulnerable populations.

Screening for malnutrition among returnees and refugees children in Wau County, Western Bahr el Ghazal State revealed a Global Acute Malnutrition rate of 22 per cent³. As of 31 March, 629,546 individuals4 have arrived in South Sudan from Sudan since the conflict started in April 2023, including 43,933 people who arrived in March alone. IOM has verified some 102,141 people sheltering at the Bentiu internally displaced persons (IDP) camp — a 3 per cent increase from a similar exercise conducted in October 2023 -- mainly due to the arrival of returnees from Sudan. Armed attacks in the villages of Kajo-keji County, Central Equatoria State displaced over 3,800 people, with some seeking refuge in Uganda. In March, an ongoing outbreak of measles, Hepatitis E Virus, novel case of vaccine-derived poliovirus, meningitis and yellow fever was reported in different parts of the country. A surge in measles cases was reported in all the counties of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, with Aweil East and Aweil West counties being the most affected.