Overview

The continuation of conflict since December 2013 has created a complex humanitarian crisis in the country, restricting humanitarian access and hindering the flow of information required by aid partners to deliver humanitarian assistance to populations in need. To address information gaps facing the humanitarian response in South Sudan, REACH employs its Area of Knowledge (AoK) methodology to collect relevant information in hardto-reach areas to inform humanitarian planning and interventions outside formal settlement sites.

Using the AoK methodology, REACH remotely monitors needs and access to services in the Greater Upper Nile, Greater Equatoria and Greater Bahr el Ghazal regions. AoK data is collected monthly and through multi-sector interviews with the following typology of Key Informants (KIs):

• KIs who are newly arrived internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have left a hard-to-reach settlement in the last month

• KIs who have had contact with someone living or have been in a hard-to-reach settlement in the last month (traders, migrants, family members, etc.)

• KIs who are remaining in hard-to-reach settlements, contacted through phone Selected KIs are purposively sampled and have knowledge from within the last month about a specific settlement in South Sudan, with data collected at the settlement level. About half of settlements assessed have more than one KI reporting on the settlement.
  In these cases, data is aggregated at the settlement level according to a weighting mechanism, which can be found in the Terms of Reference (ToRs).

( Link to AoK Terms of Reference )

All percentages presented in this factsheet, unless otherwise specified, represent the proportion of settlements assessed with that specific response.
The findings presented in this factsheet are indicative of the broad water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) trends in assessed settlements in January 2019, and are not statistically generalisable.

Assessment Coverage
1,820 Key Informants interviewed
1,422 Settlements assessed
61 Counties assessed 57 Counties with 5% or more coverage

Overview

The continuation of conflict since December 2013 has created a complex humanitarian crisis in the country, restricting humanitarian access and hindering the flow of information required by aid partners to deliver humanitarian assistance to populations in need. To address information gaps facing the humanitarian response in South Sudan,
REACH employs its Area of Knowledge (AoK) methodology to collect relevant information in hardto-reach areas to inform humanitarian planning and interventions outside formal settlement sites.

Using the AoK methodology, REACH remotely monitors needs and access to services in the Greater Upper Nile, Greater Equatoria and Greater Bahr el Ghazal regions. AoK data is collected monthly and through multi-sector interviews with the following typology of Key Informants (KIs):

• KIs who are newly arrived internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have left a hard-to-reach settlement in the last month

• KIs who have had contact with someone living or have been in a hard-to-reach settlement in the last month (traders, migrants, family members, etc.)

• KIs who are remaining in hard-to-reach settlements, contacted through phone
Selected KIs are purposively sampled and have knowledge from within the last month about a specific settlement in South Sudan, with data collected at the settlement level. About half of settlements assessed have more than one KI reporting on the settlement.

In these cases, data is aggregated at the settlement level according to a weighting mechanism, which can be found in the Terms of Reference (ToRs).
( Link to AoK Terms of Reference )

All percentages presented in this factsheet, unless otherwise specified, represent the proportion of settlements assessed with that specific response.

The findings presented in this factsheet are indicative of the broad CCCM (Camp Coordination and Camp Management) trends in assessed settlements in January 2019, and are not statistically generalisable.

Assessment Coverage
1,820 Key Informants interviewed
1,422 Settlements assessed
61 Counties assessed
57 Counties with 5% or more coverage

Overview

The continuation of conflict since December 2013 has created a complex humanitarian crisis in the country, restricting humanitarian access and hindering the flow of information required by aid partners to deliver humanitarian assistance to populations in need. To address information gaps facing the humanitarian response in South Sudan,REACH employs its Area of Knowledge (AoK) methodology to collect relevant information in hardto-reach areas to inform humanitarian planning and interventions outside formal settlement sites.

Using the AoK methodology, REACH remotely monitors needs and access to services in the Greater Upper Nile, Greater Equatoria and Greater Bahr el Ghazal regions. AoK data is collected monthly and through multi-sector interviews with the following typology of Key Informants (KIs):

• KIs who are newly arrived internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have left a hard-to-reach settlement in the last month

• KIs who have had contact with someone living or have been in a hard-to-reach settlement in the last month (traders, migrants, family members, etc.)

• KIs who are remaining in hard-to-reach settlements, contacted through phone

Selected KIs are purposively sampled and have knowledge from within the last month about a specific settlement in South Sudan, with data collected at the settlement level. About half of settlements assessed have more than one KI reporting on the settlement.
In these cases, data is aggregated at the settlement level according to a weighting mechanism, which can be found in the Terms of Reference (ToRs).

( Link to AoK Terms of Reference )

All percentages presented in this factsheet, unless otherwise specified, represent the proportion of settlements assessed with that specific response.

The findings presented in this factsheet are indicative of the broad food security and livelihood trends in assessed settlements in January 2019, and are not statistically generalisable.

Assessment Coverage
1,820 Key Informants interviewed
1,422 Settlements assessed
61 Counties assessed
57 Counties with 5% or more coverage

Overview

The continuation of conflict since December 2013 has created a complex humanitarian crisis in the country, restricting humanitarian access and hindering the flow of information required by aid partners to deliver humanitarian assistance to populations in need. To address information gaps facing the humanitarian response in South Sudan, REACH employs its Area of Knowledge (AoK) methodology to collect relevant information in hardto-reach areas to inform humanitarian planning and interventions outside formal settlement sites.

Using the AoK methodology, REACH remotely monitors needs and access to services in the Greater Upper Nile, Greater Equatoria and Greater Bahr el Ghazal regions. AoK data is collected monthly and through multi-sector interviews with the following typology of Key Informants (KIs):

• KIs who are newly arrived internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have left a hard-to-reach settlement in the last month

• KIs who have had contact with someone living or have been in a hard-to-reach settlement in the last month (traders, migrants, family members, etc.)

• KIs who are remaining in hard-to-reach settlements, contacted through phone Selected KIs are purposively sampled and have knowledge from within the last month about a specific settlement in South Sudan, with data collected at the settlement level. About half of settlements assessed have more than one KI reporting on the settlement.

In these cases, data is aggregated at the settlement level according to a weighting mechanism, which can be found in the Terms of Reference (ToRs).

( Link to AoK Terms of Reference )

All percentages presented in this factsheet, unless otherwise specified, represent the proportion of settlements assessed with that specific response.

The findings presented in this factsheet are indicative of the broad protection trends in assessed settlements in January 2019, and are not statistically generalisable.

Assessment Coverage
1,820 Key Informants interviewed
1,422 Settlements assessed
61 Counties assessed
57 Counties with 5% or more coverage

Overview

The continuation of conflict since December 2013 has created a complex humanitarian crisis in the country, restricting humanitarian access and hindering the flow of information required by aid partners to deliver humanitarian assistance to populations in need. To address information gaps facing the humanitarian response in South Sudan, REACH employs its Area of Knowledge (AoK) methodology to collect relevant information in hardto-reach areas to inform humanitarian planning and interventions outside formal settlement sites.
Using the AoK methodology, REACH remotely monitors needs and access to services in the Greater Upper Nile, Greater Equatoria and Greater Bahr el Ghazal regions. AoK data is collected monthly and through multi-sector interviews with the following typology of Key Informants (KIs):

• KIs who are newly arrived internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have left a hard-to-reach settlement in the last month

• KIs who have had contact with someone living or have been in a hard-to-reach settlement in the last month (traders, migrants, family members, etc.)

• KIs who are remaining in hard-to-reach settlements, contacted through phone Selected KIs are purposively sampled and have knowledge from within the last month about a specific settlement in South Sudan, with data collected at the settlement level. About half of settlements assessed have more than one KI reporting on the settlement.

In these cases, data is aggregated at the settlement level according to a weighting mechanism, which can be found in the Terms of Reference (ToRs).

( Link to AoK Terms of Reference )

All percentages presented in this factsheet, unless otherwise specified, represent the proportion of settlements assessed with that specific response.

The findings presented in this factsheet are indicative of the broad shelter and non-food item trends in assessed settlements in January 2019, and are not statistically generalisable.

Assessment Coverage
1,820 Key Informants interviewed
1,422 Settlements assessed
61 Counties assessed
57 Counties with 5% or more coverage

Although insecurity prevails in some parts of South Sudan, there are clear pockets of stability where a resilience building and livelihoods approach is essential to strengthening local communities’ and farmers’ capacities. In these areas, WFP is implementing Food Assistance for Assets (FFA) to meet short term hunger gaps while helping households build resilience against future shocks and stresses.

In 2018, the FFA programme scaled up by almost 40 percent to serve nearly 600,000 people across all regions of the country. The growth of the programme reflects community interest in being supported to rebuild their own livelihoods and to grow their own food, as well as WFP’s interest in moving away from unconditional assistance, where feasible, and supporting community-led resilience building.

Using a multi-year approach, WFP’s FFA programme helps food insecure communities to rebuild their livelihoods and improve their resilience. Following a community based participatory planning (CBPP) process, which helps communities to identify their key challenges and development priorities, households build assets from across three pillars:

1. Restoration of productive capacity of arable land;

2. Construction of community infrastructure;

3. Environment, natural resource management and climate change adaptation.

Skills development is integrated throughout the programme, equipping participants with new agricultural, infrastructure development and maintenance, and environmental management skills. Training and provision of key messages on nutrition is also provided to help address some of the underlying causes of acute food and nutrition insecurity.

FFA presents an extraordinary opportunity to meaningfully address gender inequality in South Sudan. To do so, WFP uses a gender sensitive lens from the community planning process at the start of asset creation projects to provide women and men space to raise their concerns and to ensure these concerns are adequately addressed. The community based participatory planning (CBPP) approach allows for separate discussion between women’s groups, men’s groups, and then together as a community group. Formation of project management committees (PMC) with equal numbers of men and women in leadership roles is helping to ensure decision making access.

Increasingly, WFP is creating synergies across its resilience programmes, FFA, school feeding, urban safety nets, and smallholder agricultural market support (SAMS) to enhance the impact for communities. As an example, FFA activities are being linked to school gardens and households are receiving training in post-harvest management to reduce food losses.

PEOPLE IN NEED IN 2018: 7.0 M

PEOPLE TARGETED IN 2018: 6.0 M

PEOPLE REACHED BY THE END OF 2018: 5.3 M

Over the course of 2018, the conflict in South Sudan continued to destroy homes, disrupt lives and ruin livelihoods. Nearly 1.9 million people were internally displaced within the country at the end of the year, while another 2.3 million people were seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. The signing of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan in September promised to offer new opportunities for women, men and children. However, in the last three months of 2018, the humanitarian crisis continued to impact South Sudan’s people.

Food insecurity and malnutrition reached unparalleled levels. Between July and August, conflict throughout the annual lean season pushed a record high of 6.1 million people – nearly two thirds of the population – to be severely food insecure. That included 1.7 million people on the brink of famine. Large-scale humanitarian assistance provided in many areas of the country, including Rubkona, Mayendit and Panyijar in Unity, was the only factor that prevented an even more devastating outcome.

During 2018, humanitarian organizations worked together to better understand people’s needs and provide the right services at the right time. Efforts included enhanced population tracking and increased use of technologies like a biometric registration system. The opening of more viable delivery routes, including roads and rivers, such as the Sobat river corridor, helped humanitarians to reach more people more efficiently. This saved millions by reducing reliance on expensive airdrops.

Fifteen aid workers were killed in 2018, resulting in a total of at least 112 aid workers killed since the start of the conflict in 2013. The vast majority of them were South Sudanese. At least 117 staff were detained for prolonged periods, with the majority working for local NGOs. Over 575 staff were relocated due to insecurity. This resulted in the temporary suspension of operations, sometimes for months, as was the case in Maban. In addition to violent access incidents, operational interference and bureaucratic impediments hampered humanitarian efforts.

Humanitarian organizations delivered assistance and protection to more than 5.3 million people in 2018. This included over 4.2 million people reached by food assistance and emergency livelihoods support; more than 2 million people provided with access to improved water sources; over 690,000 children given access to education in emergencies; and nearly 4 million people who received humanitarian protection services.

The 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan was 68 per cent funded, with US$1.17 billion received. Clusters including Health; Emergency Shelter and Non-Food Items; and Camp Coordination and Camp Management were significantly under-funded.

Addis Ababa – 4-5 March 2019, 9am – 10am, 4 MARCH at the RADISON BLU HOTEL

Kazanchis Business District Kirkos Subcity Kebele 17/18 21555 Addis Ababa Ethiopia

GENEVA (1 March 2019)– A panel of experts convened by the UN Human Rights Council mandated Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan will hold a working session with representatives of UN Agencies, the African Union, representatives of the Government of South Sudan and members of civil society to discuss approaches to investigating and documenting conflict-related Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) in South Sudan.

The aim of the working session will be to enhance documentation and evidence collection, contributing towards the establishment of an effective prosecutorial system for future justice mechanisms, including criminal accountability for sexual and gender-based crimes at national and international levels.

Discussions in the working session include:

• patterns and trends of conflict-related SGBV in South Sudan;

• how the Commission can improve partnerships with other agencies dealing with SGBV in South Sudan;

• possible improvements in evidence collection for criminal accountability;

• prosecutorial policy and strategy to prosecute conflict-related SGBV; and

• what has been done by the Government of South Sudan to date in dealing with SGBV and on justice and reparations for victims.

Media are invited to attend the opening session of this working session, which will include a welcome by Commission Chair Yasmin Sooka and keynote address by AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security Bineta Diop.(The rest of the workshop will be in closed session.)

Members of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan will be available for interview in person at the Radisson Blu or remotely, following the closing of the working session, from 2pm Ethiopian time (GMT+3) on Tuesday, 5 March to discuss the working session. A press release will be issued at the conclusion of the session.

In its third Report to the Human Rights Council, February 20, 2019, the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan found that continuing violence and human rights violations in South Sudan, including rape and sexual violence, may amount to war crimes and that over the past year the magnitude of such crimes has markedly worsened. The report stated that rapes, gang rapes, sexual mutilation, abductions and sexual slavery, as well as killings, had become commonplace because of persistent because impunity.

Further details on the work of the Commission and its reports can be found on the Commission webpage.

ENDS

BACKGROUND:

_The Human Rights Council established the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan for a one-year term on 23 March 2016 by **resolution 31/20** and subsequently extended its mandate for an additional year in 2017 (through **resolution 34/25**) and in 2018 (through **resolution 37/31****)_**_, with its current term due to expire in March 2019._

For additional information and media requests, please contact:
Doune Porter, Media Advisor, at +41 79 752 0486 / chrssmedia@ohchr.org

Follow us on Twitter:@UNHumanRights / @UN_HRC and Facebook:unitednationshumanrights / UNHRC

Global Overview

February saw a dangerous escalation between India and Pakistan. In Yemen, the warring parties took a small step to cement a ceasefire in Hodeida, but a breakdown of talks could trigger new clashes. Fighting in Libya’s south intensified and could worsen, and Chad called in French airstrikes to halt a rebel advance. Al-Shabaab stepped up deadly attacks in Somalia, and in South Sudan a government offensive against rebels in the south is picking up steam. Sudan’s President al-Bashir took a harder line against persistent protests. Suspected jihadists stepped up attacks in Burkina Faso; violence escalated in Cameroon’s Anglophone region; and Angola’s separatists announced a return to arms. In Nigeria, election-related violence rose and could flare again around polls to elect governors in March, while there are growing concerns around Ukraine’s upcoming presidential vote. The confrontation hardened between Venezuelan President Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaidó. In Haiti, anti-government protests turned violent. U.S.-Russia relations deteriorated further in a worrying development for the future of arms control. On a positive note, Taliban and U.S. officials resumed talks on a deal for Afghanistan, negotiations aimed at ending the Western Sahara conflict are planned for March, and Nicaragua’s government resumed dialogue with opposition leaders, raising hopes for an end to the political crisis.

SAMIRA Y. SALIFU

Emotions were palpable as over 200 officers of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and Sudan People's Liberation Army in Opposition filled the large auditorium for their meeting in Torit, aimed at consolidating peace in the Eastern Equatoria region. The clergy and civil society representatives were also present.

“Let us show the world that we can live as one and not in pieces,” urged Davidica Ikai Grasiano, chairperson of Itwak women’s association in Torit.

“We want to see the armed forces as symbols of hope and no longer as sources of fear,” said Archangelo Lemi, bishop of the African Inland Church.

“If you are right then you should not get angry. And if you are wrong, then you have no right to get angry,” added Paride Taban, the retired bishop of Torit.

Their pleas, hopes and philosophical ponderings did not go unnoticed by the armed powers that be.

“Many long wars have been fought in the world for different reasons. Let us not forget that ours begun with the fight for independence and that we remain brothers and sisters,” stressed Major General Robert Ewot Okimo, Chief Administrator for the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces, as the country’s recently renamed army is known.

“Our people have scattered all over the world because of our misunderstandings. This is not right. It is now time to unite,” added Major General Benjamin John Baptista, acting Sector Commander of the principal armed opposition group, named the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition, still reflecting its origin in pre-independence times.

After months of behind-the-scenes deliberations, these officers had agreed to meet under the auspices of a trust and confidence building workshop organized by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, in collaboration with the Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring and Verification Mechanism.

“We have been in conflict with each other for so long that now our people have lost faith in us,” admitted Tobiolo Alberio Oromo, the Torit governor.

The one-day forum, also attended by local top government officials, was aimed at re-establishing severed ties caused by the 5-year-long civil war.

Intent on making concrete resolutions, discussions ran late into the night. Besides committing to the creation of a safe passage to areas under each other’s control, both parties also considered ways of sharing intelligence, establishing an office of coordination and the creation of a temporary joint police force to encourage displaced persons to return home.

In September 2018, the main parties to the conflict in South Sudan signed the revitalized peace agreement to end the political turmoil in the country. It is hoped that the accord, if implemented, will bring durable peace to the world’s youngest nation.

Highlights

• South Sudan continues to experience extreme levels of food insecurity, with 6.17 million or 54 percent of the population being food insecure in January 2019.

• WFP and National Relief and Rehabilitation Commission representatives met on February 20th to discuss a coordinated response towards improving humanitarian access in the country.

In Numbers

• 6.17 million people facing acute food insecurity in January 2019 (IPC)

• 2.1 million acutely malnourished women and children (HRP)

• 1.42 million people assisted by WFP in January 2019

• 1.76 million internally displaced people (OCHA)

• 2.47 million South Sudanese refugees (UNHCR)

Situation Update

• South Sudan continues to experience extreme levels of food insecurity, with 6.17 million or 54 percent of the population being food insecure in January 2019. The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report (IPC) released on 22 February warns that nearly 7 million people – 60 percent of the population – could face acute food insecurity at the height of this lean season (May to July).

• The report highlights a worsening food security situation across the country as the number of people needing food assistance in the post-harvest period has increased by 13 percent in January 2019 since January last year. The further deterioration is attributed to conflict-driven displacement, low crop production, economic crisis, climatic shocks and humanitarian access challenges. There is an urgent need for more funds to scale up humanitarian assistance to save lives and protect livelihoods, as well as assistance to rebuild assets and promote livelihoods.

• WFP and National Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) representatives met on 20 February to discuss a coordinated response towards improving humanitarian access in the country. The meeting aimed at reviewing the impact of numerous road blocks hampering the delivery of humanitarian assistance and cargo. President Salva Kiir recently reissued an order for unhindered humanitarian access and, although the number of illegal check points have reduced, joint efforts for improvements are necessary, particularly at state level.

• Following the high-level meeting, WFP and RRC jointly organized a workshop on 22 February that brought together various ministries, humanitarian agencies and other key stakeholders, with the objective of achieving a common understanding of what the humanitarian access issues are and to formulate a solution and a way forward. Plans to continue rolling out the workshop in other areas of South Sudan to continue looking for solutions at the state level are underway.

Why do so few women and girls use emergency latrines? Rachel Hastie shares key findings that could help make sanitation safer in camps.

We looked at the latrine with dismay, as Sarah told us how her relatives had been killed in South Sudan. She had walked to the Ugandan border with her three children and nine nephews and nieces. Their latrine, rapidly constructed in a camp for refugees, was shared with five other families she didn’t know.

Stripped of its plastic sheeting, the shallow latrine was flooded from recent rains. Maggots crawled around the uneven slab set on slippery logs. It was hard not to feel thoroughly ashamed that, in the face of this woman’s courage and resilience, this was the best that humanitarians could provide for her.

Sarah didn’t use the latrine, of course. It offered no privacy, no dignity, and was downright dangerous. Instead, each evening she dug a hole her small plot for the family to defecate into. However, space was running out and the proposed shift to household latrines was painfully slow.

Communal latrines are places of danger for women and girls

In 2017, we joined researchers from the University of Loughborough to find out whether sanitation lighting could reduce the risk of gender-based violence (GBV) in camps. We expected to find out a lot about lighting, but what surprised us was just how few people were using emergency latrines and why.

Like Sarah, an astonishing 92% of women and girls we spoke to said they didn’t use latrines after dark, with many using open defecation and buckets or bags in their shelters, despite there being no safe disposal method.

Similarly, 63% of women in Iraq and 44% in Nigeria said they did not use latrines after dark. Many did not use latrines during day time either, describing men spying or walking in on them, being sexually harassed, and assaulted in or around the latrines.

Who are we building latrines for?

Women and girls use latrines more than males due to menstruation, pregnancies and their long-term impact on women’s bodies. When we asked people what would make them feel safer using the sanitation facilities, we got some strong messages for the humanitarian community.

Lighting alone cannot compensate for poor design and build

Far too many latrine cubicles don’t have doors, never mind locks. They often have flimsy or damaged walls, and lack space for pregnant women, and those with children or helping a disabled relative. Some latrines we saw were just so far from meeting our existing standards that no amount of lighting would ever make them safe.

The shame and risks for women using latrines

Good quality structures in the wrong place can be dangerous too. In Iraq, women and girls were expected to use latrines less than one metre away from those for men. Having lived under strict ISIS control, any contact with a male who was not a close relative held serious consequences for them.

As one aid worker explained: “Latrines are so close together that they cause a massive risk for women. If seen coming out at the same time as a man, you can be labelled a prostitute. Then you are shamed, and can be killed or assaulted by your family, or raped by men in the community who will say that if you tell anyone, they will say you are a prostitute.”

Continuous consultation, and improvement of latrines is key

Women and girls in the Nigeria camp also experienced danger, shame and embarrassment at being seen by men going to the toilet, particularly by male elders. However, after feedback from women, the latrines were upgraded with strong walls and locking doors. Hand-held solar lights helped everyone feel safer going to the latrines after dark, and made it easier to keep them clean.

What can the humanitarian sector learn to make sanitation safer?

Cultural and social factors affect safety around sanitation facilities. Instead of designing latrines with fit, healthy males in mind, we must design for the people who are most marginalised, vulnerable and scared. We need to involve users – especially women and girls – in the design. And we need to make efforts to constantly listen, improve and adapt.

Women and girls in all the locations had alarmingly high levels of fear about GBV – for them, refugee and internally displaced people (IDP) camps are dangerous places, especially the sanitation facilities. None of this comes as a surprise.

Wherever we go to the toilet – Oxford, Nairobi or a refugee camp in a desert – we all want safety, privacy and dignity. By not meeting the standards we have already set for ourselves, we are putting women and girls at greater risk, and undermining our very public health rationale.

Download the ‘Shining a Light’ research report and case studies

Rachel Hastie
Rachel has worked for Oxfam GB for 16 years in field and headquarter posts implementing and supporting humanitarian programmes. Since 2006 she has been the Global Protection Adviser leading Oxfam's programme strategy for protection work.

RÉSUMÉ

« Chaque guerre est une guerre menée contre des enfants. »

Ces paroles prononcées il y a un siècle par Eglantyne Jebb, fondatrice de Save the Children, n'ont jamais résonné aussi fort. À l'heure où nous rédigeons ce rapport, des millions d'enfants à travers le monde sont pris au piège de conflits dont ils ne sont pas responsables. Leurs droits sont souvent bafoués en toute impunité.

Les nouvelles données présentées par Save the Children sont accablantes :

• 420 millions d'enfants (soit près d'un cinquième des enfants dans le monde) vivent dans une zone de conflit, contre près de 30 millions en 2016.

• Le nombre d'enfants vivant dans des zones de conflit a été multiplié par deux depuis la fin de la guerre froide.

• 142 millions d'enfants vivent dans des zones en proie à de violents conflits, où les affrontements font plus de 1 000 victimes par an.

• Une nouvelle analyse réalisée par Save the Children montre que le nombre de « graves violations » des droits des enfants en temps de conflit, rapporté et vérifié par les Nations Unies, a quasiment triplé depuis 2010.

• Des centaines de milliers d'enfants meurent chaque jour, victimes des effets indirects des conflits (malnutrition, maladies et absence de soins médicaux, eau et assainissement, etc.).

La protection des enfants frappés par les conflits, qui va de pair avec la concrétisation des promesses faites dans les déclarations, conventions et textes de loi du XXe siècle, constitue l'un des défis majeurs du XXIe siècle.
On assiste à une évolution de la nature des conflits et de leurs effets sur les enfants, avec de plus en plus de conflits intérieurs et d'acteurs armés. Des campagnes de violence sont menées délibérément à l'encontre de civils ; des écoles sont prises pour cible, des filles sont enlevées et réduites à l'esclavage et les populations sont volontairement affamées.

Les conflits armés durent plus longtemps ; à titre d'exemple, la guerre en Syrie (le conflit le plus important de ces dernières années) a déjà duré plus longtemps que la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Plus un conflit perdure, plus les dommages indirects sont conséquents, car les services essentiels cessent de fonctionner. Dans bon nombre de situations qui s'éternisent, la frontière entre « conflit » et « paix » est devenue floue.

Les conflits se déplacent également de plus en plus vers les zones urbaines ; à Mossoul et à Mogadiscio, par exemple, les enfants, ainsi que leurs maisons et leurs écoles, sont en première ligne, exposés à des attaques perpétrées au hasard. Dans les conflits armés d'aujourd'hui, bien souvent, il n'existe plus de champ de bataille clairement délimité : ce sont les maisons et les écoles qui sont maintenant devenues les terrains d'affrontement.

Les enfants en première ligne

Les enfants sont de plus en plus souvent les principales victimes des violences armées et des guerres. Les souffrances qu'ils endurent en temps de conflit sont différentes de celles des adultes, du fait notamment de leur plus grande faiblesse physique, mais aussi parce qu'ils ont tellement à perdre : leur développement physique, mental et psychosocial dépend en grande partie des conditions de vie de leur enfance.

Les différents effets des conflits sur les enfants dépendent d'un certain nombre de caractéristiques personnelles : principalement leur sexe et leur âge, mais aussi un éventuel handicap, leur origine ethnique, leur religion et leur vie en zone rurale ou urbaine. Les préjudices infligés aux enfants durant les conflits armés sont souvent plus graves que ceux que subissent les adultes et ont des implications à plus long terme, aussi bien pour les enfants euxmêmes que pour leurs sociétés.

Les enfants souffrent des conflits pour trois grandes raisons :

Ils peuvent être délibérément pris pour cible.
Ordonner des atrocités contre des enfants est un moyen extrêmement puissant de terroriser une population ; c'est donc une tactique militaire très prisée par les forces et les groupes armés dans bon nombre des conflits aujourd'hui. Les enfants sont aussi souvent visés parce qu'ils sont faciles à manipuler et à exploiter, par exemple en tant que soldats ou kamikazes. Les écoles deviennent des cibles pour des raisons tactiques : elles se transforment en terrain de recrutement ou sont utilisées à des fins militaires.

Les enfants sont victimes d'actions militaires disproportionnées ou menées au hasard.
Ils peuvent par exemple être tués ou blessés par des mines terrestres ou par l'utilisation d'armes explosives causant de vastes dégâts dans les zones peuplées.

Les enfants souffrent énormément des conséquences indirectes des conflits.
Celles-ci incluent les déplacements, l'effondrement des marchés et des services publics essentiels, comme les soins de santé, l'eau et l'assainissement, ou encore une insécurité généralisée. Bien que les effets indirects et les violations directes fassent tous deux partie du même ensemble de préjudices infligés aux enfants par les conflits modernes, ces conséquences indirectes des conflits touchent et tuent bien plus d'enfants. Sans compter tous les autres enfants privés d'école, qui voient s'envoler leurs chances d'un avenir meilleur.

UNMISS “Protection of Civilians” (PoC) Sites

As of 28 February 2019, a total of number of civilians seeking safety in six Protection of Civilians (PoC) sites located on UNMISS bases is 191,238 including 113,695 in Bentiu, 29,190 in Malakal, 32,444 in Juba UN House, 2,164 in Bor, and 115 in UNMISS base and 13,630 in the area adjacent to UNMISS in Wau “.

Highlights

• Protests continue without pause after the Third Sudanese Revolution broke out in December

• A state of emergency is declared in February as President Bashir dissolves federal and state governments

• An open-ended cessation of hostilities in Sudan’s Two Areas is announced as demonstrations engulf Sudan

Key Developments

• In February, President Omar al Bashir pledged to repeal repressive laws that ‘target women and curb freedom of expression’. Under the Public Order Acts, Sudanese women have for decades faced arrest for “indecent” dress or “immoral” behaviour, crimes which carried punishments of fines and lashes. In his pledge to commit to democratic reform, Bashir also announced the release of journalists detained during the protests.

• The Sudanese Government has pledged to facilitate humanitarian work in South Kordofan, stating it is still waiting for the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/ North (SPLM-N) to respond to the UN Humanitarian Proposal which was put forward in September 2018. A federal delegation from the committee on the implementation of humanitarian work arrived in South Kordofan in February to assess the situation in the state.

• Protesters in Sudan have shown resilience and unprecedented solidarity in their fight to win freedoms and rights as nationwide demonstrations against the autocratic rule of president Al-Bashir show no sign of abating. The uprising of people in Sudan are united ‘more than ever demanding change that seems inevitable even if the regime rules it out’, according to expert Mahmoud Suleiman.

Highlights

• Recent clashes in South Sudan undermine UN report stating that fighting “has diminished greatly” since peace agreement.

• Fighting in South Sudan’s Equatoria region has left thousands displaced.

• Mass sexual violence still growing in South Sudan according to the UN.

• Armed group in the southwestern town of Yambio release 119 child soldiers.

Key Developments

• The United Nations High commissioner for Refugees has appealed on behalf of South Sudanese refugees for the sum of $2.7 million dollars in an attempt to address the largest displacement crisis in Africa.

• The need for humanitarian funds is urgent in South Sudan. According to a recent report by the UN, in the next year 7.1 million people in South Sudan will need humanitarian assistance. Of that number, 5.4 million are facing famine.

• South Sudan’s main opposition group continues resisting reunification. The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement- in Opposition rejected a merger with the ruling Sudan’s peoples liberation Movement, headed by President Kiir. As a result, the government of South Sudan has issued an ultimatum for the opposition leader, Riek Machar, to either come to Juba within the next month, or officially lose his role as the leader of the opposition.

• East African Seed and Seed Co top Access to Seeds Index for Eastern and Southern Africa

• Seed industry efforts to reach smallholders play key part in addressing food security issues

• Maize dominates breeding, raising concerns over securing crop diversity and healthy diets

Nairobi, Kenya, March 4, 2019– Two homegrown African seed companies top the 2019 Access to Seeds Index for Eastern and Southern Africa, for playing a key role in raising smallholder farmer productivity, according to new research by the Amsterdam-based Access to Seeds Foundation.

Kenyan company East African Seed and Seed Co., placed first and second respectively, have both grown their activities in the region since the first index was published in 2016. East African Seed stands out for its broad portfolio including local crops and large network of extension staff across multiple countries. Seed Co, originally from Zimbabwe but now headquartered in South Africa, is the African seed company with the most extensive breeding, production and sales network, and the widest geographic reach in agronomic training.

The Access to Seeds Index 2019 – Eastern and Southern Africa evaluates the actions of 22 leading seed companies in Eastern and Southern Africa. After East African Seed and Seed Co, the top 5 is completed by Thailand’s East-West Seed, US-based Corteva Agriscience (DowDuPont) and Swissbased Syngenta. Ugandan companies Victoria Seeds, NASECO, Equator Seeds and FICA Seeds also make it in the Top 10 – showcasing smallholder farmer-focused operations in their home country and beyond.

“Two African seed companies at the top of the ranking is no surprise, given their deeper understanding of the region and the challenges smallholder farmers face. But Thailand’s East-West Seed in third place is eye-catching too, because it suggests they are transferring their knowhow and experience with smallholders in Asia to Africa,” said Sanne Helderman, Senior Research Lead at the Access to Seeds Index. “It shows also that these relatively small seed companies are ahead of larger multinational seed companies in integrating smallholder farmers into their business models.”

The report highlights a number of other key findings from across the region. The 2019 Index shows that companies are present throughout the region, ranging from 13 in Zambia to five and three in Lesotho and Somalia respectively, and are investing significantly in seed value chain activities. Eight companies report having breeding activities in South Africa, with the same number producing seed in both Kenya and Tanzania. The index also demonstrates that training of smallholders is lagging far behind company sales activities, with none of the companies in Angola (eight), Namibia (seven),
Madagascar (seven) and South Sudan (six) accompanying their sales with extension services.

Maize dominates breeding programs in the region as twice as many companies have active breeding programs for maize as for other important crops, such as dry beans, soybean and tomato. This raises concerns about the ability of smallholder farmers to access a broad range of modern varieties of other important food crops, and in turn contribute to achieving sustainable food systems and healthy and diverse diets. Furthermore, while three quarters of the companies have active breeding programs, for the majority of crops even the youngest variety on offer is over three years old. This raises the question as to whether the industry’s response to rapidly changing climatic conditions is sufficient.

The number of undernourished people in the world reached an estimated 821 million in 2017. According to FAO, the number of undernourished people has been on the rise in Southern Africa in recent years, and despite reaching its lowest levels in 2010 is also increasing once more in Eastern Africa. Climate variability and extremes have been identified as a major reason for the increase. The seed industry has a vital role to play in helping farmers to adapt to climatic challenges while simultaneously raising production levels.

“The index reveals that African seed companies are successfully serving smallholder farmers” said Sanne Helderman of the Access to Seeds Index. “The industry’s reach is however far too low, as COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) reports that just 23% of the smallholders in its member countries have access to improved varieties of major field crops, resulting in low productivity and prompting food security challenges in the region.”

The Access to Seeds Index 2019 is one of the first Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) benchmarks published by the World Benchmarking Alliance. The alliance was launched in September 2018 during the UN General Assembly in New York. The Access to Seeds Index was established with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Government of the Netherlands. The Access to Seeds Index for Eastern and Southern Africa focuses on 22 leading seed companies in this region. This was preceded by a ranking of the industry in South and Southeast Asia and a ranking of Global Seed Companies. An evaluation of the industry in Western and Central Africa is upcoming.

Note for editors

• Link to the online report: www.accesstoseeds.org/index/eastern-southern-africa
• The ranking image, data points and the photos used in the report are online available in the media toolkit
• For more information or interview requests, please contact Anke van Bruggen, Communications Manager: avanbruggen@accesstoseeds.org

1. Highlights

• Three alerts of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) suspected cases were reported from Yambio from 21 - 26 February 2019. Accordingly, the State Rapid Response Team (RRT) investigated, collected blood samples, listed all contacts, and advised the community on the preventive measures.

• The GeneXpert tested negative for all the three EVD suspected cases and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) results tested negative for the three cases.

• Since the launching of vaccination on 28 January 2019, a total of 944 healthcare care workers and frontline workers from Yei and Yambio have received the vaccine against Ebola. Vaccination is ongoing in both States and will be extended to others soon.

• EVD Implementing partners (AAH, CORDAID, IMC, WV) completed EVD checklist for EVD phase #2 planning.

• Standard Operating Procedure (SoPs) dispatched to EVD high risk states for distribution to various health facilities and points of entry.

• The Laboratory TWG training 16 laboratory personnel in Yei River State on EVD laboratory biosafety procedures from 21 – 23 February 2019.

2. Ebola Situation update from North Kivu of Democratic Republic of Congo As of 27 February, 2019:

• 879 EVD cases, including 814 confirmed and 65 probable cases were reported in DRC. Among these, 553 deaths were reported (CFR - 62.9).

• As EVD transmission in DRC continues in North Kivu and Ituri provinces. As at 27 January 2019, 26 news cases were identified (from 21-26 Feb 2019) at Katwa (13), Butembo (9), Kalunguta (1),
  Beni (1), Mandima (1), and Vuhovi (1).

• 22 New Deaths from the same period were reported at Butembo (11), Katwa (9), Mandima (1), and Vuhovi (1).

March 3, 2019 (KHARTOUM) - The former governor of the White Nile State Abu Al-Gasim al-Amin Baraka said the state is hosting 160,000 South Sudanese refugees in the camps besides 60,000 in the various towns.

He pointed out that the government of White Nile State has been saddled with a further financial burden as a result of the presence of large numbers of South Sudanese refugees.

It is noteworthy that Baraka on Sunday has handed over his position to the newly appointed military governor of White Nile State Ahmed Khamis.

Over 2 million South Sudanese refugees have been displaced as a result of the conflict that hit the world’s youngest nation in mid-December 2013.

According to the UN Higher Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as of 15 January 2018, the total South Sudanese refugee population in Sudan stood at 770,110.

Other sources estimate a total of 1.3 million South Sudanese refugees in Sudan, but this data requires verification.

South Sudanese refugees in Sudan have reportedly been distributed in four states including the White Nile, South Kordofan, East Darfur and Khartoum states, amid concerns the current numbers will rise.

In August 2016, Sudan officially declared that South Sudanese fleeing war in their country will be treated as refugees, which opens the door for the UN to provide them with aid and fund aid programs.

(ST)

The Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) is a system to track and monitor displacement and population mobility, provide critical information to decision-makers and responders during crises, and contribute to better understandings of migration flows.