By Caritas Internationalis|18 February 2014|Advocacy, Africa, Conflicts and Disasters, Emergencies, Emergencies in Darfur and South Sudan, Peacebuilding, South Sudan

A huge humanitarian crisis is now affecting the majority of South Sudan with close to one million people forced from their homes as they flee violence. These questions and answers on South Sudan are aimed at explaining the crisis.

Why did the conflict happen?

In the past year there have been growing tensions within the government and the ruling SPLM political party.

The failure to address these differences internally within the party contributed to the escalation of tension that led to the violence that erupted on the 15 December 2013 in the capital Juba.

There is also a history of violence between communities in South Sudan that has never been properly addressed. Because there was not adequate reconciliation or healing it has resulted vicious cycles of violence continuing and exacerbating the current conflict.

People engaged in conflict and violence as a means to address their grievances either political or personal.

There is a political opposition group that has taken up arms, led by the former vice president, Dr. Riak Macher. He was part of a group calling for reform within the party in early December.

After one month of fighting on 23 January they signed a ceasefire with the South Sudanese government led by President Salva Kiir. It is hoped that peace talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia between the two parties will continue soon. The ceasefire has been followed by further outbreaks of fighting.

Other less organised elements, both groups and individuals have also engaged in fighting and acts of violence. While sometimes aligning themselves or being used by certain players in the conflict, their motivation to participate is more complicated.

Regional players are also involved in the conflict, with Ugandan troops in the country and other countries involving themselves in the meditation process between the two main parties.

How has this affected the people of South Sudan?

Besides the initial fighting in the country’s capital Juba; three state capitals (Bor, Malakal and Benitu) have experience fierce fighting. Thousands of people have been killed in the crisis, official numbers are not clear but on 9 January the International Crisis Group estimated over 10,000 had died.

Those who have fled are now either in IDP camps or UN Bases or have left the country. It is now estimated that 3.2 million people are in need of assistance. Humanitarian needs include ensuring those displaced are projected from further violence; have food, shelter, clean water, adequate sanitation, health and psychosocial services.

What is the position of the Catholic Church in South Sudan?

Caritas aid includes food, plastic sheeting, blankets, mats, jerry cans, soap, mosquito nets, clean water and health care.

The Catholic Bishops of Sudan and South Sudan held an Extraordinary Plenary Assembly of the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Juba, South Sudan, from 21 to 31 January 2014, and shared a Pastoral Exhortation, entitled “Let us refound our nation on a new covenant”.

They stated “South Sudan must never be the same again”. There is no longer a “business as usual” approach. Now is the time for our nation to rise from the ashes, but not to take up where the old one left off. Now is the time for a new nation, they said.

They stated they believe the way forward must include: truth and reconciliation, inclusive negotiations, governance and democratic institutions, responsible media, reform of the armed forces, education and building a new South Sudan.

How is Caritas helping?

Caritas agencies have supported the humanitarian needs of the people suffering from the onset of the crisis. Churches have sheltered those fleeing from the violence and Caritas agencies have supported them to aid those displaced from the violence.

Initial assistance has been provided including household items, shelter, food water, sanitation and health services thanks to Caritas South Sudan, the diocesan Caritas offices, congregations, churches and international Caritas agencies in the country; CAFOD, Caritas Switzerland, Cordaid and CRS.

It is the hope that these efforts can be scaled up in the coming months with the support of the Caritas Internationalis Appeal for South Sudan, a three-month rapid response to support those affected by the crisis across the country.

Director of Caritas South Sudan, Gabriel Yai, said, “Our people our suffering and need your help during these difficult times”.

Bonifacio Taban

Last updated on: February 19, 2014 12:08 PM

KIRYANDONGO SETTLEMENT, UGANDA — Nyuon Isaac hammered a nail into a plank of wood at Kiryandongo refugee settlement in northern Uganda.

The South Sudan native is putting down roots, weeks after fleeing his home in Juba when the young nation plunged into violence.

"I became displaced on December 15," Isaac explained to VOA.

"That was in Juba. I lost most of my relatives and brothers. I will not come back soon to South Sudan, so... I decide to make a house around here so that my family manages to reside here until maybe the time comes for me to go back to South Sudan,” he said.

Isaac is one of more than 156,000 people who have fled to neighboring countries since fighting broke out in South Sudan. Nearly half of them -- 76,000 -- went to Uganda, a country that has been welcoming refugees for decades.

The Ugandan government allocates land for housing and farming in settlement areas to some refugees and allows freedom of movement to those who do not wish to live in a settlement, provided they have the means to make a living for themselves, the U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, says on its website.

"Compared to camps, which are not found in Uganda, settlements such as the ones in Uganda provide greater livelihood opportunities for refugee families to achieve socio-economic security, reducing their dependency on food and other assistance," UNHCR says.

Kiryandongo also gives the South Sudanese refugees a safe place to live, basic food and water, and access to schools for their children. Few, if any of the refugees at the settlement have plans to return to South Sudan anytime soon.

'They came and killed Pastor Nyang'

James Bap Manyol, who was a pastor at a Presbyterian church in Juba, left South Sudan after several of his colleagues, including a senior pastor with whom he was very close, were shot dead in front of him.

"They came and killed Nyang Lam. I see that with my own eyes. He put on the cloth of leadership and they killed Pastor Nyang. And they also killed Racial Nyakan Biel, who is the deacon in my church, in the same church. I fear to go to South Sudan," Manyol said.

The refugees are reluctant to go back to South Sudan, even though a second round of peace talks is under way in Addis Ababa. The first round, although difficult, resulted in the pro- and anti-government sides agreeing to stop fighting and expedite the release of 11 political figures who were detained shortly after the fighting began.

Seven of the 11 detainees have been set free and are in the Ethiopian capital for the latest round of peace talks.

But even as the negotiations continue, the fighting in South Sudan has not stopped, with fresh clashes that broke out in Malakal on Tuesday between the SPLA and opposition forces claiming at least 10 lives, according to the U.N. Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Sunday Martin said she will not return to South Sudan. until she's sure that peace has been restored.

“People, they are telling us that there is peace, but there is not any peace," said Sunday, who lost her father in the fighting in South Sudan.

"Those people who went there, they don’t come back. Even those who are in UNMISS, if someone went out to get something, those people, they don’t return," she said, referring to the tens of thousands of South Sudanese who have sought refuge at U.N. bases and compounds in the country.

As Sunday spoke, Isaac's hammer pounded another nail into another plank of wood. He's not a carpenter by trade and building a house is a difficult and costly task for him. Building it so far from home makes it harder still, but Isaac and the others at Kiryandongo feel they don't really have a choice but to stay in Uganda as they wait for peace and security to return to South Sudan.

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

As the head of UN Women, one important part of my job is listening to women and girls and amplifying their voices on the world stage.

I am sending this dispatch from Juba, the capital of South Sudan, where I had the opportunity to meet with displaced women who are bearing the brunt of conflict and raising their voices for peace.

Since the recent conflict erupted in December 2013, it is estimated that more than 872,000 people have been displaced; forced to leave their homes, in fear for their lives. To provide food, water, health, and safety to the 3.2 million people who are affected, the international aid community appealed for USD $1.27 billion. So far, they have received just 18 per cent of what is required, and there is a shortfall of more than USD $1 billion.

Increased funding is urgently needed. More than 75,000 people are seeking shelter inside UN bases around the country, including 27,000 in the base here in Juba.

I spoke to women who had left their homes and belongings behind and are struggling to care for their children. They told me about their suffering, the violence they had endured, the children and husbands they had lost or been separated from. They told me about the lack of food, water and medication and the lack of safe spaces for them and their children to receive some form of education. They told me about disease and death. And they told me about their yearning for peace for South Sudan.

While partners are scaling up access to water, health, sanitation and nutrition support to avert a looming public health disaster, durable solutions must be found, including restoration of confidence in the rule of law, so that people can return to their homes when they feel safe to do so.

Many women here are pregnant, lactating, or caring for infants, and they face serious health risks due to lack of nutrition. Displaced people here live under thin plastic sheeting, and they worry that when the rainy season comes, they will not be protected from the elements.

The conflict in South Sudan has exacerbated the poverty and violence experienced by women. Eight out of 10 women are illiterate, and the rate of violence against women and girls is extremely high. The most recent study found that as many as 40 per cent are affected by physical or sexual violence.

Despite hardship and displacement, the women I met with are keen to rebuild their country, and to focus on self-improvement and opportunities to generate income in the future. South Sudan has one of the most progressive constitutions in the world in which the rights of women are guaranteed. Thanks in part to advocacy and the South Sudan Women for Peace, at the talks that began last week in Ethiopia, both parties included women their negotiating teams.

In addition to meeting women, I also met with President Salva Kiir, and key Ministers, UN agencies, and women leaders. We discussed women’s full participation in the political talks, and the need to prioritize women’s needs and rights in the political negotiations and the humanitarian and security response.

As one of the displaced women told me, “All we ask for is peace so that we can go back to our lives. We want our children to go home, to school and to get nutritious food and proper health services.”

These demands and hopes must be heard. Any lasting solution to the crisis in South Sudan requires the leadership participation of women.

With safety, human rights and empowerment, women can claim their equal place in society and help realize a more peaceful and prosperous future.

Read more about my visit:http://owl.li/tN4Gv
Follow me on Twitter @phumzileunwomen.

Author: Amelia Stewart, World Food Programme

Highlights

• The ETC Response Solution, comprising technologies from emergency.lu and Ericsson Response, has been installed in Mingkaman (Lakes state). It has been operating since February 10 and providing internet connectivity to relief workers from the common humanitarian hub.

• The ETC has installed connectivity equipment in the UNMISS compound in Bor and is now providing the humanitarian community there with internet services.

Highlights

• South Sudanese continue to cross the border into Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan. Even though the number of new arrivals has stabilized, the situation remains precarious.

• More than 150,000 South Sudanese have arrived since mid-December and UNHCR pro- jects that the number could rise to 320,000 by the end of the year.

• WFP assists new arrivals at border crossings, reception centres and camps, with a particular focus on the nutritional status of children and pregnant and breastfeeding women. Coordina- tion with UNHCR ensures that assistance is timely and effective under difficult circum- stances.

HIGHLIGHTS

• An estimated 27,600 people have arrived in Sudan from South Sudan, according to humanitarian partners.

• UN urges Government of Sudan and SPLM-N to declare an immediate cessation of hostilities and allow humanitarians to provide aid to people in need.

• According to FEWS NET, as of January 2014 an estimated 3.3 million people in Sudan face Stressed (IPC Phase 2) and Crisis (IPC Phase 3) levels of food insecurity.

• The UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has allocated US$ 5 million for a multi-sectoral emergency response to the nutrition crisis in Sudan.

CCCM Cluster South Sudan Operations Update - 19 February 2014

HIGHLIGHTS

• IOM has declared a system-wide Level 3 Emergency in response to the South Sudan crisis

• A new water pipeline supporting IDPs on the UNMISS Malakal base has been completed

• Shelter and NFI response began in Awerial last week, with 9,000 households targeted

13– 19 February 2014

Key highlights

• As of this reporting period, a total of 716,100 people are reported to be displaced within South Sudan. Another 156,800 people have fled to the neighboring countries.

• South Sudan is currently operating at Level 3, following the declaration by the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator of the country to be upgraded to level 3 on 11 February. WHO subsequently has deployed and stepped up all operations to Level 3.

• Heavy fight was reported in Malakal, Upper Nile state within this reporting period, 17 fatalities recorded as of 18 February 2013.

• WHO continued support to field operations with drugs and other medical supplies to facilitate health interventions in all areas of need especially in the internally displaced people’s camps.

• The organization continues to support early warning disease surveillance in all areas affected by conflict.

• Congestion in various IDP sites especially in Tomping, Malakal and in Bor Protection of Civilian (PoC) IDP sites remains a public health concern. This puts people in these camps at high risk of epidemic prone disease, Meningitis and Cholera.

In South Sudan, 3.2 million people are in need of life-saving assistance and more than 707,000 people are internally displaced.
On 2 January, the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) set aside US$15.3 million to help address the most urgent needs. The CERF grant was distributed in coordination with a $43 million allocation from the South Sudan Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF). The CERF funds will be used for camp management, humanitarian air services and safety and security while the CHF will fund critical gaps in humanitarian clusters. Jointly, CERF and CHF provided $58 million to date in 2014.
With almost 150,000 people seeking refuge in neighboring countries, CERF is also providing funding to address needs in Uganda ($6.9 million) and Kenya ($5 million).

02/20/2014 22:58 GMT

WASHINGTON, 20 février 2014 (AFP) - Un collectif d'influentes organisations non gouvernementales, la plupart américaines, pressent les Etats-Unis de s'engager plus fortement au Soudan du Sud et en République centrafricaine (RCA), deux pays ravagés par des conflits à dimension religieuse et ethnique.

Dans un courrier du 14 février adressé au secrétaire d'Etat John Kerry, et dont l'AFP a obtenu une copie, ces 26 ONG exhortent Washington à "prendre des mesures pour que des opérations de maintien de la paix dans (les deux pays) aient les meilleures chances d'arrêter la violence, de protéger les civils et de stabiliser l'une des régions les plus volatiles de la planète".

Ces organisations, comme Human Right Watch, International Crisis Group, International Rescue Committee ou United to End Genocide, demandent que "les Etats-Unis rétablissent un engagement diplomatique solide en RCA et au Soudan du Sud".

Washington a de facto fermé à Noël 2012 son ambassade à Bangui et maintient une présence minimale à Juba.

"L'absence de personnel de l'USAID (l'agence d'aide humanitaire du département d'Etat, Ndlr) au Soudan du Sud et le manque de présence en RCA (...) donne l'impression que la politique américaine est incohérente en matière de prévention des crimes de masse", critiquent les ONG.

Marquée par son incapacité à empêcher le génocide au Rwanda en 1994, la diplomatie américaine s'est plusieurs fois alarmée d'une situation "pré-génocidaire" entre chrétiens et musulmans en Centrafrique et a évoqué ce risque pour le Soudan du Sud, où deux camps politiques et ethniques s'affrontent.

Dans ce pays né de la partition du Soudan en 2011, sous parrainage des Etats-Unis, la Mission des Nations unies au Soudan du Sud (Minuss) -- dont les effectifs viennent d'être portés à 12.000 Casques bleus -- protège 22.000 civils dans sa base de Malakal (Etat du Haut Nil) et 75.000 personnes dans tout le pays.

Pour la RCA, Washington a débloqué 100 millions de dollars d'assistance militaire logistique à la Misca, la force de l'Union africaine. Ces troupes, comme les soldats français, travaillent sous mandat de l'ONU, mais les Nations unies voudraient lancer une véritable opération de maintien de la paix, avec 10.000 Casques bleus.

Les ONG demandent ainsi à M. Kerry "d'inclure dans sa demande de budget (auprès du Congrès) pour l'année 2015 le financement d'une opération de l'ONU en RCA".

Le secrétaire d'Etat a bien reçu ce courrier et "les Etats-Unis continuent de travailler avec leurs partenaires africains et internationaux à une solution pacifique en RCA et au Soudan du Sud", a répondu à l'AFP un diplomate américain.

nr/bdx

© 1994-2014 Agence France-Presse

(Feb. 20, 2014) The National Ministry of Education has donated 300 mattresses to the National Ministry of Health.

Education Minister John Gai Nyuot, says the mattresses will be distributed to hospitals in Bor, Malakal and Bentiu which were badly affected by the crisis.

Gai says each hospital will receive 100 mattresses for patients. The hand over event was attended by the Ministers of Education and Health at Rombur teachers’ Training institute in Juba.

En quoi consiste l’Action humanitaire pour les enfants ?

Le rapport Action humanitaire pour les enfants constitue l’appel mondial de l’UNICEF. Il présente les difficultés rencontrées par les enfants dans des situations de crises humanitaires, le soutien nécessaire pour les aider à survivre et à s’épanouir, ainsi que les résultats possibles, y compris dans les situations les plus difficiles. Au cours des dernières années, l’appel a progressivement évolué vers une communication en ligne, permettant une actualisation régulière des contenus. Dans le cadre des efforts continus de l’UNICEF visant à renforcer l’approche stratégique et axée sur les résultats de ses systèmes, le rapport en ligne Action humanitaire pour les enfants présente les appels humanitaires par pays, en fonction des besoins, des standards et des objectifs. Il met en avant les résultats obtenus en faveur des enfants et des femmes. Les appels et les résultats sont actualisés régulièrement, selon l’évolution de la situation des pays. Le rapport Action humanitaire pour les enfants suit la ligne des Plans d’interventions stratégiques inter-institutions des Nations Unies.

Pour plus de détails et d’informations, rendez-vous sur le site de l’Action humanitaire pour les enfants : <www.unicef.org/appeals>

¿Qué es Acción Humanitaria para la Infancia?

Acción Humanitaria para la Infancia (HAC por sus siglas en inglés) es el llamamiento mundial de UNICEF que destaca los retos a los que se enfrentan los niños en situaciones humanitarias, el apoyo que se requiere para ayudarles a sobrevivir y prosperar, y los resultados que son posibles incluso en las circunstancias más difíciles. En los últimos años, el llamamiento se ha movido progresivamente en la red online, donde los contenidos se pueden actualizar con regularidad. Como parte de los constantes esfuerzos de UNICEF por hacer sus sistemas más estratégicos y basados en resultados, HAC online presenta llamamientos humanitarios individuales basados en necesidades, estándares y objetivos, al tiempo que muestra los resultados obtenidos. Los llamamientos y resultados seactualizan de manera regular basados en el contexto nacional. El HAC está alineado con los Planes Estratégicos de Respuesta inter-agencial de las Naciones Unidas.

Para más información, visite la página del HAC: <www.unicef.org/appeals>

(Feb. 21, 2014) Authorities in Warrap say calm has returned to the State following recent attacks in Tonj East and Tonj North Counties.

The acting State minister for information Paul Dhel Gum says security forces are on alert to protect civilians from any further attacks.

Dhel says the attackers could not be identified.

“Well we couldn’t identify them whether they are rebels but it is likely that they are cattle raiders because they were targeting the cattle camps that why the fighting took place in the cattle camps. “

“The security situation is calm; our people are on high alert to defend their territory, to defend properties to themselves from any aggression whether from cattle herders or rebels of Riek Machar.” Dhel explains

Meanwhile, Dhel says security forces have recovered hundreds of cows that were stolen in separate raids over the past few days.

About 400 head of cattle were taken in separate attacks in Tonjy East and Tonjy North Counties.

The Minister says nine civilians and more than 150 attackers were killed. In Upper Nile, the government says SPLA soldiers have made a tactical withdrawal from parts of the town.

South Africa - Since the outbreak of violence in South Sudan in mid-December 2013, IOM has been providing life-saving transport from the borders for thousands of South Sudanese refugees fleeing into neighbouring Ethiopia and Kenya.

At least 716,100 people are now internally displaced in South Sudan, with 75,300 seeking physical protection in UN peacekeeping mission bases. A further 156,800 South Sudanese have fled to neighboring countries and the exodus is continuing.

On 17th February fighting between government and opposition forces broke out in Malakal, Upper Nile State, breaking the ceasefire agreement signed in January. Numerous casualties have been reported and humanitarian activities within the Protection of Civilians (PoC) area on the UNMISS Malakal base have now been put on hold.

Unrest has also broken out among internally displaced people (IDPs) in the PoC area. Reports have also emerged of heavy fighting in Tonj East and North counties in Warrap State. The situation elsewhere in the country remains relatively calm, but unpredictable.

In Ethiopia, IOM, in coordination with UNHCR and the Administration for Refugee and Returnees Affairs (ARRA), has provided road transport for over 11,822 refugees from the Pagak and Matar entry points to the Leitchor Refugee Camp.

Relocation of refugees by boat has also started from the Akobo entry point in Tergol to Lietchor and Fugnido refugee camps. The boat is now the only means of transport from Tergol.

IOM has acquired five boats – two passenger vessels each with a capacity of 200 people, two security escort boats and one luggage boat to facilitate movements along the 67 nautical mile stretch of the Akobo River to the Burbeiy docking point.

From there ground transportation will be provided to Lietchor refugee camp, 65 kilometres away, and Pugnido camp, 297 kilometres away. Each person will get a life jacket as a safety precaution during the trip.

UNHCR and ARRA registration indicates that over 24,000 South Sudanese refugees are in need of transport from Tergol. IOM has also deployed migration health physicians to provide pre-departure health checks, together with operations and emergency response specialists to facilitate the movement.

In Kenya, an average of 335 South Sudanese are arriving every day at the Nadapal border point. Since 22nd January 2014, IOM and UNHCR have provided transport assistance to over 18,049 refugees from the border to Kakuma refugee camp.

In Sudan, IOM has been tracking the number of refugees trickling in to South Kordofan and East Darfur States since 25 December, and is monitoring secondary displacement. Data from the tracking exercise is shared with humanitarian actors to better target aid. A total of 7,503 people have been registered.

With financial backing from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, IOM Uganda has also started to provide assistance in the health, water, sanitation and hygiene sectors, targeting 11,382 South Sudanese refugees in Adjumani district.

For more information please contact

Bogdan Danila IOM Pretoria Email: PRD@iom.int Tel: +254715854411

February 20, 2014 (KIRYANDONGO) – A group of South Sudanese refugees are camped at a settlement site in Kiryandongo, one of Uganda’s new districts located about 250km north of the capital, Kampala. To most of them, the dream of a home return, was still far from reality.

These refugees were among the hundreds that fled the new nation days after violence broke out in the country’s capital, Juba and later extended to Unity, Upper Nile and Jonglei states.

Widely seen as sparked off by a dispute among the presidential guards, the violence later took an ethnic dimension between the Dinka and Nuer, two of the country’s largest tribes, leaving thousands of people dead and nearly 800,000 homeless.

But for Isaac Nyuon, Uganda was yet another home for him and his family.

“Well, you can survive everywhere. I got displaced on the 15 December that was in Juba where I lost most of my relatives and brothers and I have seen peaceful situations. I will not come back soon to South Sudan,” said Nyuon with a sense of frustration all over his face.

To him, however, putting up the structure was no easy ride due to insufficient money. “It is not easy here to make maybe a house a day or in a time, a lot of materials are needed here in this house and we don’t buy them at once,” he said.

“So we buy them one by one until it is enough became they are very expensive and transporting them from where I bought them to this place cost a lot. So far, it has taken me three weeks and today they are trying to do the plastering”, added Nyuon.

Rebecca Nyapajiek Gatluok, 48, fled from Juba after she claimed many people, mainly from the Nuer tribe died. Gatluok, who spoke through an interpreter, vowed to remains in Uganda than go back to her largely unstable country.

“This war has affected me deeply. I don’t know whether the international community will get involved to bring peace to South Sudan,” said the 48-year old as she broke into tears.

“There will still be no peace if we still have the same president who ordered the troops to kills the innocent civilians that include my relatives and other colleagues that are civilians in South Sudan. I will not accept than peace has come, until am convinced by God,” she added.

Mary Nyantiop Jok, a Jonglei state resident says she was forced out from her home by conflict.

“Absolutely, I don’t know whether the peace will come. The man of liberation Dr. John [Garang] has already died and now they are just fighting over money,” said Jok.

James Bap Manyol, a pastor from Presbyterian Church says he would not risk returning to South Sudan having witnessed his religious colleagues being killed during the conflict.

“I lost someone who was very important in my life, a pastor senior pastor called Nyang Lam. He died on 17 [December]. The president had called us back to stay at home, but unfortunately they came and killed Lam while I saw that man with my own eye”, said Pastor Manyol.

“He put all colors, all the cloth of leadership but they killed pastor Nyang. And they also killed Racial Nyakan Biel who was the deacon in my church. I fear to go to South Sudan because the president ordered people to die”, he added.

Sunday Martin, who lost his father during the conflict also ruled out any possibility about returning to the new nation, saying only a change in leadership, could usher in relative peace.

“Now I can’t go back, people they are telling us that there is peace, but there is no any peace, because if you go there, those people who went there they don’t come back”, said Martin.

“Even those who are in UNMISS [UN Mission in South Sudan], if someone went out to get something, they do not return. So I don’t think I will go back there now,” he added.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir, despite all the fears from citizens, has assured the population of his government’s commitment to restore peace and stability, saying those found to have committed atrocities against civilians would be held accountable by the leadership.

Thousands of people were killed and nearly 800,000 displaced by the violence that broke out in the country in mid-December last year. Also, hundreds of South Sudanese have been displaced into neighbouring Uganda, Kenya, Sudan and Ethiopia.

Mission highlights

• In 2013, despite the impact of floods and insecurity in some areas, generally favourable rains and absence of major outbreaks of pests and diseases favoured cereal crop production in the traditional farming sector of South Sudan.

• Accordingly, total cereal harvested area in the traditional sector increased by about 2.8 percent resulting in an estimated net cereal production of about 892 000 tonnes, about 13 percent above the revised 2012 estimates and 22 percent above the average of the previous five years.

• Net cereal production from the rain-fed large and small scale mechanized sector in Upper Nile State is estimated at a reduced 57 000 tonnes due to a decline in planted area and a late onset of rains.

• Livestock conditions were generally good due to adequate pasture and water availability.

• Prices of locally produced cereals have declined in most markets since August 2013 and were below or around their levels in November 2012. Livestock prices, especially for small ruminants, were stable or increasing during the second half of 2013 in most markets. Terms-of-trade for pastoralists have generally improved.

• With a projected population of about 11.9 million people in mid-2014, which includes about 2 million returnees from 2008, the overall cereal deficit until the next harvest in late 2014 is estimated at nearly 409 000 tonnes, about 60 000 tonnes less than the revised deficit estimate for 2013.

• At the time of the Mission, food insecurity in South Sudan had reached a five-year minimum; just over 3.7 million people (33.4 percent of the population) had inadequate food consumption in October 2013, compared with 40 percent at the same time last year.

• The conflict is reversing these recent gains in food security. By end of January 2014, an estimated 863 000 people had been displaced, of which 123 000 were in neighbouring countries. Military confrontation has been most severe in Jonglei, Unity, Upper Nile, states which had higher levels of severe food insecurity, the highest cereal deficits in the country and very high dependency on markets for staple food purchases.

• Preliminary IPC analysis of late January 2014 estimates about 6 million people are in stress, crisis and emergency phases, an increase of 2 million people relative to pre-conflict levels. Of this total, 3.2 million are in emergency or crisis phases. These numbers exclude the 740 000 IDPs within South Sudan.

• Continuing insecurity is affecting trade routes from Uganda, through which food supplies are brought to other wider areas of South Sudan. The impact on markets of this restriction in food supplies is taking place as households exhaust their stocks and enter the period when dependency on markets for food supplies becomes greater. This will affect negatively the food security status of populations even in regions far from direct conflict.

Highlight

• An estimated 716,500 people have been displaced inside South Sudan since the conflict started in December 2013. Another 166,900 people have fled to neighbouring countries.
• Heavy fighting in and around Malakal broke out from 18 February, with inter-communal clashes also sparking within the UN base sheltering over 20,000 people.
• Aid agencies focused on pre-positioning relief items in least affected states and securing sufficient supplies in Juba for conflict-affected areas, ahead of the rainy season.
• The Crisis Response Plan is 17.7 per cent funded, leaving a shortfall of $1.05 billion. Funds are urgently needed for the core pipelines and frontline services.