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The seasonal flooding continues to compound humanitarian needs in South Sudan. OCHA estimated 1,042,000 people were affected by floods in eight out of ten states in South Sudan, between July 2020 and December 2020. Unity state is among the worst affected with an estimated 480,000 were displaced while in Panyijiar county 5,791 HH (Nyal 3,577 and Ganyliel 2,214) people were affected.
Coupled with the slow recession of the 2020 floodwaters, and the onset of the 2021 seasonal rainfall by July, the number of floods affected households in Panyijiar county increased spontaneously with an estimated 31,245 people (16,017 female, 15,228 male) were affected in 2021 in twelve worst-affected payams of Pachienjok, Yai, Ganyliel, Pachar, Katieth, Kol, Nyal, Pathiel, Mayom, Tiap, Maluok and Thornhom in Panyijiar county. The flooding has destroyed livelihoods, shelter, markets, infrastructure/facilities and worsening the already precarious humanitarian situation.
The food insecurity situation in Panyijiar county remains elevated due to insecurity, the impact of COVID-19, persistent poor macroeconomic conditions, and the impact of flooding on livelihoods.
Based on the IPC projections, the food insecurity situation in Panyijiar is classified as an emergency (IPC 4) with very high likelihood of households sliding to the worst acute food insecurity phases if humanitarian food assistance is not provided on time2. The risk of malnutrition and morbidity could be further compounded by increasingly limited reach and provision of, and access to, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), health and nutrition services within the county, the situation is likely to spike with the flooding and displacements. Through August 2021, displacement caseloads are likely to increase in Panyijiar with a high risk of continued disease outbreak as elderly, disabled, women and children will continue to be exposed to hard living conditions with limited access to food and other basic needs, sanitation facilities, and information on protection services. There is an urgent need to address the critical food, health, protection, and other basic needs of the affected population.