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South Sudan: Nutrition SMART Survey Mvolo County (September 2018)

Countries
South Sudan
Sources
IMC
Publication date

Introduction

Western Equatoria State (WES) is found in Iron Stone Plateau Agro-pastoral livelihood zone. It is bordering Lakes State and Western Bahr el-Ghazal in the north, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the south, Central African Republic (CAR) in the west, and Central Equatoria State in the east. The state has an estimated population of 8,032,63 (of which 51.14% are males and 48.86% are females). Western Equatoria state is divided into 10 counties (namely: Tambura, Nagero, Nzaro, Ezo, Yambio, Ibba, Maridi, Mvolo, Mundri West and Mundri East), each headed by a County Commissioner. Yambio is the state capital, and there are eight ethnic groups in the state: Avokaya, Azande, Jur, Beli, Balanda Baka, Fertit, Mundu and Moru.

Mvolo County is one of the counties in the Greater Equatoria Western State. It is bordered by Rumbek County to the north, Yirol County to the north east, Mundri County to the south and Yambio and Tambura Counties to the west. According to the South Sudan National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), administratively the county is divided in to 7 Payams (namely: Bagori, Bahr El Grindi, Dari, Lesi, Mvolo, Yeri and Kokori), further the state is sub-divided into Bomas and villages. According to the county RRC office, at the time of the survey, the total population of the county is reported as 80, 099 which is higher than the NBS total population estimate of county, 62, 653 (32,041 (51.1%) males and 30, 612 (48.9%).

Mvolo County is found in the great Iron Stone plateau livelihood zone, which lies at an altitude of 800 to 1,000 meters (2,600 to 3,300 ft.) above sea level, with mountains in southern part of the zone and a cover of acacia forest and scrub and deciduous broad-leaved woodlands. Average rainfall is about 1,100-1,300 mm per annum, in a single season from March to November. The area in Mvolo is generally flat and characterized by rich savannah grassland with fertile alluvial soil. Mvolo and Yei rivers provide water, grazing areas and fishing points in the area.

Shifting cultivation is practiced which maintains soil fertility. Poorer households cultivate by hand, while better off use animal traction. According to the South Sudan food security outlook , wide spread extreme food in security persists throughout South Sudan. As per the FAO IPC classification for South Sudan for June-July map, the food security situation of the county is classified as Alert/stressed. Generally, due to the current persistent high level of economic crisis, especially the populations in some pocket areas/villages of the county remains high concern as the communities are facing high levels of food insecurity.