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WFP South Sudan Country Brief, August 2022

Pays
Soudan du Sud
Sources
WFP
Date de publication

In Numbers

19,170 mt of food and nutrition assistance distributed*

USD 5.73 million in cash-based transfers made*

USD 585 million six months (September 2022 to February 2023) net funding requirements

2.21 million people assisted in August 2022*

Operational Updates

Economic situation

  • In August, the South Sudanese Pound (SSP) remained stable although at an elevated level, exchanging at SSP 650 per USD in Juba reference market and between SSP 610 and 650 per USD in other monitored markets. This stability helped to maintain prices at a stable but elevated level. The cost of a food basket that meets the minimum energy requirements was stable in two-third of monitored markets. Factors that contributed to this stability included the availability of food from the green harvests, the distribution of humanitarian food assistance, and the stabilization of the exchange rate

Security updates

  • The security situation in South Sudan remained volatile throughout August. Sub-national and localized violence continued in different areas of the country, impacting on movement of goods and people along the main supply routes and driving up displacements. Unknown armed groups in military uniform attacked a village northwest of Magwi on 5 August where locals fought back and killed two attackers. Magwi and Ikotos counties in Eastern Equatoria state have become hotspots of localized violence between local communities and the herders which has impacted general security in the area. On 14 and 15 August, armed clashes erupted in Panyikang county, resulting in the capture of Tonga by one of the forces while the other force retained control of several settlements on the opposite side of the Nile River. The fighting continued to drive up displacements of people from Tonga to the eastern parts of Panyikang County and Malakal town, increasing humanitarian needs.

Support to crisis affected population

  • WFP continued to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance while scaling-up and expanding resilience programming to contribute to peace with the goal of addressing inequity and isolation, ensuring alignment with the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.

  • In response to high levels of acute food insecurity, WFP provided General Food Distributions (GFD) in eight counties where sections of the population are facing catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) and emergency (IPC Phase 4) levels of acute food insecurity. In addition, WFP distributed food and cash transfers to refugees and IDPs. In August, WFP distributed 19,170 mt of food and USD 5.73 million cash-based transfers to 2.21 million people in South Sudan, including the refugees.

  • Thanks to the new contribution from donors, WFP started to reinstate food assistance to 1.1 million out of the 1.7 million targeted people who could not be reached since April owing to funding challenges. By the end of August, WFP had restarted distributions in seven out of 18 counties where it had suspended due to funding shortfalls.

Safety nets and resilience

  • In Central and Eastern Equatoria, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, and parts of Unity and Upper Nile where agricultural land is available, WFP continued to support primary schools to introduce and expand the school garden initiative. School gardens help children to acquire agricultural knowledge and skills about the importance of diverse and nutritious diets and complements the food basket provided by WFP for school meals. WFP layered its school gardening initiative with General Food Distribution (GFD) plus and Food Assistance for Assets (FFA) programmes through which agricultural land was opened and new and improved crop varieties were demonstrated. This has helped to enhance fresh food availability at household and school levels.

Nutrition

  • WFP continued to support Mother-to-Mother Support Groups (MtMSG) in Gogrial West County in Warrap state to grow different types of vegetables in kitchen gardens. Using crop diversification, participating households spread production and economic risk over a broader range of crops. This reduces financial risks associated with unfavorable weather and market shocks. Growing diverse produce also helps by expanding the market potential. MtMSGs also support in community mobilization and sensitization on mother infant and young child nutrition (MIYCN) as well as referral of MAM cases for treatment. About 1,000 households benefited from the project.

Logistics operations

  • The Leer-Adok-Mirmir-Koch Road had become impassable due to high flood water levels between Pileny and Leer and from Leer to Rubkyuay/Mirmir. WFP continued with repair works to rehabilitate the road and make the road passable again, with 1.73 km of chokepoints repaired, 2.8 km of roadside dyke constructed, and 4.5 km of bush cleared to date. WFP completed the embankment and graveling of BentiuPanakuach dyke/road, this will increase accessibility to the vulnerable people in these regions.

  • For the Mayom-Bentiu-Unity Road, works slowed down because of increased floodwater levels and insecurity within Mayom county. The recent insecurity along the river route in Fangak delayed the mobilization of excavators needed to build dykes around the airstrip.

Common services

  • The Logistics Cluster facilitated the transportation of 329 mt of humanitarian supplies to 51 destinations across the country on behalf of 34 organizations in August. More than 70 mt of essential relief items were exceptionally airlifted to Malakal and Old Fangak to support the emergency response following the clashes in Tonga.

  • In August, UNHAS transported 5,885 passengers to 50 regular and two ad hoc destinations. UNHAS continue to support UNICEF in transporting COVID-19 vaccines to deep locations. UNHAS also transported 156 mt of humanitarian light cargo and conducted ten medical evacuations. By 31 August, UNHAS had supported 177 partners.

Challenges

  • The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate due to multiple shocks. Floods and sub-national conflicts have made most areas inaccessible by road. WFP resources are stretched and impacting the level and duration of support that WFP can provide to flood-affected families. WFP requires USD 585 million for the next six months (September 2022 to January 2023) to cover the most severe needs.