Attachments
HIGHLIGHTS
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As of February, a total of 585,613 individuals, including 302,355 children, crossed border points into South Sudan fleeing the conflict in Sudan.
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In February, 140,733 people accessed critical WASH supplies and 49,620 children had access to safe and appropriate WASH facilities and hygiene services in learning and safe spaces.
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The Yellow Fever campaign in Western Equatoria State reached 351,131 individuals, representing 86.3 per cent of the targeted population.
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A total of 11,396 individuals including 334 persons with disabilities, were reached with information and services aimed at mitigating, preventing, and responding to GBV in the states of Central Equatoria, Jonglei, Greater Bahr el Ghazal, Unity and Abyei Administrative Area.
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117,544 pregnant and lactating mothers benefited from counseling sessions on optimal Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) practices.
SITUATION IN NUMBERS
4,900,000 Children in need of humanitarian assistance
9,000,000 People in need of humanitarian assistance
484,502 children 6-59 months with severe wasting admitted
2,000,000 Internally Displaced People
FUNDING OVERVIEW AND PARTNERSHIPS
In South Sudan, approximately 9 million individuals, including 4.9 million children, are facing humanitarian crises. Factors such as conflict, floods, disease outbreaks, and the devaluation of the South Sudanese pound continue to significantly contribute to the heightened needs.
Furthermore, the persistent conflict in neighboring Sudan continues to exacerbate the situation, resulting in the arrival of over 580,000 individuals, including more than 300,000 children, seeking life-saving assistance within South Sudan's borders as of February 2024. UNICEF aims to reach over 5.2 million people, including 3.4 million children, with life-saving humanitarian assistance in 2024.
The revised Humanitarian Action for Children (HAG) reflecting the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) requires $252 million to reach the target populations. While UNICEF in South Sudan appreciates the resources received thus far, there remains a substantial 88.9 per cent funding gap. This shortfall hampers our ability to respond adequately to the current crises and to prepare for the approaching rainy season that will heavily impact on the quality of life of vulnerable women and children in the country.
SITUATION OVERVIEW AND HUMANITARIAN NEEDS
Since the commencement of the conflict in April 2023, there has been a steady rise in the number of South Sudanese returnees and Sudanese refugees to South Sudan. As of February 2024, a total of 585,613 individuals, comprising 302,355 children, have been documented at various border entry points. Approximately 21 per cent of this population are refugees.
The continuous influx of returnees and refugees has led to overcrowding and deteriorating living conditions at transit sites such as Wunthow. The heightened demand for services, coupled with delays in onward transportation, as well as the reluctance of some refugees and returnees to relocate to designated destination sites, has resulted in an overwhelming strain on resources at both border and transit locations.
Upon reaching their destination, returnees continue to encounter numerous challenges primarily stemming from economic limitations and the already strained or non-existent availability of essential resources within communities. Ongoing flooding and heightened river levels, and unpredictable conflict dynamics pose significant concerns, potentially escalating to a Risk of Famine (IPC Phase 5). This is notably observed in central and northern Unity regions, including Rubkona, as well as parts of Upper Nile State. Furthermore, the surge in population, coupled with limited access to essential humanitarian services and substandard living conditions, exacerbates the prevalence of illness and malnutrition, especially in densely populated transit and reception areas like Renk, Bulukat, Malakal, in the Upper Nile State and Rubkona, in Unity State.
February typically marks the beginning of the post-harvest period. This year, there is evidence indicating an unusual decline in household food consumption, especially in the northern and eastern regions of the country that host the majority of the returnees and refugees from the Sudan Crisis. This decline can be attributed to several factors including prolonged negative effects of intercommunal conflict and flooding, a significant influx of returnees from Sudan and Ethiopia, and extended periods of drought resulting in localized poor harvests, ongoing economic crisis, weakened purchasing power, and intermittent disruptions to trade and food assistance delivery due to conflict. Consequently, Emergency (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Phase 4) outcomes have been observed in 17 counties, primarily in Greater Bahr el Ghazal and Greater Upper Nile regions, with a few in Greater Equatoria. The provision of food assistance has helped alleviate the severity of acute food insecurity, bringing some areas to Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes, including Aweil, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, Maban and Malakal, Upper Nile State, Nyirol, Lakes State, and Pariang and Rubkona, Unity State.
In February, the economic situation in the country deteriorated further, marked by rapid depreciation of the local currency, soaring food and non-food prices, limited domestic investments, elevated poverty rates, and delays in civil servant salary disbursements, primarily attributed to inadequate management of both oil and non-oil revenues. Additionally, as reported by government sources on February 28, the oil production and export sectors have been adversely affected by prolonged flooding and ongoing conflict in Sudan, resulting in restricted access to essential pipeline infrastructure. This has caused a decline in crude oil production and export volumes, leading to reduced oil revenue and foreign currency availability, significantly impacting the national economy, which heavily relies on oil revenue. As of the end of February 2024, the exchange rate stood at 1,650 SSP/USD in the parallel market and 1,455 SSP/USD in official markets. Compared to January 2024, this represents an 11 to 18 per cent increase in official markets and a 61 to 74 per cent increase in parallel markets, respectively.
The accelerated depreciation of the local currency and daily exchange rate fluctuations have driven up staple food prices, exacerbating food insecurity among vulnerable households. Market assessments conducted in late February 2024 at Juba's Gudele and Konyokonyo markets revealed substantial price hikes attributed to the sharp increase in the exchange rate from 1350 to 1450 SSP/USD in the parallel market. For instance, the retail price of sorghum per Malwa (3.5kg) in Juba surged from 3,500 to 4,200 SSP, marking a 20 per cent increase between the second and third weeks of February 2024. Similarly, preliminary data from Aweil Centre and Rumbek Centre indicated price rises ranging from 18 to 24 per cent compared to January 2024. These economic challenges have resulted in decreased purchasing power and effective demand for essential commodities, including cereals, beans, and cooking oil, among households, particularly those with limited resources. Many poor households are resorting to daily small-scale purchases and are unable to meet their basic nutritional needs, necessitating increased humanitarian food assistance. This comes at a time when humanitarian funding is declining, further exacerbating the situation.
In February 2024, 33 incidents with direct impact to humanitarian access and service delivery were reported. UNICEF documented three critical security incidents through its AIMS platform. These included a Road Traffic Accident (RTA) involving a rickshaw colliding with the back of a UNICEF van, resulting in no harm to personnel. Additionally, there was a case of humanitarian diversion/theft of nutrition supplies, specifically six cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) in Bhar Gel, Cueibet County, Lakes State leading to targeted beneficiaries being deprived of assistance. Another incident involved an ambush on a health worker in Patuatnoi, Duk county.
In the operational context, armed conflict was a prevalent issue. Hot spot areas for armed clashes included Akoka and Nassir counties in Upper Nile State, as well as certain parts of Unity State. lntercommunal violence continued to impact communities in Kapoeta, Eastern Equatoria State, while tensions over land and farmer-herder disputes persisted in the Equatoria region, particularly in Central Equatoria. Conflict in Abyei between the Ngok, Twic, and Nuer resulted in the death of two peacekeepers, population displacement, abductions of women, and ongoing revenge cycles. This conflict limited movements along the Turalei-Abyei Road and disrupted humanitarian air operations at Agok airstrip, contributing to revenge killings.
Road ambushes remained a concern, with a commercial vehicle being ambushed in Rubkona county, Unity State, and several humanitarian convoys being targeted. Notably, on February 9, a humanitarian convoy was ambushed on the Bor-Pibor road outside Bor town, Jonglei State raising concerns for trade and humanitarian access to Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA). Another convoy travelling from Abyei to Wau was ambushed on February 21 between Anthony and Nyindeng Ayuel in Twic County, Jonglei State resulting in robbery of mobile phones and cash. Overall, these security incidents in February 2024 significantly hampered implementation efforts as conflict and threat actors interfered with humanitarian interventions.
Throughout the reporting period, South Sudan has faced numerous disease outbreaks, notably Yellow Fever and Measles. UNICEF has played a pivotal role in the response efforts, focusing on vaccine distribution and extensive awareness campaigns. One of the primary interventions has been the Yellow Fever vaccination campaign, which was carried out across multiple counties in Western Equatoria State, reaching a total of 351,131 individuals. Concurrently, a measles outbreak has emerged in Western Equatoria State, adding strain to health authorities already grappling with the yellow fever outbreak. Cases have been reported across various regions, with fatalities documented in Abiemnom county, Unity State. In response to the escalating situation, UNICEF supported the nationwide polio vaccination campaign initiated by the government on February 27. However, there has been a notable surge in cases of Hepatitis E, B, and C, further challenging the capacity of the healthcare system, which is already overwhelmed and under-resourced. These multiple outbreaks underscore the urgent need for sustained support and resources to effectively mitigate the spread of infectious diseases and protect the health and well-being of the population.population.