REPORTING PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS
- In DRC, from mid-March to 26 April, 777 new arrivals were registered by the Commission National pour les réfugiés (CNR) bringing the total number to 11,817 (3,798 households). South Sudanese refugees are mainly located in the Haut-Uélé Province of DRC, in the localities of Dungu, Bangalu, Masombo, Gangala, Doruma and Bitima.
- In Kenya, 388 arrivals were transported to Kakuma from Nadapal. The Ministry of Health (MOH) directive that all new arrivals should be vaccinated against yellow fever and quarantined at the border for ten days has prevented further movements since 4 April. The increased number of South Sudanese arrivals, and the MOH directive has led to 1,200 people waiting at the Transit Centre, almost three times its capacity.
- In Sudan, the influx of South Sudanese continues with 51,974 arrivals since the end of January 2016 into three states: East Darfur (41,170 arrivals), South Darfur (4,125 arrivals) and West Kordofan (6,679 arrivals). The planning figure for 2016 has been exceeded in the first four months of 2016. Food insecurity was reported as the main reason for the marked increase in number of new arrivals in Darfur and West Kordofan. Those arriving in White Nile are from conflict affected regions.
- In Uganda the majority of new arrivals are women and children who cite militia activities, particularly in Bor, Twic, Uror and Fangak areas, as the reason for flight.
The first quarter of the year has already seen new arrivals equal to 80% of the initial planning figure for the year. If the current rate of the influx continues, Uganda will receive 120,000 new South Sudan refugees by the end of 2016 (more than three times the initial planning figure).
- In Uganda the majority of new arrivals are women and children who cite militia activities, particularly in Bor, Twic, Uror and Fangak areas, as the reason for flight.
- In South Sudan a Polio Immunization Day campaign reached nearly 54,000 children under five years, in coordination with South Sudan’s Ministry of Health, Maban and Pariang Health Department, WHO and UNICEF.
OPERATIONAL CONTEXT
Overall
Large scale conflict has mostly subsided, and while pockets of conflict remain, the reasons for movement have become more complex. South Sudan, a fledgling nation, has extremely minimal infrastructure and public services, in particular a dearth in health and education, which has become acutely exacerbated by the last two years of conflict. The population of South Sudan continues to face extreme hardship, with deteriorating food insecurity, and overall lack of rule of law. Entering the planting season, half of the population was food insecure (4.9 million people) with 12% severely food insecure, and a cereal deficit is 50% higher than in 2015.
The conflict and instability lasting over two years has resulted in the displacement of families several time. Families will have used the last of their savings before deciding to cross into surrounding countries. For some, previous high levels of insecurity resulted in severely restricted movement. Intense conflict has subsided, making movement possible and contributing to the decision for people to move to other countries where sustained assistance is available. Families may also be basing their decision to flee on previous flights to neighboring countries during the long civil conflict, where they were provided with assistance. Others may have wished to move some time ago, but were awaiting the onset of the dry season to make the long and arduous journeys.
According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) projections for South Sudan, an estimated 2.8 million people throughout the country faced acute food and nutrition insecurity between January and March 2016. In Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap states, where a majority of the arrivals are coming from, some 540,000 people fell within the Crisis classification of food insecurity during the first quarter of the year, a time when food security historically tends to be the strongest.