Attachments
Highlights
- As of 30 October, 353,780 individuals, including 177,287 children, have been registered in South Sudan after fleeing conflict in Sudan since April. UNICEF has reached over 192,000 of those who have arrived with multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance.
- October saw increases in recorded measles cases, notably in Akobo, Jonglei State, where 406 cases and 27 deaths were reported, and Kapoeta East, Eastern Equatoria, where suspected cases triggered an investigation for a reactive measles campaign. From January to 30 October 2,769,468 children have been vaccinated with the measles vaccine in South Sudan.
- On 18 October the National Ministry of Health declared an outbreak of Tungiasis in Lobone of Magwi County, Eastern Equatoria State. The outbreak recorded 79 cases (48 male and 31 female) with ages 1–10 years making up the 41 per cent of recorded cases.
SITUATION OVERVIEW AND HUMANITARIAN NEEDS
The Sudan crisis remains a major concern for children and women who continue to arrive in large numbers fleeing conflict in Sudan in urgent need of services and support. As of October 2023, over 353,780 individuals, including 177,287 children coming from Sudan, have been registered since April 2023. Of these, some 86 per cent are South Sudanese, while the remaining are refugees and third- country nationals. However, during October, a notable increase of Sudanese refugees and asylum-seekers was registered among the arrivals. Children fleeing conflict and on the move are in significant need of life-saving health, nutrition and safe water services as well as essential education and child protection services, including mental health and psychosocial support. Their onward transportation to their final destinations is essential to enable healing, improved well-being and return to education and play.
Climate change continues to have a severe impact on children, especially in the areas of the Greater Upper Nile Region. In October, a notable increase in water levels were recorded in Jonglei and Unity States. In Unity State, high water levels have led to congestion in highlands with poor sanitation facilities, that pose a risk of disease outbreaks, whilst areas of Nyaruop and Guit counties remain cut off from Bentiu, Unity State hindering the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Heavy rains in Western Equatoria State disrupted access to the Ibba, Maridi, Mundri West, Mundri East, and Mvolo counties due to the destruction of a bridge. Furthermore, heavy rains in Terekeka county of Central Equatoria State destroyed crops in Mangala and Gemmaiza Islands, where families are struggling with food insecurity and high inflation rates.
The health needs of children in South Sudan remain high. The onset of rains disrupted health access, and poor environmental conditions further contributed to disease outbreaks during the reporting month. On October 18, the Ministry of Health (MoH) declared an outbreak of Tungiasis in Lobone payam of Eastern Equatoria State. A total of 79 cases have been recorded, and WASH and health partners are scaling up a response to ensure that the disease is contained. Furthermore, as of epidemiological week 44, a total of 7,048 suspected measles cases were recorded in South Sudan, with 530 (7.5 per cent) lab-confirmed, 152 deaths, and a case fatality rate of 2.2. During October, confirmed measles cases were recorded in Juba, Abyei, Kapoeta East, Lafon, Nyirol, Pibor, Fangak, Pigi-Canal (Khor Fulus), Akobo, and Renk. During the reporting month, measles reactive campaigns were conducted in 17 counties in two phases. A total of 2,766,468 children have been vaccinated with the measles vaccine. Additionally, in Fangak county, Jonglei State, a Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) outbreak was declared in September 2023, with 118 cumulative cases recorded, including 6 deaths. UNICEF State Health, WASH, and SBC teams, in October 2023, mobilized a response with implementing partners and local authorities to contain the outbreak.
During October, localized violence between armed groups and inter-communal violence continued to be reported, resulting in increased humanitarian needs for women and children. Communal conflicts were reported in Akobo and Duk counties of Jongeli State, Abyei and Twic county of Warrap State, Likuangole county in the Pibor Administrative Area, as well as Wankai payam of Mayom county, Unity State. The persistent insecurity hampered humanitarian access, most notably the delivery of humanitarian supplies to these areas. On October 22, further armed clashes were reported in Tonga, Upper Nile State, although no displacement was reported. Humanitarian movements to Tonga were disrupted affecting an estimated 5,000 people living in Tonga.
During the reporting period, humanitarian operations across the country continued to face humanitarian access constraints. October saw an increase in reported incidents as compared to the previous month, from 31 (September) to 32 (October). The most frequently recorded incidents are violence and threats against humanitarian workers and assets, with the highest number of incidents reported by UNOCHA recorded in Upper Nile State, with a total of 15 reported incidents.