KEY MESSAGES
Acute food security outcomes worsen as the lean season progresses due to high food prices, reduced income, and persistent insecurity that continually disrupt livelihoods of the affected population. Displaced populations in Jonglei’s Pibor County are the worst affected as insecurity has deterred humanitarian access. Pibor County and other areas face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) acute food insecurity (Figure 1).
Prices of staple foods continue to be high as households increase reliance on markets. Prices of most commodities are above five-year averages and will peak during the seasonal lean period between May and July. Although trade is expected to improve between Sudan and South Sudan, poor households are not expected to reap immediate benefits.
The Implementation Matrix agreement signed between South Sudan and Sudan is expected to improve relations between the two countries. Oil production has resumed and is likely to improve the economic situation of the country, as will the establishment of cross-border points and enhanced security for improve trade. Restrictions on trade and migration have limited income sources and substantially impacted food access for communities in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Warrap, Unity and Upper Nile.
