Highlights and priorities
• March saw South Sudan and Sudan agree to implement September 2012 Comprehensive Peace Agreements, resulting in the resumption of oil production and an improvement in relations between the two nations. Austerity measures had stunted economic growth over the past year, following the shutdown of oil activities in January 2012.
• Armed hostilities and inter-communal violence continued to cause humanitarian concern, especially in Jonglei State where fighting between the South Sudan army and non-state armed actors led to tens of thousands of people estimated to have been displaced.
• Sudanese continued to flee conflict and increased food insecurity in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, albeit arriving into South Sudan in lower numbers than in 2012. By the end of April, 190,000 Sudanese were receiving humanitarian assistance in Unity and Upper Nile states.
• Some improvements in food insecurity meant that 4.1 million people were food insecure going into 2013, down from 4.7 million previously anticipated. However, one million people are expected to remain severely food insecure in 2013.
• By the end of April, about 29,000 South Sudanese returned from Sudan, bringing the total number of people who have returned since 2007 to about 1.9 million individuals. A lack of a land allocation strategy and livelihood support systems delayed the smooth re-integration and resettlement of new arrivals back to South Sudan. Close to 20,000 people remained stranded in transit in South Sudan.
• The Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) for South Sudan allocated some US$56 million towards aid and emergency preparedness, enabling the humanitarian community to respond to humanitarian needs and preposition aid ahead of the rainy season.