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IOM South Sudan Humanitarian Update #76 (12 June 2017)

Countries
South Sudan
Sources
IOM
Publication date

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Relief agencies respond to increased needs in Wau

  • Efforts continue to reach people affected by insecurity in Upper Nile

  • IOM teams respond to cholera outbreaks across the country

Over 7.5 million people in South Sudan are in need of humanitarian assistance due to a devastating crisis that has displaced approximately 3.75 million people since 2013, including 2 million IDPs and 1.75 million people who have fled to neighbouring countries. The scale of humanitarian needs is unprecedented as insecurity continues to displace civilian populations across the country and limit the ability of families to meet their basic needs.

In Upper Nile, escalating conflict along the West Bank of the White Nile River in recent months has led to a significant movement of people toward Aburoc, Fashoda County, and Magenis, Manyo County, onward to the White Nile area of Sudan. IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) team and the Danish Refugee Council conducted a rapid population count on 4 June, identifying 10,298 individuals in Aburoc. The population in Aburoc has declined significantly by more than 50 per cent since the population count conducted in early March, which had identified over 21,000 people in need of assistance in the area. For more information, see http://bit.ly/2st5REr.

IOM health and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) teams are responding to cholera outbreaks across South Sudan, where nearly 8,000 suspected cases have been reported since June 2016.
A health rapid response team (RRT) deployed to Jiech, in Jonglei's Ayod County, to support local partners and respond to a cholera outbreak that began in April after more than 140 suspected cases were reported. In Kapoeta North and South, Eastern Equatoria, an IOM WASH Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPnR) team is responding to a cholera outbreak through hygiene promotion and distribution of essential WASH items.

IOM is also increasing access to safe drinking water by rehabilitating broken boreholes.
Needs remain high for an estimated 60,300 people displaced in and around Wau town due to fighting in June 2016 and April 2017. IOM is undertaking efforts to improve living conditions for an estimated 13,900 new arrivals at the protection of civilians (PoC) site adjacent to the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) base since April. IOM has constructed 73 new communal shelters in the general food distribution area, where the majority of new arrivals have settled. Despite crowded conditions, site improvement efforts continue to mitigate overcrowding and the impact of the rainy season.