HIGHLIGHTS
Recent clashes in Malakal town, Upper Nile State, and related inter-communal violence within the local UNMISS base resulted in at least 17 deaths and wounded approximately 150 people, according to the U.N.
Humanitarian actors are pre-positioning food commodities and relief supplies in advance of the April-to-August rainy season.
KEY DEVELOPMENTS
Fighting has resulted in increased population displacement in recent days, with violence displacing more than 883,000 people—including both internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees fleeing to neighboring countries—since December 15, according to the U.N.
Escalating insecurity continues to impede consistent, life-saving humanitarian support in conflict-affected areas of South Sudan, particularly in Upper Nile, where fighting between Government of the Republic of South Sudan (RSS) forces and opposition groups has hindered humanitarian operations in Malakal. Population movements continue in Malakal, with many IDPs seeking protection at the UNMISS base, while other people have fled the UNMISS base for areas of greater security.
In an effort to coordinate relief activities for displaced populations and expand emergency assistance where possible, humanitarian organizations continue to focus efforts on pre-positioning of food supplies and relief commodities prior to the upcoming April-to-August rainy season, which will likely impede humanitarian access to populations in need through October.
The U.N. World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the number of measles cases has declined in all major IDP sites in South Sudan during the week of February 17, with 71 reported cases compared to nearly 172 cases reported the previous week. Despite improvements, measles remains a significant public health concern in conflict-affected areas.