Highlights
The alarming nutritional status of children in South Sudan is of serious concern. As a consequence of the crisis, the burden of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in South Sudan has doubled and about 222,700 will be in need of treatment for severe acute malnutrition. UNICEF has developed a Nutrition Emergency Response strategy to scale up nutrition interventions in the three conflict affected states of Upper Nile, Jonglei, Unity, and states that contribute significantly to the national burden of SAM (Warrap, Northern Bahr el Ghazal).
As part of the Inter-Rapid Response Mechanism (UNICEF, WFP, FAO) multi-sector response has been provided in four locations, Akobo, Melut, Nyal and Mayandit. Response in Kodok, Pagak, and Haat is ongoing or planned for this week. With these missions, humanitarian actors are providing aid to populations that have not been reached since the start of the crisis, and are gathering data on the situation of children and women and their existing critical needs in each location.
Through the Rapid Response teams, over 8,800 children under five years were screened for malnutrition in Akobo and Mayendit. Based on the screening, the rate of malnutrition appeared high in both locations. Over 400 separated and unaccompanied children were identified and registration and family tracing in ongoing in the four locations. Health, Nutrition and Education supplies were distributed to meet the immediate needs.
A total of 241 incidents of grave child rights violations were reported under the monitoring and reporting mechanism (MRM), which represents a significant increase when compared to the 17 incidents reported in the last quarter of 2013.
