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South Sudan

IOM South Sudan Humanitarian Update #62 (31 May 2016)

Attachments

Highlights

  • 131,000 children vaccinated against measles

  • IOM rebuilds clinic after destruction in Malakal PoC site

  • New light base camps expand humanitarian presence in Unity

IOM teams continue lifesaving humanitarian activities across South Sudan, where more than 6.1 million people are in need of assistance. Since December 2013, the crisis has displaced more than 2.4 million people, including 720,400 who have fled to neighbouring countries and more than 1.69 million others who remain internally displaced.

According to a recent food insecurity analysis by the UN World Food Programme (WFP), South Sudanese are facing the most severe lean season since independence due to insecurity, poor harvests and displacement. The analysis predicts that 5 million people may face severe food insecurity in the coming months, compared to 4.6 million people during the same time last year.

A recent population registration in Nimni, approximately 30km from Bentiu town, revealed that 860 people previously registered for assistance in the UN protection of civilians (PoC) site in Bentiu have recently returned to Nimni. IOM and the International Humanitarian Partnership (IHP) recently completed a light base camp in Nimni to support a scale-up of humanitarian services for vulnerable households and enable a more sustained humanitarian presence in the area.

In response to an increase in measles cases this year, IOM has participated in measles vaccination campaigns in Aweil South and West counties, Bentiu, Malakal and Yirol East and West counties, reaching approximately 131,000 children. As of midMay, 1,321 suspected measles cases have been reported by the Health Cluster and the South Sudan Ministry of Health.

In advance of the rainy season, IOM and the Shelter/Non-Food Items (NFIs) Cluster are pre-positioning shelter materials and relief items in key locations across the country before vast areas become inaccessible by road.

An IOM team is on the ground in Renk, near the Sudan–South Sudan border, to begin a distribution of emergency relief items—such as mosquito nets and shelter materials—for 400 IDP households displaced in late March.