Highlights
As of 20 September, a total of 2,143 cholera cases have been reported, including 31 deaths. The total number of cholera cases reported this year has exceeded those in 2015. The case fatality rate (CFR), currently at 1.44 per cent, remains substantially lower than last year, reflecting significant improvements in case management and timely referral.
Efforts to control malaria are ongoing. So far, at least 9,118 consultations have been provided in the more severely affected areas of Northern Bahr el Ghazal (NBeG), of which 7,063 tested positive for malaria.
The nutrition situation in NBeG is classified as ‘catastrophic. UNICEF and partners are scaling up the current integrated response
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
The security situation across the country remains tense and unpredictable. Crime rates continue to be high, particularly in Juba, and humanitarian access across the country is shrinking. The security situation in Unity, Upper Nile and Greater Equatoria, combined with inaccessible roads, is affecting the ability to delivery humanitarian assistance.
There has been an upsurge in the number of cholera cases reported in Mingkaman, though no new deaths have been reported. UNICEF continues to support the cholera response in all affected states. Malnutrition remains a key concern, in particular in Northern Bahr el Ghazal (NBeG), where the nutrition situation is now ‘catastrophic.’ An updated Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) analysis was conducted between 16-21 August; the report is currently awaiting Government approval and official release.
Situation in Numbers
1.69 million People internally displaced since 15 December 2013 (OCHA Humanitarian Snapshot, 28 July 2016)
Over 1 million South Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries since December 2013 (UNHCR South Sudan Situation Information
Humanitarian Strategy
An updated strategy with a detailed response plan on containment and control of the cholera outbreak is in place. The strategy also covers preparedness measures in at-risk locations to avert spread. UNICEF continues to support the cholera response in all the affected states, focusing on community level interventions, while filling supply gaps at the referral facility level to address the whole continuum of care. In most locations, an integrated response with WASH, Health and Communication for Development (C4D) components is in place. UNICEF is working with nine implementing partners on the response – Health Link, ACROSS, LIVEWELL, BEDN, IMC, SMC, ARUDA, CORE-GROUP, and RUWASSA. To date, nearly all reported cholera cases have benefited from UNICEF support.
Meanwhile, UNICEF and partners have scaled up interventions to address increased rates of malnutrition in NBeG. An integrated response including health, nutrition and WASH is being implemented at the community level to address underlying causes of malnutrition, malaria and diarrohoea. With the evolution of the situation and possible increase in humanitarian needs in Warrap and Greater Equatoria, UNICEF is also scaling up the capacity to address any potential emergencies in the region.
The Rapid Response Mechanism (RRMs) will continue to focus on reaching otherwise inaccessible populations with urgent, life-saving interventions. The core package of RRM interventions has been refined to focus on high-impact, immediate-term services, including food distribution; preventative nutrition activities including Blanket Supplementary Feeding Programme (BSFP), Vitamin A and deworming; vaccination; and registration of separated and unaccompanied children.