Engulfed in a Spiral of Violence; Food Insecurity in South Sudan Increases 80% Over Past Year

A health worker measures a baby girl’s arm, at an outpatient therapeutic feeding centre at the Protection of Civilians site on the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) base in Malakal, capital of Upper Nile State. Photo: UNICEF/Christine Nesbitt

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and partners have managed to reach some towns in central Unity state and Western Equatoria state, and are assisting internally displaced people (IDPs) with health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), according to the latest bi-weekly humanitarian update issued by OCHA.

Thanks to OCHA and its partners’ timely response to cholera, together with a $2.6 million contribution from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the outbreak is now under control. However, the report also cautioned that the rainy season is ongoing.

At the same time, the report warns that Malaria, another water-borne disease, is the primary cause for morbidity and mortality in the country and is continuing to spread, with cases doubling and even quadrupling compared with the same period in 2014.

The UN, together with partners and the South Sudanese Government, is assisting a multi-sectorial malaria task force and scaling up distribution of mosquito nets and information dissemination on malaria prevention.

However, an additional $4 million is urgently needed to ensure the availability of malaria drugs and diagnostic tests, as well as social mobilization and logistical coordination.

The report goes on to note that the humanitarian response has been hampered recently by intensified clashes, posing risks to aid workers’ lives.

Fighting in South Sudan’s Greater Upper Nile region has remained intense and civilians have fled their homes in areas around Wau Chollo (Shilluk) district to the UNMISS protection site in Malakal. Photo: UNMISS

Civilians have also suffered the grave consequences of killings, sexual violence and forced displacement. Food insecurity in these hard-hit regions has deteriorated and has seen a 4/5 increase compared to the same period last year.

“It is inspiring to witness the efforts our colleagues are making on the front line,” John Ging, Head of Operations for (OCHA), said at the conclusion of his recent visit to the country, stressing that “the international community must continue to support these efforts, and stand in solidarity with those who have been the victims of conflict for far too long.” (Source: UN).

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