Emergency Nutrition Intervention in Unity and Jonglei States (Koch County, Bentiu PoC and Fangak County) In Unity State, Koch, Mayendit, Bentiu and Leer Counties have been the flashpoints in the conflict which has continued to uproot and displace households, where over 50 percent of the population is already internally displaced ongoing conflict has caused new displacements in Koch, Mayendit, Rubkona, and Leer and into neighboring Jonglei state in December 2016. The convergence of evidence shows that the long term effects of the conflict coupled with high food prices, economic crisis, low agricultural production and depleted livelihood options have resulted to poor access to food and inadequate market functionality.  Food insecurity is particularly severe among IDPs, the majority of whom are displaced to nearby swamps and lack access to food aid or basic health services. Most are surviving on wild foods and fish, and some have recently moved to Panyijiar and Fangak.

The internal and external conflicts always result in displacement of people thus increasing tensions and raising the level of vulnerability among county residents in competition for scarce resources. Levels of acute malnutrition remain critical in Koch and Bentiu POC as well as Fangak which has continued to bear influx of IDPs fleeing violence in unity state. An IPC report December2016 shows Extreme levels of food insecurity are expected across South Sudan through at least the first half of 2017. Food availability is likely to be lower than normal due to below-average production and volatile trade. Very high prices will further limit food access. Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes already exist in several areas, including in Koch County. In February 2017, Koch County was declared as "famine likely to happen." This situation could exhaust their capacity to cope and be in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5). Continued humanitarian assistance, improved access is therefore needed to save lives. 

This project will support the call for scale up of nutrition activities in Bentiu POC, Koch and respond to nutrition needs by targeting IDPs and host communities in Fangak County. The project is designed to provide both preventive and curative services. Treatment of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is provided to prevent children under five from death. Treatment of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) aims to improve the health of children under five and pregnant and lactating women (PLWs), thereby reducing the prevalence of severe acute malnutrition. Awareness campaigns on topics including IYCF and hygiene promotion will be provided to the community. World Relief works closely with the Koch County Health Department (KCHD) to ensure that the community of Koch receives the needed services. UNICEF and WFP will provide food rations for the treatment of SAM and MAM in children and PLW in Koch County of Unity State. Children under five, and PLWs, as well as other vulnerable groups, will be screened in the community. Those found to be malnourished will be referred to OTP/TSFP for nutritional and medical assessment. Beneficiaries enrolled in the OTP or TSFP programs will be given bracelets to keep regardless of whether they are transferred to different components of the nutrition intervention or not. These bracelets will support in easier tracking of beneficiaries and avoiding duplication at multiple centers. Once the patients are discharged, the bracelets will be recovered. The bracelets will be color coded for each nutrition site. This SSHF funding will complement funds and/or GIKs from other donors, namely Unicef, WFP and OFDA.