Situation in numbers
1.69 million People internally displaced since 15 December 2013
(OCHA, Humanitarian Snapshot 5 May 2016)
907,447* Estimated internally displaced children under 18 years
Outside South Sudan
725,876 Estimated new South Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries since 15 December 2013
(UNHCR, Regional Refugee Information Portal, dated 15 June 2016)
UNICEF South Sudan Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) Appeal January - December 2016: US$ 154.5 million
*Disaggregated data is yet available, as registration has not been completed across the country. Children under 18 years have been calculated based on census.
Highlights
• On 11 June, UNICEF supported the successful reunification of the 4,000th child with her family after becoming separated during the conflict, as depicted in the photo above. 8,800 children are still waiting to find their parents, and Family Tracing and Reunification (FTR) efforts continue.
• Food insecurity is a key concern throughout the country, with rising levels of malnutrition. In a majority of cases, SMART surveys conducted in South Sudan this year show Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) levels above the 15% WHO emergency threshold. As a result of increasing food insecurity, nutrition programmes threaten to become overstretched. As of mid-May, UNICEF and partners have admitted 87,613 children to various SAM programmes in the country, representing already more than half of the total target for 2016.
• It is estimated that up to 876,000 children in South Sudan are suffering from psychosocial distress, highlighting the need for an effective Child Protection response. However, the UNICEF Child Protection response remains underfunded. In the face of this critical funding situation, UNICEF continues to provide Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response services in four states, with a 40% reduction in services since the beginning of 2016.
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
Over 2.4 million people have been displaced since fighting broke out in Juba in December 2013. This includes 725,876 people who have crossed into neighbouring countries. According to the UN Mission in South Sudan, the six Protection of Civilian (PoC) sites are currently sheltering 158,799 internally displaced people (IDPs): 95,126 in Bentiu, 32,791 in Malakal, 27,959 in Juba, 2,004 in Bor, 700 in Melut, and 219 in Wau.
Despite some progress in the political arena following the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity, the faltering economy, the depreciation of the South Sudanese Pound, and the displacement of populations remain ongoing challenges. The situation is compounded by worsening food insecurity, with 2.8 million facing crisis or emergency level food insecurity. WFP warns that the food security situation “remains dire,” as thousands continue to flee the country in search of food and livelihood opportunities, particularly in Western and Northern Bahr el Gazal and Central and Eastern Equatoria regions. Partly as a result of food insecurity, more than 70,000 South Sudanese have arrived in neighbouring Sudan since the beginning of 2016, with the majority of these seeking refuge in Darfur. According to UNHCR, Sudan is currently host to some 232,000 South Sudanese; 230,000 more have sought refuge in Ethiopia, 207,000 in Uganda, and 57,000 in Kenya.
During the reporting period, an interagency mission comprising ministry officials, UN agencies, and NGOs visited Biringi, Greater Baagari Payam of Wau County in Western Bahr el Gazal, which had been cut off from humanitarian assistance since December 2015. As part of the interagency mission, UNICEF undertook Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) screening of 375 children under five and 90 pregnant and lactating women, providing nutritional supplements to women and children affected by Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM). In addition, 375 children received Vitamin-A and 294 children were treated with deworming medication, while 1,024 children and youth were vaccinated against meningitis and 240 children against measles. Furthermore, all the families were provided with WASH-related Non-Food Items (NFIs).