Improving Preparedness and Response to Humanitarian Crises in floods-affected communities in Unity States in South Sudan. ltp class="" style=""gtltspan style="font-size: 14px font-family: Arial, sans-serif"gtRecurring floods have severely affected the
same communities in Unity State every year. Flooding continued into 2022,
displacing around 347,000 people who fled to higher lands. Recurrent flooding
coupled with active conflict and inter-communal fighting lt/spangtltspan lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14px font-family: Arial, sans-serif"gtalso continued lt/spangtltspan style="font-size: 14px font-family: Arial, sans-serif"gtin neighboringnbspstates lt/spangtltspan lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14px font-family: Arial, sans-serif"gtwhich lt/spangtltspan style="font-size: 14px font-family: Arial, sans-serif"gthas increased the number of displaced people
in Unity State. As of October 2022, the number of internally displaced persons
(IDPs) in Bentiu town stood at 102,811 people according to IOM's Displacement
Tracking Matrix (DTM). Flooding in Unity and other states has destroyed
community livelihoods with farmland submerged in water, and left health
facilities, schools and Women and Girls Friendly Spaces (WGFS) overwhelmed.lt/spangtltbrgtlt/pgt

ltp style="mso-margin-top-alt:automso-margin-bottom-alt:auto
line-height:115%" class="MsoNormal"gtltspan style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif"gtFlood-induced displacement of communities and
the congestion it has caused have increased the risk of gender-based violence
(GBV) and other protection issues. Lack of firewood for cooking has forced
women and girls to travel further to collect firewood, often walking long
distances through water, which puts them at risk of GBV.ltbrgt
ltbrgt
According to HNO, the cumulative impact of recurrent floods has also
contributed to the destruction and damage of water facilities, increasing the
likelihood of waterborne diseases, and intensifying the existing
vulnerabilities of those affected (high poverty rates, massive displacements,
and limited access to basic services such as health, nutrition, protection,
etc.). Bentiu reported that massive flooding has forced women and girls to make
longer and riskier journeys through flood-affected areas in search of
livelihood activities, putting them at higher risk of GBV, including rape.lt/spangtlt/pgt

ltp style="mso-margin-top-alt:automso-margin-bottom-alt:auto
line-height:115%" class="MsoNormal"gtltspan style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif"gtAs more flooding is expected during the rainy
season in April and May, this project will support the prepositioning of
Dignity Kits in Bentiu, Unity States where IDPs from flooded areas are hosted.
The prepositioning of these supplies will improve the preparedness and response
capacities of GBV partners to a potential increase of GBV cases and
vulnerabilities including being exposed to sexual exploitation and abuse during
the anticipated crises.lt/spangtlt/pgt

ltp style="mso-margin-top-alt:automso-margin-bottom-alt:auto
line-height:115%background:white" class="MsoNormal"gtltspan style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif color: black" lang="EN-US"gtThis project will complement ongoing UNFPA projects in Unity State to
improve access to GBV prevention and response services. The project will have
three main components:lt/spangtltspan style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif"gtlt/spangtlt/pgt

ltul type="disc"gt
 ltli style="mso-margin-top-alt:automso-margin-bottom-alt:auto
     line-height:115%mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1tab-stops:list 36.0pt" class="MsoNormal"gtltspan style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US"gtProcurement and pre-positioning of dignity
     kits at Bentiu, Unity State for Rubkona and Guit counties while sending
     Dignity Kits directly from Juba to Leer, Panyijar and Mayandit counties
     since there is no access route from Bentiu to the Southern Unity state.
     These dignity kits will enable GBV partners to provide timely GBV
     prevention and response services to flood-affected women and girls within
     the reproductive age group as the dignity kit is meant for women and girls
     to maintain their hygiene during menstruation.lt/spangtltspan style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif"gtlt/spangtlt/ligt
 ltli style="mso-margin-top-alt:automso-margin-bottom-alt:auto
     line-height:115%mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1tab-stops:list 36.0pt" class="MsoNormal"gtltspan style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US"gtRoutine monitoring of the timely procurement,
     pre-positioning and distribution of dignity kits and improving access and
     utilization of affected women, and girls to these humanitarian supplies.lt/spangtltspan style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif"gtlt/spangtlt/ligt
 ltli style="mso-margin-top-alt:automso-margin-bottom-alt:auto
     line-height:115%mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1tab-stops:list 36.0pt" class="MsoNormal"gtltspan style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US"gtCloser coordination with the protection
     cluster and the GBV sub-cluster at national and sub-national levels.lt/spangtltspan style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif"gtlt/spangtlt/ligt
lt/ulgt

ltp style="mso-margin-top-alt:automso-margin-bottom-alt:auto
line-height:115%" class="MsoNormal"gtltspan style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif" lang="en-SS"gtltbrgtThe prepositioning of Dignity Kitnbspsupplies
will improve the preparedness and response capacities of GBV partners to
mitigate the risks to GBVnbspand exposure to sexual exploitation and abuse
during the anticipated criseslt/spangtltspan style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US"gt. It will lt/spangtltspan style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif" lang="en-SS"gtalso
facilitate basic hygienelt/spangtltspan style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US"gt and lt/spangtltspan style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif" lang="en-SS"gtenables
access to humanitarian services and promote mobility of vulnerable women and
girlsnbspin public spaces. In addition, dignity kits enable lt/spangtltspan style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US"gtwomen and girls lt/spangtltspan style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif" lang="en-SS"gttonbsppreserve dignity, which is essential to
maintaining self-esteem and confidence that is critical to protection and to
cope up stressful humanitarian situations.nbspnbsplt/spangtltspan style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif"gtlt/spangtlt/pgt