nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
Travel restrictions from Juba to the states, including interstate travel put in place by the government to prevent the spread of COVID 19 amplify the need to pre position crucial humanitarian relief items in locations across the country. The travel restrictions and the mandatory 14 day quarantine requirement also indicate that humanitarian partners will have limited opportunities to rotate mobile response teams frequently, thus a need to establish safe, secure, reliable facilities to allow teams to deploy for longer periods to implement COVID 19 preparedness and response activities and other relief efforts. This is also an opportunity to further support localization of humanitarian response.
Since COVID 19 was confirmed, international humanitarian organizations have accelerated their ongoing capacity strengthening with South Sudanese NGOs, while trying to limit the transfer of risks. At the same time, with the constraints on movement into and out of the country, it is recognized that the response will depend more than ever on national staff on the frontline, not only of national NGOs but as the majority of staff of the UN and international NGOs. Local aid workers have been supported remotely from the capital. In displacement sites, community representatives have been trained to take on additional responsibilities in camp management.
Given the already stretched health capacity, partners developed a household kit aimed at reducing the burden of common diseases such as malaria and acute watery diarrhoea on health facilities. The kit includes mosquito nets, soap and items for home water treatments. It also supports good hygiene practices, one of the key strategies for COVID 19 prevention.
Travel restrictions put in place to contain the spread of the virus have impacted the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Enumeration areas in major urban centres, using satellite imagery and high resolution building footprints, were developed to support efforts for multi sectoral epidemiological and vulnerability studies in urban areas.
Humanitarian organizations have been adjusting their response modalities since the risk of COVID 19 first became evident, even before the first people with COVID 19 were confirmed. Two to three months' combined food, and cash and voucher assistance were distributed with all the precautions in order to avoid large and frequent gatherings, especially in already high risk areas such as IDP sites and refugee camps. When aid distributions do take place, social distancing and hygiene practices have been put in place to reduce the risk of transmission. Assistance that was previously done in groups, such as psychosocial support, is now done individually.
Prior to the confirmation of COVID 19 in South Sudan, the High Level Task Force  ( HLTF )  implemented a series of policies to prevent the importation of COVID 19 into the country. With effect from 25 March to 12 May, restrictions on movement were put in place that led to the closure of the Juba International Airport to inbound passengers, severely limiting the movement of key staff in and out of the country and staff who might be recruited specifically to tackle the virus. Cargo, humanitarian flights, fuel and food shipment, however, remained operational.
The impact of limited movement is reflected in the contingency plans developed by camp management agencies and service providers in PoC sites and camp like settings. Additionally, in coordination with Point of Entry  ( POE )  Pillar Working Group, the CCCM Cluster contributed to the development of POE Standard Operating Procedures  ( SOP )  for population of humanitarian concern in camps and camp like setting.
Humanitarian organizations in South Sudan are making efforts to adapt their CVA to the current COVID 19 situation. These mainly include: Adjusting targeting mechanisms and processes, to include emerging vulnerabilities, given the impact of the pandemic and to reduce the risk of contagion, for example, remote targeting or targeting through local authorities or CBOs
Humanitarian organizations in South Sudan are making efforts to adapt their CVA to the current COVID 19 situation. These mainly include: Monitoring the continuous risks associated with the different modalities of assistance under COVID19 situation, and remote monitoring where feasible
CCCM activities focusing on establishing coordination mechanisms and community engagement in response to COVID 19 will require additional operating funds for human resources and logistics including activities that require additional measures related to prevention and mitigation of COVID 19. Additional funding will be required to increase the capacity of the cluster's partners to address the outstanding and anticipated COVID 19 related needs of vulnerable people in displacement.
In South Sudan, the prevalence of global acute malnutrition stands at 16.2 per cent among under five children, above the WHO emergency threshold.
The Logistics Cluster is continuing to provide free to user storage and air, road, and river transport of humanitarian cargo, with an emphasis on items for COVID 19 preparation and response. The cluster has augmented its storage capacity by adding additional temperature controlled warehouses in Juba for storing COVID 19 prep and response materials
To address additional needs and gaps, the health system has to scale up both existing and new interventions at health facilities at the community level. Interventions include better surveillance, risk reduction and community engagement, Infection Prevention and Control  ( IPC ) , hygiene best practices in health facilities, case management, home based care, community isolation and hospital care for cases.
Other key areas that require resources include prevention activities such as teachers supporting risk communication activities, sensitization of communities, parents and children around COVID 19 activities. The WASH in school particularly handwashing facilities, provision of hygiene material and disinfecting schools to prepare school to reopen were prioritized with allocated resources. Psychosocial support programming, protection referrals and essential recreational supplies were budgeted.
As a result of years of armed conflict, public health services are not able to provide adequate prevention, treatment and control of epidemic, endemic, occupational and other diseases to the people of South Sudan. Therefore, a prevention and response to COVID 19 cannot be only medical, but must also address human rights and protection challenges, whether they arise from the health crisis itself or measures to contain it.
The impact of intercommunal violence has already led to staff evacuations from certain provinces limiting the scale and quality of healthcare services. To prepare for a possible rise in caseloads at health facilities, there is a need now to preposition essential drugs and medical supplies and strengthen remote support and our capacity to scale up mobile clinics to alleviate the extra caseloads.
Girls are among the most vulnerable group. The combination of being out of school and the loss of family livelihoods caused by COVID 19 can leave girls especially vulnerable to different forms of GBV including sexual violence, unwanted pregnancy and early marriages.
Contextualized messaging on COVID 19 continues in close collaboration with partners and in line with the guidance from the Risk Communication and Community Engagement Technical Working Group. Key messages are disseminated using various modes of communication such as house to house visits, local FM radios, megaphones, and loudspeakers mounted on cars. Equally important, messaging on critical hand washing practices, maintaining environmental cleaning campaigns at household level, safe water management and safe disposal of human excreta were taken into consideration with adequate measures put in place on physical distancing practice.
Even before COVID 19, refugee partners were supporting 10 primary health facilities in refugee camps and two referral hospitals  ( Bunj in Upper Nile State and Pariang in Unity State ) , in remote areas with limited access to health care.
The need to take into account local knowledge and expertise is crucial in the prevention and containment of the spread of COVID 19 in the country. The Rift Valley Institute has identified a raft of key issues on public messaging and how understanding of the local context, perceptions and influencers such as chiefs is the best way to build trust and confidence in the messaging among the community.
WFP is planning to support 700,000 individuals in the counties already affected by accumulation hunger, conflict, displacement and now flooding. These individuals have lost their livelihoods and won't have harvest to rely on before the beginning of WFP's next lean season response in 2021.
Infection prevention and control also rely on access to sanitation facilities, the separation of suspected or confirmed cases from other patients and health care workers. In South Sudan, only 20 per cent of households use some form of latrine household, communal or institutional.
COVID 19 presents an exceptional concern for some 1.3 million IDPs who need Camp Management and Camp Coordination  ( CCCM )  services in South Sudan.
WASH Cluster and partners require an additional $43.5 million for the COVID 19 response, all of which is included in the National COVID 19 Response Plan: $29.1 million for infection prevention and control and $14.4 million for risk communication and community engagement.
Logistics and transportation are challenging and expensive with the onset of the rainy season and inter state movement restrictions.
With disruptions in the global and regional supply chain, delays and transportation challenges are being experienced, in addition to the increased cost of operating and purchasing COVID 19 supplies.
The Government of South Sudan, UNHCR, WFP, UNICEF, FAO and ICRC as well as some 15 national and international NGO partners are actively engaged in the provision of protection and assistance to refugees and their host communities in South Sudan.
UNHCR is collaborating with WHO, IOM and other partners to ensure that border entry points used by asylumseekers, refugees and refugee returnees are supported with COVID 19 preventive measures.
Advocacy with the government to ensure access to territory and asylum procedures for refugees and asylum seekers is a priority.
Physical distancing is difficult, and most people do not have adequate access to health care, and water and sanitation facilities.
These children and many more to be released are in urgent need of sustained case management support including family tracing and reunification. Furthermore, displaced children and their families, spontaneous refugee returnees, IDP returnees, IDPs living in congested sites, including the PoC sites, and refugees in camps with limited access to social services are particularly at greater risks due to lack access to basic handwashing facilities and living conditions in which social distancing is almost impossible.
The COVID 19 related measures in South Sudan such as physical distancing and increased good hygiene practices to mitigate the spread of COVID 19 are undermined by limited access to soap, which is reportedly utilized by 21 per cent of households. Access to soap or chlorinated water at the community level is extremely low. Across 27 counties in the country, less than 10 per cent of people have access to soap. In Central Equatoria, Jonglei and Warrap, only 14 per cent of households have access to soap.
Awareness raising activities need to adapt COVID 19 related measures including shifting from group session to one on one, incorporating COVID 19 messages to the existing awarenessraising materials or developing new ones and supplementing the existing protection and human rights messaging.
The growing and significant number of urban poor, not already supported by humanitarian assistance, were identified through a World Bank study and actors operating on the ground, as a vulnerable population who live day to day from casual labour and petty trade in order to survive.
After the announcement of the first person with COVID 19 in April 2020, South Sudanese security forces blocked staff movement in and out of UN bases in various locations across the country, including Juba in Central Equatoria and Malakal in Upper Nile. Some of the UN bases host UN Protection of Civilians sites, which are home to IDPs who have been sheltering there since 2013. These restrictions affected service delivery to IDPs in several protected sites.
The Education Cluster identified an estimated 3.1 million school aged children in need of education response in 2020.
The Nutrition Cluster has developed and disseminated guidelines to assist implementing partners in integrating COVID 19 preparedness and response into the ongoing humanitarian nutrition response. This includes reprioritizing and adapting of the nutrition services; equipping the nutrition sites and service providers with skills; providing necessary equipment and materials; and capacity building to ensure uninterrupted delivery of preventative and life saving nutrition services.
With two thirds of the nutrition sites operating in a health facility setting, building synergies with health partners were prioritized. Furthermore, specific activities are planned such as triage set up at health and nutrition service delivery points, integrating of nutrition module in case management training for health care workers and screening of children under five, pregnant and lactating women for provision of nutrition treatment according to the national guidelines.
Nutrition services are provided by more than 40 partners, both national and international, in more than a thousand static nutrition sites throughout the country. Two thirds of nutrition sites are within a health facility setting and the remainings are stand alone nutrition sites. Hard to reach areas are covered through outreach services and integrated rapid response mechanisms , emergency response team and multi sector emergency team.
At the same time, loss of income and jobs have impacted people's ability to buy food and compensate farmers for their production.
The arrival of the desert locusts in several counties in the country since February is yet another shock with potential to generate additional vulnerabilities resulting from crop and pasture damage to farming and pastoral households. This is projected to be most severe in locations which are already facing severe food insecurity and disrupted livelihoods.
With data from the Food Security and Nutrition Monitoring System  ( FSNMS )  highly market dependent rural poor, not already supported, were identified from approximately 10 per cent of people initially projected, at the January IPC analysis, to be in Phase 2  ( Stressed ) , but are now likely to shift into IPC Phase 3 or above. This population is also strongly dependent on food markets and derives most of their income from livelihood sources that are expected to be affected by COVID 19 and measures enforced to prevent the spread of the virus.
The rural poor are also likely to become more vulnerable and food insecure due to the disruption in trade flows exacerbated by COVID 19.
Indirect impacts of COVID 19 are adversely affecting market dependent households at a critical time of the year  ( entering the lean season )  when market prices are already ‘normally' high.
The cluster has reprioritized the planned activities under the 2020 HRP in support to the COVID 19 response. Activities such as training and workshops previously planned by the cluster's partners are deprioritized to decrease the risk of exposure to COVID 19. Some unfunded projects in the 2020 HRP have been modified to include hotspot counties
Decongestion of sites is essential to lower overcrowding in living spaces and will also allow humanitarians to provide NFIs such as household items, mosquito nets, blankets and plastic sheets to people as safely as possible. Partitions are needed in communal shelters and more WASH NFIs are required to improve hygiene and sanitation practices in the sites. Having access to clean water and sanitizing agents are necessary to stop widespread transmission of the virus.
Market assessments show that food prices have increased in the wake of COVID 19, due to a combination of stockpiling, supply shock and increased cost of transport in Juba. Only shops dealing in food items were able to operate following government imposed measures to prevent the spread of the virus, while street vendors were prevented from working.
The rainy season causes floods and makes road networks impassable, cutting off humanitarian assistance and aid workers to hard to reach areas.
The Protection of Civilians sites, collective sites and other camp like settings have very limited living space per person. Forcibly displaced populations residing in camps or camp like settings may be particularly vulnerable to the virus due to overcrowding, poor access to safe water and sanitation, and limited access to health care and water and sanitation services. People living in these settings are highly vulnerable to a potential COVID 19 outbreak, which could result in a high number of cases and fatalities. Further, IDPs can become increasingly vulnerable if humanitarian assistance, and any livelihood and income activities, are curtailed by the pandemic.
Essential drugs and medical supplies were pre positioned early to high risk locations when movement was still possible. Health professionals have been deployed in one stop crisis centres in the hospitals, health centres and safe houses to prevent the transmission of COVID 19 while handling GBV survivors. When possible, psychosocial support is provided remotely. Hotlines and airtime have been provided in all GBV service coordination sites to facilitate referrals for intimate partner violence and other forms of GBV services.
WFP and WHO re launched the PPE Common Request System, aiming at consolidating requests for review and prioritization of in country COVID 19 commodities.
Under the Communities Care Programme  ( CCP ) , 198 people  ( 16 girls, 17 boys, 109 women, and 56 men )  who participated in a perception survey, demonstrated positive changes in beliefs and perceptions about GBV after being engaged in social norms transformation discussions and action courses. In August, the Child Protection Area of Responsibility reached a total of 52,150 people  ( 27,460 children )  with specialized child protection services and messaging. A total of 45 child protection actors in Jonglei were trained on information, documentation, tracing and reunification as well as psychosocial support.
In addition, some 300,000 refugees lack sufficient WASH conditions. The number of people requiring emergency WASH services in 2019 increased by 7 per cent from the previous year, explained by the expansion of WASH data with a higher reliability and more detailed analysis.
UNICEF finalized the planning phase of the voucher for hygiene behavior enabling WASH materials supply in response to the COVID 19 pandemic. The initiative is targeting 9,400 vulnerable households in four states of Aweil, Bor, Bentiu and Malakal. A total of 500 extremely vulnerable households from this group will be targeted with cash assistance During the reporting period, local vendors for hygiene materials were identified through a competitive call for expression of interest. The process of identifying local vendors was an opportunity to assess the capacity of the market to meet the demand and confirm that markets have the capacity to meet the increased demand as well as an opportunity support local traders. Discussions were also finalized between UNICEF and WFP on the use of the SCOPE platform for beneficiary identification and data management.. UNICEF concluded the process of technical evaluations of potential financial service providers  ( FSPs )  as part of its efforts to establish long term agreements  ( LTAs )  with FSPs to expand its cash programming
UNICEF is working with the Ministry of General Education and Instructions  ( MOGEI ) , both at the state and national levels to advocate for the safe reopening of schools. UNICEF and partners continue to support the MOGEI with the expansion of the Radio Distance Learning Programme to increase its' accessibility. Radio Miraya FM and South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation are the leading broadcasters of the programme however, they have no coverage in Yei, Lainya, Morobo, and Kajokeji counties, as well as the Northern Bahr El Gazal region.
UNICEF is co leading three Clusters and one Area of Responsibility  ( AoR )  out of a total of 10 clusters and three AoRs currently active in the country. UNICEF at a national level co leads the Child Protection AoR and the Education Cluster with Save the Children, the Nutrition Cluster with Concern, Action Against Hunger  ( ACF )  and the World Food Program  ( WFP )  and the WASH Cluster with the Norwegian Refugee Council  ( NRC ) . A time bound COVID 19 coordination architecture is functional. UNICEF co leads the infection prevention and control  ( IPC )  pillar of the COVID 19 response and participates in the national COVID 19 task force chaired by the Ministry of Health Incident Manager and is a member of the Inter Agency COVID 19 Leadership Team  ( HCT level )  and the Inter Agency COVID 19 Operations Group
As part of the ongoing programmes on the expanded program on immunization, a total of 3,203 health counseling sessions on routine immunization were held across the 466 GAVI supported facilities in all the 10 States with 1,922 defaulters tracked and vaccinated through the integrated community mobilizers network  ( ICMN ) .
The communication for development programme facilitated the RCCE and psychosocial First Aid training of trainers organized by the Ministry of Health with the support from Africa CDC. A total of 50 participants including 20 Civil society organizations  ( CSOs ) , 10 religious leaders, 10 community leaders and 10 Ministry of Health staff participated in the training.
Communication materials focusing on prevention, signs and symptoms of COVID 19 and the proper use of facemasks were printed, and distribution is ongoing to partners in all the 10 states. In August, a total of 19,800 posters, 2,180 banners, 167,000 fliers were distributed. A total of 30 rumors were collected through daily reporting ,all the rumors were tracked and responded to within 72 hours. Efforts are underway to strengthen the capturing of rumors and misinformation relayed through the 6666 hotlines. A total of 14,423 calls were received from the hotline/toll free number during the reporting period. The rumour tracking and management subcommittee analyzed the rumors on a bi weekly basis and updated the RCCE thematic group on the way forward focusing on tailor made messaging and community engagement
The regulations and several measures to contain and limit the spread of COVID 19, namely some protocols for interstate movement by humanitarian actors, had an adverse impact on regular humanitarian programmes, among them integrated rapid response mechanism  ( IRRM )  activities. To enable UNICEF to continue the delivery of critical and lifesaving services, key IRRM team members were pre positioned in Bor to take part in planned IRRM missions. To date, a total of 7 IRRM missions were successfully completed  ( 1 mission during the reporting month  ) . Cumulatively, a total of 70,715 people and 10,869 children under five have been reached through multi sectoral services
During the reporting period, UNICEF and partners reached 3,362 people  ( 864 girls, 797 boys, 1,066 women, 635 men )  with Gender Based Violence  ( GBV )  prevention, response and risk mitigation services and messages. Women and Girls Friendly Spaces  ( WGFS )  continued to provide services such as case management, Psychosocial Support  ( PSS ) , skillsbuilding courses and referrals for other specialized services to women and girls. A total of 275 women, 155 girls, 14 boys and 12 men received specialised GBV services, psychosocial support and/or were referred to other specialized services. In addition, 1,558 people  ( 345 girls, 316 boys, 536 women and 361 men )  were reached with awareness raising messages on GBV, COVID 19 and the GBV services available, through the use of IEC materials, home visits, discussions with communities and at WGFS.
During the reporting period, the schools across South Sudan remained closed to minimize the spread of the COVID 19 resulting in a negative impact on children's continued learning
WFP held consultations with the World Meteorological Organisation  ( WMO )  in Nairobi and the United Nations Environmental Programme  ( UNEP )  in Juba on implementation parameters for the Global Environment Facility  ( GEF )  project.
High rates of poverty, recurrent inter tribal disputes, for instance in Kajo Keji, Pibor and other areas; coupled with extended displacement has led to loss of ES/NFIs and also diminished ability to access basic household items.
UNICEF and partners provided curative consultations to a total of 167,693 individuals  ( 77,283 males, 90,410 females )  including 77,998 children under the age of five and 89,695 adults. This brings the cumulative total consultations for the period between January August 2020 to 1,223,6871 out of which 527,571 were children under five years of age  ( 253,930 males and 273,641 females ) . Most children and women were seen during consultations for the treatment of malaria  ( 31 per cent ) , followed by acute respiratory infections  ( 14 per cent )  and diarrhea  ( 10 per cent ) .
In March 2018, the largest telecom operator, Viva cell, was shut down over a tax dispute. This has reduced the levels of mobile use and penetration geographically, as only Viva cell covered most parts of the country's remote locations and other providers have not expanded their coverage.
As of January 2018, some 2 million people or less than every fifth person is reported to have been connected to mobile networks in South Sudan
South Sudan's media infrastructure has remained in a phase of nascent development since the most recent conflict started. The conflict has increased demand for information across the country, but few households have televisions or internet access. Some media outlet websites, including the Sudan Tribune and Radio Tamazuj, have been blocked.
In response to COVID 19 pandemic, the WASH programme intervenes on infection prevention and control activities with partners in different locations across the country including prioritized health facilities in Bor, Torit, Rumbek, Wau, Malakal, Yambio field offices and Protection of Civilian sites  ( PoCs )  in Juba, Bor and Bentiu. To date, a total of 727,996 people have been reached with critical WASH supplies which include soap, buckets and water purification tablets to reduce the risk of COVID 19 transmission. In addition, a total of 102 health facilities are being supported with IPC services. So far triage and screening areas have been set up in 34 health facilities.
In relatively stable communities in Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Eastern Equatoria, Community led total sanitation  ( CLTS )  is being implemented as the approach to improve sanitation. Follow up is being conducted for previously triggered villages in Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Eastern Equatoria to establish communities that have attained Open defecation free  ( ODF )  status, 799 villages with 84,803 people have been reported to have achieved ODF status. It has also been reported that a total of 328,108 people have been reached with key hygiene promotion messages while 292,749 individuals have benefited from the distribution of core pipeline supplies and WASH NFIs which include jerri cans, buckets, soap and water treatment chemicals.
During the reporting period, 2,764 children aged 6 months 15 years were vaccinated against measles bringing the cumulative number of children 6 months to 15 years vaccinated against measles for the period January August 2020 to 296,572. In addition, in August 2020, 11,179 long lasting insecticide treated nets  ( LLINs )  were distributed by UNICEF and partners, bringing the cumulative total to 134,364 LLINs distributed to 67,182 families  ( 268,728 children and pregnant women )  to support malaria prevention efforts.
The conflict has continued to drive people's WASH needs, from blocking or destruction of WASH infrastructure to limiting WASH commodities in the market. Insecurity at times prevents humanitarian actors from accessing areas that have high WASH needs, while the presence of armed groups can deter civilians from accessing existing WASH infrastructure.
Nutrition response is ongoing in all the flood affected counties as per the comprehensive response plan at state level. It has been realized that communities are collaborating with nutrition implementing partners in the flood response in some locations in reinforcing infrastructure at nutrition sites and digging ditches. A total of 268,000 malaria rapid diagnostic test kits allocated to the Nutrition Cluster by the National malaria control programme were dispatched to Partners
The nutrition programme activities have been ongoing in all states as per the adapted guideline for nutrition services delivery in the context of the COVID 19. Mothers/care takers were trained on the measurement of mid upper arm circumference  ( MUAC )  to determine nutrition status of their own children at family level and ensure self referrals to nearest nutrition site. A one day state level nutrition mid year review was conducted virtually with partners and State Ministry of Health  ( SMOH )  in Northern Bahr el Ghazal.
As of 30 August, a cumulative total of 2,527 confirmed COVID 19 cases and 47 deaths had been recorded with a case fatality rate  ( CFR )  of 1.9 per cent. The outbreak continues to have a huge impact on the already vulnerable and at risk populations.
A total of 359 hand washing facilities were established in communities and health facilities and 60,779 people were provided with locally made cloth masks. WASH Cluster Partners have reached a total of 1,101,139 people  ( 37% of the HRP target )  have been reached with access to safe water supply and 343,985 people  ( 11% of the HRP target )  have been reached with access to improved, secured and gender appropriate sanitation facilities. In addition, 1,153,639 people  ( 41% of HRP addendum target )  have been reached through hygiene promotion messages since the beginning of the year.
UNICEF has also continued to provide support in the operation and maintenance of Water yards, Surface Water Treatment  ( SWAT )  systems and Urban Water systems. Likewise, a total of 88,481 vulnerable individuals have been supported with access to basic sanitation facilities through the construction and rehabilitation of emergency communal latrines and household latrines.
WFP continues to expand its partnerships for the use of SCOPE. Currently, WFP has signed agreements with Catholic Relief Service  ( CRS ) , Food and Agriculture Organization  ( FAO )  and United Nations Children's Fund  ( UNICEF )  with more partnerships planned for 2020.
UNICEF continues to work closely with the Government of the Republic of South Sudan at the national, state and county levels in the coordination of humanitarian response programmes as well as with Implementing Partners  ( IPs )  to support the provision of life saving emergency integrated primary health care services in all 25 counties of Jonglei and Upper Nile States. The support includes the distribution of essential drugs and medical equipment to 193 health facilities. UNICEF is working with IPs to ensure the continuity in the delivery of essential health services within the context of the COVID 19 pandemic. In this regard, UNICEF continues to support the implementation of COVID 19 prevention interventions including the establishment and functionality of triage and screening points/areas in all supported health facilities for early recognition and referral of suspected cases as well as adherence to stringent IPC measures.
Violence, abuse and exploitation remain the greatest protection risks to women and girls, reflecting continued gender inequalities exacerbated by the prolonged crisis in South Sudan
On 4 August, the new Famine Early Warning Systems Network  ( FEWS NET )  report on the IPC situation in South Sudan was published. According to the report, the scale and severity of acute food insecurity continued to rise at the July/August peak of the lean season in the country. Emergency  ( IPC Phase 4 )  outcomes were reported to be widespread, indicating that a high proportion of the population is experiencing either large food consumption gaps or engaging in severe coping strategies in an attempt to mitigate food consumption gaps.
The already underdeveloped roads, ports and airstrips continue to deteriorate as a consequence of long rainy seasons and minimal maintenance and investments in infrastructure. In a country of approximately 650,000 kilometres of roads, only 192 kilometres are sealed. Airstrips in general are of poor quality, with less than 10 airstrips that can be used continuously in the wet and dry season with a fixed wing plane.
UNICEF expresses its sincere gratitude to all public and private donors for the contributions received, however, the 2020 HAC still has a funding gap of 53 per cent.
The civilian population continues to be subject to deliberate attacks, conflict related sexual violence, abductions, forced recruitment including boys and girls, cruel and unusual treatment, destruction of housing and property, forced displacement and family separation
In addition, poor infrastructure, disruption of livelihoods, poor economic conditions and inconsistent humanitarian access have continued to drive food insecurity.
The overall situation of acute malnutrition slightly improved in 2018 with no county reporting extreme critical levels  ( Global Acute Malnutrition above 30 per cent )  of acute malnutrition.
The COVID 19 pandemic has impacted the humanitarian operations inside and outside the protection of civilians  ( PoC )  sites, and has fueled a surge in rumours, myths, and misinformation, regarding the etiology, prevention, and cure of the disease.
Over 19,000 children are estimated to have been recruited to armed forces and armed groups; 955 children  ( 691 boys and 264 girls )  have been released so far in 2018. Since 2013, more than 1 million children have been affected by psycho social distress, whereas 17,125 children, of which 9,076 girls and 8,049 boys,73 are still in need of family tracing and reunification.
In 2018, some 500 attacks on healthcare services have been documented, including deaths of 115 healthcare workers, with extensive looting and damage of health infrastructure. Additionally, there are widespread shortages of essential medicines in health centres
In the first half of 2018, some 2,300 cases of GBV were reported, a 72 per cent increase in reporting of GBV compared to same period in 2017.
The number of people in need represents a six per cent decrease from the previous year. As shown by the adjacent severity map, needs remain high particularly in Jonglei  ( Ayod, Nyirol, Uror and Akobo ) , Unity  ( Rubkona, Koch, Leer and Panyjar ) , Western Bahr el Ghazel  ( Wau and Jur river )  and Central Equatoria  ( Juba and Yei ) .
In Greater Bahr el Ghazal, a region with some 4.7 million people, the convergence of climate shocks, poor living conditions and inadequate services, particularly in situations of insecurity and displacement, contributes to malnutrition and heightened susceptibility to disease for crisis affected people
WFP continued to support the Ministry of Health of the Republic of South Sudan national laboratory team to facilitate the movement of technical experts and critical testing supplies to the field. This is to establish COVID 19 testing capacity in field locations in support of decentralization efforts. Over the reporting period, the final two official missions took place in Torit and Yei.
Even with the advent of the revitalized peace agreement in late 2018 and the promise of better times to come, the cumulative effects of the conflict have translated to sustained poverty and persistent humanitarian and protection needs for more than 7 million people in South Sudan.
The nearly 2,300 reported cases of all forms of GBV by mid 2018 therefore likely represent a small share of what is a deep rooted and widespread problem. Rates of violence against boys are also not well understood, due to the deep stigmatization that boys and men face in discussing sexual and gender based violence.
Torrential rains have led to further rising flood levels in Jonglei and Unity states. Nine counties reported floods during July and early August. For some counties, such as Bor South, Juba and Twic East, flood incidents occurred more than once. The unprecedent flooding in 2019 resulted in significant expansion of wetlands, the Sobat and Nile basins, which have not receded. Displacement, disrupted trade routes, damaged crops and submerged houses are the most reported impact.
Other areas of concern include those affected by armed conflict during the April to June planting season, especially where livelihood disruption has been recurrent for years, including the Equatorian ‘bread basket
WFP is responding to needs across the country through its Lean Season Response. This also includes areas affected by the flooding.
In addition to the exciting 2537 m2 of common storage space in Juba, the Logistics Cluster acquired an additional 868.5 m2 in Juba to ensure all COVID19 related commodities can be stored prior to dispatches to field locations.
Over the reporting period, transport of 215 MT of CCCM, Early Recovery, Education, Food Security, General Operations, Health, Logistics, Nutrition, Protection, Shelter and WASH cargo to 20 locations was facilitated on behalf of 22 organizations, of which 47% was either COVID 19 priority cargo or moved to Inter Cluster Coordination Group priority locations.
In 2018, persistent conflict in Great Upper Nile, Western Bahr el Ghazal and parts of Greater Equatorias hampered the provision of nutrition services in some locations. This left 5.1 per cent of targeted children in 2018, at national level, without access to nutrition support between January and June 2018, aggravating their needs.
The level of acute malnutrition is attributed to severe food insecurity, poor access to health and nutrition services, high morbidity, extremely poor diets and poor sanitation and hygiene
The Country office if UNICEF also published a new story on the use of masks to prevent the spread of COVID 19 infections
Since IOM CCCM took over the Camp Management responsibilities in Hai Masna Collective Center in late June, CCCM roving team in Wau has been responding to the needs of increased site population with new IDP arrivals from Kuajiena Payam that were triggered by clashes between local farmers and cattle keeping communities of Tonj South and Tonj North. Through weekly partner coordination meetings, regular community engagement and information sharing, service monitoring and site engineering support, CCCM teams ensure equal access of IDPs to coordinated services in a timely and dignified manner.
Some 2,784,276 girls and boys between 3 and 18 years of age in conflict and crisis affected areas are estimated to not have access to pre school, primary and secondary education in 2019. In addition, some 42,902 teaching personnel and members of school management committees are in need of humanitarian assistance.
The number of people in need represents a 64 per cent increase from 2018. This is explained by an increase in the number of people seeking durable solutions, and a sharper focus on the previously unmet needs of IDPs in camp like settings.
Following reports on influxes due to flooding reaching Mangalla, a CCCM Mobile team was on the ground for a fact finding indepth assessment mission to engage with community members on their needs and protection concerns. During the mission that was jointly conducted with IOM DTM team, population figures were established and FGDs were facilitated to attend for affected population's grievances.
In Focus Groups Discussions  ( FGD )  and Key Informative Interviews  ( KII )  with community leaders, food, nutrition, WASH and shelter & non food items  ( S/NFIs )  were identified as the community's urgent needs. Testimonies about cases of drowning, missing individuals and separated children were shared with the team with very low capacity on ground to provide protection and psychosocial support
Mayandit was among the areas that were vastly affected by flooding in Unity State. An inter agency flood assessment mission that was conducted comprising of a CCCM team revealed 1,652 individuals displaced by the current flooding in Mayandit were coming from different Payams including Madol, Malkuer, Pabuong, and Bathjiop. Similar to other locations, through engagement with RRC and traditional chiefs, needs were identified and concerns were raised around Housing, Land and Property  ( HLP ) , resources sharing, and protection.
CCCM site planner joined IOM SNFI team in an assessment mission to Bor to identify damages sustained in dikes and water canals due to flooding and design a rapid response plan for restoration
Cattle raiding and criminality by armed youth groups pose continued protection threats to civilians and aid workers in Unity, particularly girls who are subject to sexual violence, including rape and forced marriage.
The United Nations and partners have identified about 182,000 vulnerable people in the Abyei Area in need of humanitarian assistance, including 87,000 people from the Ngok Dinka communities and returnees; 15,000 Ngok Dinka displaced within the Abyei Area; 9,000 people displaced from South Sudan; 34,000 Misseriya communities; and 37,000 seasonal Misseriya migrants who entered the area in October 2017 and returned in mid 2018.
In a DTM and CCCM joint assessment mission to Sharikat in Rajaf Payam Juba County, CCCM Mobile team was able to track 14,189 individuals majority from Duk, Twic East, and Bor South Counties temporary sheltering in four spontaneous sites including St.Peter's Church, Hai Salam, Gideon Seed School and Jebel Lemon in an overcrowded manner compromising COVID 19 preventative measure and with very few NFIs that they were able to carry with them during their journey before being relocated later by the Government to Mangalla.
Women, men and children with impaired mobility and disabilities are often unable to flee from conflict and are frequently left behind.
In Greater Upper Nile, a region with some 3.7 million people, repeated attacks against civilians, multiple sustained displacements and the continued deterioration in the scant provision of basic services drive humanitarian need across all sectors, as the potential for conflict to re emerge remains high
Nearly 1 million children under age five are acutely malnourished. Nearly half of IDP individuals are children, more than half of them 5 years of age or younger, raising concerns around the effect of displacement on children's wellbeing and access to services.
Declining economic opportunities and rising inflation have contributed to people's needs over time and have become amplified over 2018, particularly as communities have been displaced and lost their livelihoods. Disrupted trade flows, heavy reliance on oil – accounting for more than 80 per cent of all revenues, and skewed expenditure toward defense at the expense of poverty reduction, continue to expose many households to food insecurity and displacement
At the same time, flooding in areas like Bor, Twic East, Duk, Akobo, Pibor, Ayod and Pagil in Jonglei and Ganyiel in Unity, leaves people with recurring needs each rainy season. Livestock diseases, such as the Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia, a bacterial disease that afflicts the lungs of cattle and which resulted in the deaths of cattle in locations above, severely disrupts pastoral livelihoods, incites inter communal violence and changes migration patterns.
In 2018, the Displacement Tracking Matrix  ( DTM )  identified more than 658,000 returnees in the nearly 60 per cent of the country covered, of which 42 per cent had returned during 2017 from locations in South Sudan and abroad. Returns from Uganda and Kenya show an upwards trend as a percentage share of total returns since the second half of 2017, whereas returns from Sudan and South Sudan have been more static
During the reporting period, the country office continued to communicate on the COVID 19 response, with a special emphasis on the re opening of schools.
Communal clashes have become an increasingly prominent factor in triggering new displacement, especially in Kapoeta South, Duk, Aweil South and Jur River. Further macroeconomic and climatic shocks, such as sudden market failure or flooding, exacerbated by the conflict, have resulted in many populations migrating out of South Sudan to seek access to services and economic opportunity elsewhere.
Competition over scarce resources has led to high tension between refugee and host communities, further aggravating refugees' needs.
Education opportunities for refugee children remain limited, in Juba as well as in refugee camps disrupted by conflict and insecurity, like in Lasu.
Due to restrictions on humanitarian access, in September 2018 19,000 people were in Humanitarian Catastrophe  ( IPC Phase 5 ) .
UNICEF Response: In addition, a total of 4,375 households received water, sanitation and hygiene supplies which include buckets and soap.
Some 55 per cent of refugees, especially in the northern camps, remain under emergency or makeshift shelters after years of displacement, with little self capacity to shift to semi permanent shelters. Continued clashes in conflict affected areas leave refugees vulnerable to attacks and drive them to areas where their access to food and basic resources and livelihood options are limited. Refugees' protection needs include prevention of recruitment of children by armed elements and GBV
In Abyei, 124 community protection committee members were supported and sensitized on COVID 19 preventive measures incorporated into conflict mediation training. In collaboration with the Abyei Women's Union, five women were trained on reusable face mask production. This project activity is aimed at training women on tailoring skills and was redirected towards face mask production in response to COVID 19. IOM also trained nine Misseriya women in Abyei on tailoring reusable cloth face masks.
The number of persons with physical and mental disabilities is estimated to be as high as 1.2 million – every tenth person of the population
Environmental factors have also taken a toll on communities whose coping capacities are already weakened by years of armed conflict. In a country where the livelihoods of more than 80 percent of people are based on agricultural and pastoralist activities, the effects of dry spells and floods are marked.
In collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare, IOM supported the Abyei Disability Union to conduct a one day workshop to analyze the situation of elders, youth, and children with disabilities in Abyei, as well as the effects of COVID 19 on people with disabilities and developed action plans for mitigation
UNICEF continues to work with partners to operationalize and mainstream cash programming in its programmes, and identifying opportunities within Education, WASH, Child Protection and C4D sectors.
Active participation in various Ebola Virus Disease  ( EVD ) /COVID 19 fora continued, including the Strategic Advisory Group, National Task Force, COVID 19 National Steering Committee meetings, Technical Working Groups, and State Task Forces.
In collaboration with UNPOL, IOM organized a conflict mediation and dispute resolution training for 16 members  ( 4 women, 12 men )  of the Community Protection Committees  ( CPCs ) . IOM also supported the review of the progress workshop of the Community Development Committees  ( CDCs ) , which was conducted for 16 participants  ( 1 woman, 15 men ) . The workshop analyzed the progress and challenges encountered by CDCs in performing their roles and developed action plans to strengthen CDC between June 2020 to June 2021.
Additionally, IOM distributed seeds to three vegetables and farming groups consisting of 75 members  ( 22 women, 53 men )  and provided agriculture inputs to a farming group comprised of 25 members. Two new livelihood groups, composed of 10 members, also commenced within the reporting period.