Background
The humanitarian situation in South Sudan has deteriorated significantly since December 2013 when violence erupted in Juba. Since mid December, the violence has spread throughout the country and has affected seven out of ten states, leaving over 600,000 people displaced by the violence, with the likelihood that additional populations are also affected and not yet reached. With active hostilities ongoing, access via surface level transport (river and road) has been significantly impeded due to insecurity leaving humanitarians with limited options to deliver life saving cargo to the displaced populations scattered across the country. Delivery of humanitarian supplies via main supply routes is likely to be disrupted and the humanitarian community will need to explore alternative options in order to secure the prepositioning of humanitarian relief items.
In addition to security constraints, the complex operating environment presents further challenges in terms of delivering large quantities of humanitarian aid. Poor infrastructure and limited logistics assets currently in country negatively impact the humanitarian response and ongoing insecurity and active violence continue to affect the majority of South Sudan’s weak road network, isolating communities in need and rendering the provision of humanitarian assistance extremely difficult with most areas accessible only by air.