ReliefWeb

Key Messages

• Widespread, extreme food insecurity persists throughout South Sudan and increased humanitarian assistance is needed to prevent the loss of lives and livelihoods. The area of greatest concern is central Unity, where Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and Crisis (IPC Phase 3!) outcomes are present. However, data is unavailable for an estimated 10,000 people isolated on remote islands of the White Nile, many of whom lack access to humanitarian assistance. It is feared outcomes are worse among these populations and some households may be in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5). A risk of Famine (IPC Phase 5) persists, primarily for populations on remote islands of the White Nile.

• Recent food security data and key informant information indicate that food security in northern and western Jonglei has deteriorated sharply in 2017. Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes persists and of highest concern are households in western Jonglei who are also displaced to islands along the White Nile. Some of these households may be in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5). Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes, and associated high levels of acute malnutrition, also exist in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Upper Nile, Central Equatoria, and Eastern Equatoria.

• Food security is expected to improve in September with increased access to milk, fish, water lilies, and harvests. However, likely below-average production and extremely high food prices will limit household food access. Furthermore, disease incidence is very high, with nearly 5,000 cases of cholera reported in 23 counties since January. Food security improvements will be short-lived and wide-spread Crisis (IPC Phase 3) is still expected during this time. Further deterioration in food security is expected after January 2018 when households deplete food stocks and the availability of wild foods and fish seasonally decline.