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Current People in Need9.4 million
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Current People Targeted6.8 million
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Current Requirements (US$)$1.70 billion
Analysis of the context, crisis and needs
People in South Sudan continue to face multiple compounding shocks of surging subnational violence, severe multi-year flooding and macroeconomic shocks, resulting in worsening levels of acute food insecurity, disease outbreaks, threats against and attacks on humanitarian assets, and deaths of humanitarian workers in several locations.
The slow implementation of the key components of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan resulted in the extension of the current transitional period for another 24 months to ensure a conducive environment for credible elections in 2025.
An estimated 4.5 million South Sudanese people remain displaced due to conflict, insecurity and climate shocks. An estimated 2.2 million people are internally displaced, more than 58 per cent of whom arrived in their current location in 2020 and 2021. Increasing incidents of subnational violence during 2022 resulted in new or secondary displacements of more than 257,000 people, mainly in Jonglei, Upper Nile and Unity States. In addition, as of October, more than 151,000 South Sudanese refugees returned, predominantly from Sudan and Uganda, between January and October 2022. More than 371,200 internally displaced persons (IDPs) returned to their areas of origin or habitual residence in 2021, and some more than 12,500 people returned in 2022. Killings of civilians, including men, women and children, as well as abductions and conflict-related sexual violence allegedly perpetrated by armed groups, have been reported across the country. Above-normal rainfall for the fourth consecutive year in 2022 has led to more than a million people being verified as affected by floods in 36 counties in South Sudan, and over 20,000 people affected in the southern part of the Abyei Administrative Area since July 2022. Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Warrap, Unity and Western Equatoria States are the worst affected, with water levels in some areas, such as Bentiu and Upper Nile, exceeding the unprecedented levels reached in 2021. Torrential rain and floods destroyed crops, homes, latrines, boreholes and critical infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, schools, and nutrition and health-care centres.
Panyikang County, South Sudan
Heavy fighting forced vulnerable people, predominantly women and children, to flee to neighbouring counties, leaving their belongings behind.
OCHA/ Krasimira AntimovaAn estimated 8 million people are likely to experience severe food insecurity at the peak of the 2023 lean season (April to July) at similar levels as last year. Displaced people are more likely to be severely food insecure (Integrated food security phase classification [IPC] Phase 3 or above), with 61.1 per cent of all IDPs being severely food insecure. Host communities are projected to be the most food insecure in Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Upper Nile States. Almost two thirds of all children under age 5 are expected to be acutely malnourished. Only 11 per cent of facilities provide the full Basic Package of Health and Nutrition Services, and 46 per cent are moderately functional, exacerbating the already inadequate access to and availability of some health services in many parts of the country. Outbreaks of measles, cholera and Hepatitis E have been declared in South Sudan in 2022, affecting mostly children under age 5. Low health-care quality, high levels of food insecurity and poor access to WASH services — with some 90 per cent of the population in 56 counties lacking access to improved sanitation, and some 42 per cent lacking access to improved water sources — have a detrimental impact on the health of the most vulnerable people. Children under age 5 are the most affected. Flooding has interrupted the education of an estimated 381,000 children in six states.
Panyagor, South Sudan
A mother and daughter look out over submerged houses in Panyagor in Twic East, Jonglei State.
UNICEF/Mark NaftalinProjected situation in 2023 and beyond
An estimated 9.4 million people — or 76 per cent of the population — and 212,000 people in the Abyei Administrative Area will require humanitarian assistance in 2023. Their situation is expected to continue to deteriorate in 2023, with humanitarian needs likely to increase. The impact of climate change is a major driver of need in South Sudan, with large parts of the Sudd areas in Jonglei and Unity States vulnerable to flooding. Cases of malnutrition, waterborne diseases and malaria will increase, partly due to poor living conditions for people in flooded areas, especially those living in displacement, combined with poor access to health care due to physical, security and financial constraints, as well as the lack of governance and investment in public services. Some people will remain in prolonged displacement until their areas of origin are accessible. Due to poor infrastructure, physical access will continue to be limited in 2023.
Conflict will remain one of the main drivers of displacement and humanitarian needs in 2023. The risk of violence, such as the recent clashes in Upper Nile and Warrap States, continues to be very high and may increase in the lead-up to the General Elections in December 2024. South Sudan has witnessed widespread communal and localized violence linked to national-level power plays, which has damaged infrastructure, disrupted livelihoods and obstructed the State’s ability to provide essential services, such as in health and education. The circulation of illicit small arms and light weapons as well as mine contamination and explosive remnants of war, especially in the Equatoria Region, contribute to the level of violence. Ongoing armed conflict has contributed to increased levels of conflict-related sexual violence. South Sudanese women and girls are likely to continue facing such violence, but while having limited access to health services and justice mechanisms.
Wathmuok, South Sudan
Ajok Angara has benefited from the seeds she received from Welthungerhilfe. She now has a flourishing kitchen garden.
Welthungerhilfe/Peter CatonResponse priorities in 2023
Despite the ongoing conflict, access challenges and limited humanitarian funding in 2022 (the 2022-2023 South Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan [HRP] is 47 per cent funded), humanitarian partners delivered assistance to some 4 million people (64 per cent of those targeted in South Sudan). In 2023, the HRP will aim to respond to the most immediate needs of 6.8 million people (72 per cent of the PiN). The two-year 2022-2023 HRP will continue to target 6.8 million people with life-saving assistance to improve their physical and mental well-being, prevent further deterioration of the food security situation, and improve food consumption, dietary diversity and coping strategies for the vulnerable populations in the IPC/intersectoral severity needs levels 5 and 4, and some in level 3. Partners will work to reduce the protection threats and incidents for 4.4 million vulnerable people, ensuring safe, tailored, timely and dignified access to basic services through integrated and inclusive humanitarian action that promotes centrality of protection priorities. Humanitarians will support 3.4 million IDPs, returnees and vulnerable host communities towards self-sustainability, build their resilience to overcome shocks and seek solutions that respect their rights. The multi-year plan will capitalize on the humanitarian-development-peace collaboration efforts in the country, with disaster risk reduction and mitigation measures integrated into programming.
South Sudan HRP
References
- IOM DTM South Sudan
- IOM DTM Event Tracking: Displacement and Return