Improving access to protection services for flood affected children in Akobo, Bor South and Nyirol in Jonglei Since June this year torrential rains have resulted into a sharp rise of water levels causing floods that have devastated 30 counties in South Sudan affecting an estimated population of 908,000 people in Jonglei, Upper Nile, Warrap, Eastern Equatoria, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Unity and Lakes, where more than 3 million people were in need of assistance even before the rains, out of the over 7 million people in need countrywide. A joint multi-sectoral rapid needs assessment conducted by Save the Children and other humanitarian actors, among other humanitarian needs, identified the following protection issues affecting flooded affected communities: cases of physical and domestic violence attributed to high use of alcohol high concern for child abduction/trafficking and fear of possible death of children kidnapped by the Murle cases of abandoned children because of family separation was also reported, and due to the high consumption of alcohol, there is increased vulnerability to sexual violence against women and girls. 

This is 6 months’ child protection project designed to respond to the protection risks/issues affecting flood affected children in Akobo, Bor South and Nyirol counties in Jonglei. Within Akobo, this project will complement the current SSHF project implemented there but will target different communities/individuals, while Bor South is a new location for SSHF support. Through this project, Save the Children will reach an overall target of 9,270 people (3,235 girls, 3,235 boys, 1,650 women and 1,150 men. Target will be equally 30% in Akobo, 30% in Bor South and 40% in Nyirol counties. The total budget for the planned action is USD 165,000. The overall objective of this project is to “Improve the safety and protection of flood affected children (girls and boys) through the implementation of prevention and response interventions that meet their safety, care, protection and wellbeing in Akobo, Bor South and Nyirol”. Project seeks to achieve 3 key outcomes: under outcome 1, Save the Children will support identification, registration and provision of comprehensive case management services to 70 children (35 girls and 35 boys) experiencing or at risk of child protection risks/concerns/ needs following existing protocols and standards. Under outcome 2, flood affected children (girls and boys) and their caregivers (women and men) experiencing or at risk of mental disorders and psychosocial distress shall benefit from community-based mental health and psychosocial support services targeting 200 girls, 200 boys, 150 women and 150 men. Severe cases of mental health and psychosocial support shall be identified and referred for specialised services in line with existing standards ad protocols. Under outcome 3, Save the Children will implement child protection outreach messaging and monitoring of protection risks and services to children and their communities targeting 3,000 girls, 3,000 boys, 1,500 women and 1,000 men in Akobo, Bor South and Nyirol. 

Save the children has physical presence in the target locations of Akobo, Bor South and Nyirol. This project will support the scale-up of already existing protection interventions in these locations. Save the Children will implement this action in close coordination and integration with its sectoral themes in education, nutrition and health as well as sectoral/thematic interventions of other humanitarian agencies in these locations for integrated service delivery, effectiveness and efficiency. The action will also be implemented through existing community structures and mechanisms including community leaders, Community Based Protection Networks where they exist, schools, Help Desks where they exist and with the participation of local children, caregivers and local authorities.