Highlights
An IPC Technical Working Group joint assessment mission visited four locations in Unity State of extreme concern after the September IPC, confirming that an emergency food security situation still exists in central and southern Unity. Water lilies and fish, on which the majority of the population survive, will likely become scarce as the rivers and swamps start drying up by January, leading to large food deficits. The joint assessment team concluded that without sustained food and livelihoods assistance and nutrition and health services, the situation is likely to degenerate significantly in the first quarter of 2016.
After an RRM mission in Koch and Bauw in Unity State in late September,
UNICEF was part of interagency missions to the same locations from 9-12 November. The missions were an opportunity for UNICEF to screen and treat children for malnutrition; provide primary health consultations; rehabilitate boreholes and follow up on unaccompanied and separated children identified during the September mission.So far in 2015, UNICEF and partners have provided critical child protection services to 331,217 children, including psychosocial support and family tracing and reunification. Twenty per cent of this has been directly implemented by UNICEF.
SITUATION IN NUMBERS
1.66 million
People internally displaced since 15 December 2013 (OCHA, Humanitarian Snapshot dated 12 November, 2015)
887,681
Estimated internally displaced children under 18 years Outside South Sudan
644,890
Estimated new South Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries since 15 December 2013 (UNHCR, Regional Refugee Information Portal, dated 19 November, 2015)
Priority Humanitarian Funding needs January - December 2015
US$ 183.3 million
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
According to the latest information published by UNMISS on 8 October, the estimated number of civilians seeking safety in six Protection of Civilians (PoC) sites located on UNMISS bases is 184,284 including 107,649 in Bentiu, 27,950 in Juba, 45,462 in Malakal, 2,289 in Bor, 700 in Melut and 234 in Wau. An estimated 6,000 people entered Bentiu PoC in October.
Despite the signing of the Peace Agreement, the security situation in the country remains volatile. Clashes were reported in Unity State including in the southern areas of Rubkona as well as Nhialdu and Leer. Upper Nile remained calm during the reporting period, though Kodok and Melut have seen an increase in troop build-up. The humanitarian situation in Western Equatoria remains of concern, and despite church leaders mediating with to support a peaceful end to the ongoing unrest there, the situation in Mundri town and Ezo region has not yet stabilized. Meanwhile, the security situation in Eastern Equatoria state is deteriorating, with an increase in crime.
UNICEF participated in an IPC joint assessment mission in Unity State which confirmed that an emergency food security situation still exists in central and southern Unity. The joint assessment team concluded that without food and livelihoods assistance and nutrition and health services, the situation will deteriorate significantly in the first quarter of 2016.
During the reporting period, 12 suspected measles cases were reported (9 in Bentiu, 2 in Torit and 1 in Upper Nile) for a total of 487 suspected measles cases in 2015. UNICEF together with partners have developed a measles response plan to conduct a nationwide measles follow-up campaign in 2016.