DEVELOPMENTS
• On 19 March WFP obtained from the Government of South Sudan the non-objection letter for the use of the corridor from Gambella, Ethiopia to Upper Nile and Jonglei states, South Sudan. This will allow access to people displaced by the current conflict in the two states and to refugees hosted in Maban County.
• Road convoys are expected to depart from Gambella this week, to meet the needs of refugees in Maban and IDPs and conflict-affected people in Jonglei and Upper Nile states, who have suffered delays with March distributions as a result of WFP’s inability to use the corridor until now. About 1,300 mt of cereals have also been locally purchased in Renk, Upper Nile and will be distributed to refugees in Maban this week. [WFP South Sudan Situaon Report #20]
• Rainy season non-food items for Unity State are largely prepositioned. Challenges persist in Upper Nile.