A. Situation analysis
Description of the disaster
The conflict between Government and opposition forces in Juba broke out on 15 December 2013 and quickly spread to other locations in South Sudan. Despite repeated ceasefires agreements and peace negotiations, the conflict still continues, affecting over four million people and resulting to severe humanitarian crises within the country and in the borderland of neighbouring countries. Since December 2013 up to 1.6 million people have been displaced internally whereas more than 642,199 South Sudanese have moved across borders, including 269,624 who have moved in to Ethiopia (UNHCR Update, 27 Nov 2015).
The refugees continue to arrive in Ethiopia, mainly in to the Gambella Regional State through 3 border entry points citing fighting, food insecurity, human rights abuses and lack of basic services as the main reasons for their flight.
Whereas the average monthly arrival rate from the onset of emergency reached its thousands per week, these numbers have fluctuated according to rainy seasons and conflict patterns in South Sudan. During April and May 2015 more than 14,000 new refugees were registered whereas 7,000 were awaiting assistance to onwards movement at Pagak and Akobo entry points. Given the protracted nature of the refugees’ crisis in Ethiopia and previous years’ experience of flooding in several camp locations, the total population of Leitchor camp (44,887) were voluntarily relocated to a new location, namely Jewii.
With the continuing deteriorating humanitarian situation within South Sudan with the increased conflict between warring partners, Gambella continues to be a destination for civilians fleeing the war. In general, the living conditions and needs for provision of life saving humanitarian assistance to those refugees arriving in Ethiopia’s Gambella region remains at a critical stage.