nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
In most of the locations visited, there was absence of clean water source. Sanitation facilities are also lacking since the available ones were also destroyed by the flood. Due to the fact that families have lost most of their properties, affected families need basic WASH NFIs to improve their sanitation to avoid health risks and threats  ( As per the assessment  )
Some of the families displaced were reported to be feeding on the seeds they reserved for the next season as their current food stocks have been depleted. As a coping mechanism some community members were reported to have resorted to having just one meal a day while some have resorted to fishing to supplement their food.
The affected communities confirmed  ( as per the assessment )  that previously World Relief, Finn Church Aid, and Nile Hope assisted them with agricultural inputs, but unfortunately most of them confirmed their farms were affected by the flood while some confirmed that they could not plant due to heavy rainfall.
Priorities for Immediate Humanitarian response • Set up Temporary Learning Spaces for the children displaced which will keep them busy in their temporary location • Distribution of learning materials,  ( NFI supplies )  to the children in the TLSs • Provision of clean water points and gender sensitive toilets
There are about 30 semi permanent schools visited that were affected by flood. Currently schools are closed by MoH as a measure to prevent COVID 19 infections. Most of the schools assessed have been affected by the flood and all scholastic materials, structures, and sanitation facilities were destroyed.
Communities mainly affected live along Phow riverside and the most affected villages are Kuemduok, Kalpan, Buom, Kuerjiel, Nyalual One, Wangkoakni, Wicmoun, Karah, Kerial, Kuerkhan. From the other side of the White Nile are Wathkeech, Tambuong, Bap, Gerger, Dualdong, Kuerdap, Thomliech, Palei, Kuerkang, and Juaibor. The affected community members along Phow river are displaced to highland namely; Kuerthiangni, Thorwal, Part of Wicmoun, Lele, Wuntur, Kuerkan 2, Noor, Pawany, Pak, Chuek, Ridyier, and parts of Phom center, while the others along White Nile river are displaced to Kuerdap, Parts of Tiep, Bei, Parts of Tambuong, Bilnyan, Kuerthak, Biel, Pokbor, and also some parts of Juaibor
The situation has exacerbated from mid July up caused by continued over flow of water from river that has caused displacements, hindering accessibility to some locations, destruction of community infrastructure including agricultural farms.
# Locations: Households/ Population 1 Noor 832/ 5,009 2 Kuerjial 823/ 4,938 3 Phom 1,907 /11,223 4 Wicmoun 455/ 2,687 5 Kuernyang 1,005/ 6,290 6 Bilnyang 539/ 3,342 7 Tamboung 217/ 1,357 8 Koatnyakoang 107/ 654 9 Kuong 691/ 4,293 10 Bei 786/ 4,811 11 Juaibor 582/ 3,499 Total 7,944/ 48,103
On 16 December, a grenade exploded inside a tukul in Jur River, Western Bahr el Ghazal, which killed two boys and injured another three children  ( one girl and two boys )  when one of the boys tried to play with the item.
Also of concern was an increase in the number of casualties attributed to conventional parties to the conflict  ( up from 27 to 73 compared with the previous reporting period ) , as well as the impact on local populations of rising tensions and clashes involving Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition  ( abbreviated SPLM IO ) defectors affiliated with government forces in areas of Central Equatoria, Upper Nile and Western Equatoria.
As at 1 February, United Nations Mission in South Sudan  ( UNMISS )  documented a total of 155 incidents January, the overall number of such incidents, in particular in Lakes, Warrap and Eastern Equatoria, had risen by more than 30 per cent compared with the same period in 2020. This included a series of clashes around Juba involving armed elements from various communities.
In January, to address intercommunal violence in the greater Tonj area, Warrap, the Mission  ( UNMISS )  sought to establish a temporary operating base in Romic but was prevented from obtaining access to the area by the authorities.
( unmiss )  Peacekeepers conducted patrols in the area to build confidence, assess the security situation and reopen roads to enable the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
As discussed in the previous section, lack of access to information is the fourth main barrier hindering access to services by persons with disabilities, with 22.0  ( ± 4.1 )  per cent of respondents with disabilities reporting it as a challenge.
58.4  ( ± 5.0 )  per cent of respondents with disabilities report the need for assistive devices and technology.
The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support  ( MHPSS )  partners in Malakal  ( IOM, IMC, MSF and DRC, INTERSOS and WCH )  provide community and family support, and focused support such as counselling and support groups at MHPSS centres or clinics, during home visits as well as via tele counselling in the PoC. Furthermore, specialized services for persons with mental health problems are available.
Physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy is the main specialized service mentioned by the respondents  ( 28.8% ) , followed by mental health and psychosocial support  ( 23.7% )  and social protection programming  ( 23.2% ) .
Among the 64.6  ( ± 4.9 )  per cent of respondents who need disability specific health services, only 37.1  ( ± 4.8 )  per cent were able to maintain it on arrival to the PoC site. About half  ( 48.4% )  also reported a need for specific nutritional supplies, mostly as a result of iron deficiency or diabetes. 59.4  ( ± 6.8 )  per cent of those in need are unable to access the required nutritional supplies, mostly due to lack of financial means or economic resources.
Not all persons with disabilities living within the PoC site were able to access the health services they needed. 39.3  ( ± 4.9 )  per cent of respondents experienced medical needs over the six months preceding the survey, of whom over two thirds  ( 70.8% )  were able to address them and obtain the required medication. Among the 29.2  ( ± 7.4 )  per cent who could not, the main reported reasons were lack of economic resources  ( 31.5% )  and services not responding to needs  ( 28.2% ) .
Disability focal persons' recommendations call for a need to continue raising awareness in multiple formats about the rights of persons with disabilities and elderly to access services. There is also a need to adapt distribution methods for persons with visual impairments to protect them being exploited by those who guide them to the GFD centres, such as door to door services. Lastly, an effort should be made to employ persons with disabilities at help desks.
Disability focal persons also reported that wheelchairs are not widely available on site, and thus the biometric registration required for food rations poses an additional burden on persons with mobility difficulties.
Persons with seeing and mobility difficulties are targeted by thieves due to their vulnerability and can be exploited by community members who request money to support them to access the GFD  ( General food distribution )  centers.
The lack of special queues for persons with disabilities also complicates their access to items during distribution. Moreover, key informants highlighted that the sanitation facilities are not always safe to access as travel at night in dim lighting can pose a risk due to long distances.
Paths towards the water points, toilets and bathrooms are uneven and narrow, especially worsening during the rainy season, making it highly difficult for wheelchair users and persons with mobility or visual difficulties to move across these paths.
Access to sanitation is slightly higher than access to water, with 27.0  ( ± 5.2 )  per cent of female and 18.6  ( ± 7.6 )  per cent of male respondents lacking access to a latrine or sanitation facility. The main reasons for lack of access are economic resources  ( 47.2%; 31.0% men and 52.2% women ) , followed by lack of physical access  ( 37.7%; 24.1% men and 42.7% women )  and lack of hygiene or dignity  ( 20.2% ) . As for water, IDPs commonly rely on personal expenditure to purchase soap in addition to the amount distributed freely by humanitarian partners on a monthly basis.
Domestic remittances have also fallen since the outbreak of the pandemic, with 42% of remittance receiving households reporting a reduction in remittance income, and 16% reporting a cessation of this income source.
the lack of diversification of information sources excludes certain persons with disabilities from accessing them. Posters and signs hinder persons with visual, intellectual or mental difficulties and radio announcements hinder persons with hearing difficulties from accessing the needed information.
In newly constructed shelters, ventilation is not provided, the space between one building and the other does not allow for adequate aeration and light to go through the building. The material used is an indication that the family was able to purchase a tarpaulin for the open market. It is also a sign of neglect from the humanitarian community since the shelter bears not logo of any agency.
The occupants use torches during day and night. The shelters are low and air circulation is difficult without ventilations. In addition, there are no fire breaks in between shelters and within one shelter. Although it was observed that most families cook outside the shelters but during rainy days, they cook from within the shelter which is used as a living and sleeping room.
In Don Bosco, the rooms in IDP shelters are small and inadequately accommodate the high number of people per family. On average, each household consists of seven people, yet every household has a single room to occupy.
The shelter structures are poor, no ventilations, prone to high heat and fire risks.
Nutrition treatment and emergency prevention services in the priority counties are being scaled up, with increased engagement of community nutrition volunteers in mid upper arm circumference screening for acute malnutrition in children and pregnant women. Outreach and mobile multi sectoral emergency response teams are being expanded and deployed to provide additional technical support in areas with limited capacity. Nutrition supplies are available and have been prepositioned in all of the priority counties and there is enough to cover needs for the first quarter of 2021.
As a key member of the national vaccine technical working group  ( TWG ) , UNICEF continued to provide technical support in the preparation and implementation of the national COVID 19 deployment and vaccination plan.
The majority of Shelter Cluster survey respondents were female  ( 96% ) .
Since the signing of revitalized peace agreement, the security situation had improved enormously allowing free and safe movement of the civilian from one place to another. Koch county as main Town of Patit payam which is surrounded by villages such as Ngony, Gany, Ganglat that host majority of the returnees where they stay and most of the returnees are sharing the food ration provided by NRC with their relatives. The affected population resides in Koch and surrounding areas which is about one  two hours walk and Patit which is directed from Koch and is under control of in opposition so the affected population receive food apart from new influx of returnee and IDP
In the focus group discussion with women they also mentioned cooking set as one of their need as most of the returnees are sharing and borrowing utensil from their relatives.
The affected population prefer communication through their local authorities' channels as the main reliable source of information.
Men in the community provide sources of food to their families and protect them from any harmful act or defend them if there any problems that arise. Besides that, majority of men make decision at the home level on whether the family will leave to find better living place.
To ease the burden on host community who are sharing their household's items with returnees it would worth to response in Koch and Patit surrounding areas. Considering that, the team decided to target the remaining returnees which are believed to be in range of 1400 Households.
According to the record of WFP  [ World Food Program ]  they use to distributed food ratio to 10,270 individuals about HHs 1734, while again the local authority put figures to 15,462 individual's equivalent to over 2,577 Households that are served with food ratio. The gap in terms of households that are not served is huge couple to daily influx of the returnees.
Koch and Patit is predominately inhabited by Nuer tribe and mostly in culture women are not allowed to own any property whatsoever, having said that land is not an exceptional. Hence women are the most marginalized group of people in this part of the Country.
Large parts of the country experienced unusually heavy and frequent rains over the past six months, leading to displacement. More than 1,000,000 have been affected by flooding in eight of South Sudan's ten states, and one administrative area.
UNICEF is providing preventive and curative nutrition services to children and women in South Sudan in partnership with nutrition sector implementing partners. During the period January and February 2021, a total of 32,684 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition  ( SAM )  were treated in inpatient and outpatient therapeutic programs. The highest admissions were recorded in Jonglei state  ( 21.8 per cent ) , followed by Unity state  ( 15.4 per cent )  and Northern Bahr el Ghazal State  ( 11.7 per cent )
From the answers of the respondents as shown above, it was evident that nationally, the biggest support required by primary schools is teaching and learning supplies  ( 46.2% ) . This is followed by school feeding  ( 44.5% ) , teacher salaries  ( 43.7% ) , rehabilitation of infrastructure  ( 35.2% )  and teacher training  ( 23.2% ) . If these 5 areas can be adequately supported, education standards in South Sudan will markedly improve.
Most businesses and market traders have lost income – in particular, those who offer non  essential goods and services. While few business activities had stopped outright as of June 2020, many respondents reported losing income, in line with losses in household businesses. This is true of three in five market traders  ( 59% ) . Traders who offer consumer commodities reported larger declines in revenue compared to September 2019  ( a 35% drop at the median )  than food traders  ( a 25% drop ) , consistent with temporary closures of non food markets and a loss of consumer disposable income.
Businesses and market traders likewise have seen drops in their revenue. While many have reduced wages of their workers, businesses have nonetheless continued adding some more workers.
The pandemic has been associated with rising prices of basic commodities as supply chain disruptions created intermittent scarcities. Humanitarian activities were affected as movement restrictions and social distancing measures affected operations. At the same time, a sharp decline in the price of oil – the mainstay of the economy, affected budget revenue and execution, and led to significant delays in the FY21 budget preparation. These effects are discussed at length in the next part of the report.
Even as hiring continued to rise, one in four businesses and NGOs reduced wages, consistent with more workers competing for jobs. Of those employers who pay workers in cash, one in four commercial businesses  ( 25% )  and every other NGO  ( 50% )  reported that they had reduced wages since the onset of the pandemic.
NGOs have reduced their activity levels. NGOs are large employers in South Sudan, providing about one in five of all jobs in private businesses; jobs in NGOs also tend to pay better than others, and commonly account for the livelihood of entire households.27 In addition, NGOs are also big customers for businesses, in particular, outside of Juba. Thus, it is regrettable that three in four NGOs  ( 76% )  said their level of activity had decreased since before the pandemic, and one in five said activity had declined by more than half  ( 21% )   ( 5% said it had stayed the same, and 18% reported an increase ) . NGOs were unlikely to have moved any staff to Juba or other localities  ( 87% ) , and hardly any  ( 2% )  said they had moved half or more of their staff.
As of June 2020, less than one third of children  ( 32% )  who attended schools before they were closed were engaged in distance learning activities. The differences across the country are large. In rural areas, only 20% of households have children engaged in any form of learning activity, compared to 30% of households in urban areas outside Central Equatoria, and 48% in Central Equatoria  ( Figure 32 ) . For school age children in South Sudan, the most common learning activity taking place during school shutdowns was listening to classes on the radio  ( Figure 33 ) .
Limited livelihood sources have been associated with greater food insecurity. States with limited livelihood options, particularly those that have high dependence on food assistance, hunting and gathering, and selling firewood, are susceptible to suffer from food insecurity. Across all states, more than 50% of the households were classified as either moderately or severely food insecure, with Jonglei state sharing the highest burden of food insecurity with 87% of households either moderately food insecure  ( 49% )  or severely food insecure  ( 38% )   ( Figure 22 ) . Other states with high food insecurity include Upper Nile State  ( 74% ) , Western Bahr el Ghazal  ( 78 ) , Central Equatorial  ( 82% ) , Northern Bahr el Ghazal  ( 70 ) , and Lakes  ( 69% ) .
Furthermore, high prices of food commodities and sustained depreciation of the South Sudanese pound against the United States Dollar has reduced the purchasing power of vulnerable households who are mostly dependent on markets to meet their food and other basic needs. Overall, the percentage of moderately and severely food insecure households have increased over time. For example, the percentage of severely food insecure households was 0 in 2010 and gradually increased to about 23% in 2019. In addition, the percentage of moderately poor households was 28% in 2010 and increased to 47% in 2019.
During the same period, infant and young child feeding counselling services reached a total of 123,663 pregnant women and caregivers of children 0 23 months. UNICEF and partners reached 3,165 children under the age of five with severe acute malnutrition  ( 16 per cent of the 6 month target of 20,033 )  in 10 prioritized/highly food and nutrition insecure counties.
Non oil tax revenues were more resilient and are estimated at SSP 31.8 billion compared to SSP 29.9 that was budgeted. At the same time, expenditures turned out at an estimated SSP 289.4 billion, lower than the budgeted SSP 311.5 billion. This was due to under execution of the capital budget: it was expected to contribute a sizeable proportion of expenditure  ( 14.8% of GDP )  but only 3% was realized. Despite improvements in revenue and capital budget under execution, the overall cash balance is estimated to have widened to SSP 56.5 billion  ( 6.8% of GDP )  from the SSP 26.7 billion  ( 3.2% of GDP )  that was budgeted.
The FY2019/20 budget deficit widened with large shortfalls for oil revenue. The FY2020 budget envisaged the government share from oil exports to increase to SSP 268.8 billion from SSP 198.2 billion realized in FY2019. However, with a plunge in oil prices, gross oil revenues are estimated to have turned out at SSP 201.1 billion, representing a shortfall of about SSP 67.7 billion.
The authorities have accelerated dialogue on key reforms necessary to cushion the economy amidst a double health and economic crisis. The current dialogue with key international counterparts has centered on Public Financial Management Reforms. These include the formation of an oversight committee for Public Financial Management Reform Strategy  ( PFMRS )  and its governance structures, as well as a technical committee on the economy whose role is to advise on ways to diversify both sources of growth and revenue. More recently, in a significant move announced on 19 August 2020, the Bank of South Sudan announced the closure of special accounts with immediate effect, paving the way for a partial foreign exchange reform.
The East African Community  ( EAC )  issued administrative guidelines to facilitate movement of essential goods and services during COVID 19 pandemic. The East African community has issued guidelines to safeguard trade in essential goods within the region while containing COVID 19 cross border transmission. Guidelines have been provided for the following: trade facilitation, priority treatment for cargo mitigating the COVID 19 pandemic, information sharing, training and capacity building, as well as creating awareness on national, regional, and international measures and requirements. In addition, guidelines meant to support micro, small, and medium enterprises to remain in business and expand as a foundation for post COVID 19 recovery have been put in place. The new guidelines are meant to address some of these issues while maintaining the flow of goods.
Increased rainfall and flooding in the context of inadequate household access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities has resulted in outbreaks of diarrheal illnesses across the country. The increased morbidity constrains household labour supply, affecting agricultural and off farm activities, with implications for household welfare.
Growing insecurity has resulted in more people fleeing their places of residence to seek refuge in neighboring countries. More than 16,000 South Sudanese fled the country and sought refuge mainly in Uganda, Sudan and Ethiopia in the first quarter of 2020. At the same time, South Sudan continued to host about 300,000 refugees from neighboring countries, mainly in Maban County, Upper Nile and Pariang County, Unity State. Displaced people still experienced major obstacles in achieving durable solutions, such as returning to their former residences, relocating to new areas or integration in the locations where they now stay. Many were fearful to return home as they did not know how safe and secure it was for them to return.
Consistent with this observation, it is households that have lost income since the pandemic began that were most likely to report food insecurity  ( Table 10 ) . For instance, nine in ten of those whose incomes from their main activity had stopped reported that a household member had found it necessary to skip a meal  ( 91% ) , compared to about eight in ten among those whose incomes had remained stable or increased  ( 79 and 77%, respectively ) . However, it is important to recall that even prior to the pandemic, most job activities in the towns of South Sudan provide income or wages of about USD2 per day39 – a level of income at which even households whose activities continued through the pandemic struggle to access enough food.
Not all households were able to take action to cushion shocks, but those that did relied mostly on new income generating activities, sale of assets, or help from friends and family. The coping strategy most commonly employed to deal with economic shocks was to engage in additional income generating activities  ( 22% ) . Respondents in Central Equatoria were particularly likely to have tried to find additional income sources  ( 31% ) . Other frequently used strategies were to sell household assets  ( 18% nationally, but less common in Central Equatoria ) , or to rely on gifts or loans from friends and family  ( 17 and 12%, respectively ) . However, about one quarter of all households did not take any particular action to deal with a given shock, whether they did not find it necessary to do so or were unable  ( 24% ) .
For households engaged in family businesses, the fall in revenue was pronounced. Four in ten respondents in the household survey  ( 41% )  reported that a household member operated a family business  ( in agriculture or other activities ) . Of those, more than half  ( 58% )  indicated that since the beginning of the outbreak, their income from the family business was less than usual  ( 42% )  or that there was no income at all  ( 16% – Table 8 ) . This revenue loss was attributed to several different factors, but the most significant by far were a lack of customers  ( 52% )  and the usual place of business being closed due to public health restrictions imposed by the authorities  ( 49% ) .
In January 2021, a total of 15,170 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition  ( SAM )  were treated in inpatient and outpatient therapeutic programs. The highest admissions were recorded in Jonglei state  ( 25.5% )  followed by Unity state  ( 15.1% ) . Compared to the same period last year, the SAM admissions were reduced by 12.3%. One of the potential reasons for the reduction is program adaptation related to COVID 19 where weight for height admission criteria was suspended since the second quarter of 2020.
UNICEF is advocating for the safe re opening of schools. Risk communication and community engagement  ( RCCE )  interventions were scaled up in response to an increase in COVID 19 cases witnessed during the reporting month. Over 4,327 calls were received at the UNICEF supported hotline 2222
A total of 943,209 people  ( 424,672 males and 518,537 females )  from 152,016 households were engaged in integrated messaging for positive behaviour and social change since the beginning of the year. The community mobilizers reached out to nearly 300,000 households through inter personal and mass communication sessions at marketplaces, health facilities, and water points. The sessions focused on promoting positive health and hygiene seeking behaviours, as well as the importance of routine immunization and polio vaccination in supported areas in all the ten states.
UNICEF generated demand for services among the targeted individuals, communities, and families through the distribution of IEC materials, posters, banners, flyers and conducted radio talk shows in all the targeted states. Social investigations for cVDPV2 cases were completed during the reporting period, in addition, a total of 53 children who defaulted on routine immunization were traced and referred to various health facilities.
During the reporting period, a UNICEF supported integrated community mobilizers network  ( ICMN )  was instrumental in the successful rollout of the vaccine derived poliovirus type 2  ( cVDPV2 )  vaccination campaign targeting over 2.8 million children with monovalent oral polio vaccines.
In February 2021, 3,288 households with a total population of 21,762 people  ( 12,479 females and 9,283 males )  were reached with soap and hand washing buckets fixed with a tap. The initiative, which started during the last quarter of 2020 came to an end during the reporting month after reaching a cumulative total of 9,285 households with a total population of 49,045 people  ( 28,399 females and 20,646 males ) .
UNICEF also contributed to the finalization of the Communication strategy and the National Deployment Plan for the forthcoming COVAX vaccination initiative in South Sudan.
UNICEF is currently trucking water to the IDP sites in Juba and constructing water kiosks as part of a voucher program for the provision of safe water supply.
UNICEF, in coordination with the Ministry of General Education and Instruction  ( MoGEI )  distributed 4,650 additional sets of solar powered radios to 23,250 vulnerable school going children  ( 19,972 girls and 3,278 boys )  in Akoka, Fashoda, and Manyo counties in Upper Nile state, Rumbek Centre, Rumbek East, Unity states and Abyei Administrative area. The solar powered radio sets were instrumental in facilitating underprivileged children to be engaged in remote learning programmes
In Pibor which is a priority county due to multiple shocks and hazards, admission of children suffering from SAM doubled from 744 during the first two months of 2020 to 1,496 during the same period this year
During the reporting month a second round polio campaign using the monovalent vaccine  ( mOPV2 )  was conducted at a national level jointly with WHO and the Ministry of Health. A total of 2,295,803 children under the age of five were reached through the vaccination campaign. Similarly, a vaccination campaign for maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination  ( MNTE )  was conducted in Jonglei and Upper Nile states, reaching 76,702 people. The distribution of essential medicines and supplies to boost service delivery also continued during the reporting period.
In February 2021, UNICEF through partners provided curative consultations to 143,440 individuals  ( 66,908 males and 76,432 females )  through static health facilities, community outreach activities and the Boma Health Initiative  ( BHI ) . A total of 79,826 individuals reached with the curative consultations were under the age of five and 63,714 individuals were aged five years and above. Most children and adults received consultations for malaria  ( 30 per cent )  followed by pneumonia  ( 11 per cent )  and diarrhoea  ( 7 per cent ) . UNICEF and partners provided 108,180 Long lasting insecticide treated nets  ( LLITNs )  for the prevention of malaria to 54,090 families which were comprised of 216,360 children and pregnant women.
During the reporting month, UNICEF solicited for partners to rapidly assess needs, rehabilitate 28 boreholes, construct 15 new water points, distribute hygiene Non food items  ( NFIs )  to nutrition centres, and implement sanitation and hygiene promotion interventions.
UNICEF continues to work closely with the Government of South Sudan and NGO partners in supporting integrated primary health care services in all the 25 counties of Jonglei and Upper Nile states targeting an estimated 1.8 million people. The support includes the distribution of essential drugs and medical equipment to 1911 health facilities, support for emergency preparedness and response activities as well as national and sub national support to the Ministry of Health.
A total 380,000 long lasting insecticide treated nets  ( LLINS ) , 181,000 bars of soap, 368 buckets, 1,737 cartons of water purifying tablets and 12,874 rapid diagnostic test  ( RDT )  kits for malaria were distributed to nutrition partners in the Greater Upper Nile region.
Dry season intercommunal violence continued to be the most significant country wide threat to humanitarian operations. There has been an increase in violence in Warrap and Lakes States as well as sub national conflict in Upper Nile.
Several attacks against personnel in the humanitarian community were reported during the reporting period. An attack against a vehicle carrying a polio vaccination team in Lakes state on 14 February, resulted in three deaths and 4 injuries of humanitarian personnel. Earlier in the month, an International NGO staff member was killed in Unity State, after he was force marched from a vehicle and shot as the team were returning from a distribution site.
During this period  ( December 2020 to March 2021 ) , an estimated 1.79 million people are likely to face Emergency  ( IPC Phase 4 )  acute food insecurity. More children are expected to be acutely malnourished than in the past three years. Approximately 1.4 million children under the age of five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition in 2021, including 313,391 children who are projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition.
According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification  ( IPC )  assessment results shared in December 2020, in the first projection period of December 2020 to March 2021, an estimated 5.82 million people  ( 48.3 per cent of the population )  will likely face Crisis  ( IPC Phase 3 )  or worse acute food insecurity, with 11,000 people likely to be in Catastrophe  ( IPC Phase 5 )  acute food insecurity in Pibor County in Pibor Administrative Area.
Overall the food and nutrition situation has worsened, and some communities are facing catastrophic needs.
UNICEF Funding status (  in US$ ) : Funding gap= 149M, Funds available= 48M and Carry forward= 23M
In the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, WFP distributed a total of 2,575 mt of food and nutrition items to 93,450 beneficiaries  ( 100 percent of targeted people )
UNICEF is providing preventive and curative nutrition services to children and women in South Sudan in partnership with nutrition sector implementing partners.
South Sudan continues to see a rise in the number of confirmed cases, with 8,870 confirmed cases, 4,914 recoveries, and 102 deaths, as of 7 March 2021
7th March 2021: 104 new COVID 19 cases bringing the total to 8,870 confirmed cases.
21 Feb, 2021  348 new COVID 19 cases bringing the total to 6,931 cofirmed cases.
South Sudan continues to see a rise in the number of confirmed cases, with 6,931 confirmed cases, 4,014 recoveries, and 87 deaths, as of 21 February 2021
South Sudan is at risk of an increase in COVID 19 cases making it integral for risk communication and community engagement  ( RCCE )  interventions to be scaled up further
Over 1,112,798 people  ( 601,904 males and 525,894 females )  from 112,731 households were reached with integrated messages for positive behaviour and social change by community mobilizers. The community mobilizers have been engaged in conducting health and hygiene awareness sessions at households, marketplaces, health facilities, and water points to create awareness and to promote positive health and hygiene seeking behaviours. In addition, the mobilizers visited churches/mosques and raised awareness on the importance of routine immunization and polio vaccination in supported areas in all the 10 states.  ( Done by UNICEF )
In January 2021, 1,892 households with a total of 8,024 people,  ( 4,754 females and 3,270 males )  were reached with soap and hand washing buckets with a tap. The initiative, which started during the last quarter of 2020, has so far reached a cumulative total of 5,997 households with a total of 27,284 people  ( 15,920 females and 11,364 males ) .  ( Done by UNICEF )
In January, cluster partners reached 184,815 people with hygiene promotion interventions as well as WASH Non Food Items  ( NFIs )  , in addition 66,739 people were reached with sanitation services. In addition, 80,555 individuals were reached with access to safe water through the rehabilitation and repair of existing water points. During the same month, the Cluster implemented an integrated response in six highly food insecure counties and reached 87,583 individuals mainly with hygiene promotion interventions and WASH NFIs. The cluster also released a WASH Vulnerability booklet which shows county wise vulnerabilities against several WASH indicators for strategic planning and to support the development of cluster specific objectives.
In preparation for re opening of schools scheduled for April 2021, UNICEF distributed COVID19 prevention supplies such as cloth face masks, buckets with taps, soap and infrared forehead thermometers to 91 schools in Rumbek and Eastern Equatoria States; benefitting 4,104 learners  ( 857 girls and 3,247 boys ) . Furthermore, UNICEF has supporting the Ministry of General Education and Instruction with Primary 8 and Senior 4 national examinations taking place February 2021 together with Education Cluster partners, including an emergency airlift of examination papers to opposition areas, and bussing of children from PoCs to examination centers.
As part of COVID 19 mitigation measures, the Ministry of Education closed schools and educational institutions in April 2020, leaving approximately 2 million children in primary and secondary levels with few or no education opportunities. Schools has a limited re opened in October 2020 for candidate classes. During the reporting month, UNICEF, in collaboration with the Ministry of General Education and Instruction  ( MoGEI )  distributed 6,498 solar powered radio sets to 25,992 vulnerable school going children  ( 11,696 girls and 14,296 boys )  in Rumbek, Upper Nile, Warrap, Jonglei and Unity States
A total of 88 children  ( 31 boys and 57 girls )  were registered and received case management services according to the vulnerability criteria in Jonglei, Lakes, Unity, Central Equatoria and Eastern Equatoria, states. A total of 212 children and at risk adolescents were reached with livelihoods and economic reintegration services in Jonglei  ( 202 boys and 10 girls ) . In addition, a total of 5,094 individuals  ( 1,438 girls, 1,764 boys, 1,055 women and 837 men )  were reached with explosive ordinance risk education  ( EORE )  key messages in Jonglei, Lakes, Central Equatoria and Eastern Equatoria states.  ( By UNICEF and partners )
The emergency nutrition response activities have been intensified in 10 highly food and nutrition insecure counties. There are more than 150 nutrition sites being supported by 12 partners. In response to the ongoing food and nutrition insecurity situation an Emergency Response Team  ( ERT )  has established a stabilization centre in Pibor. A multi sectoral Emergency Team  ( MET )  led by ACF conducted pre response assessments in Tonj South in Warrap state, Akobo West, Duk and Ayod counties in Jonglei State.
There are over 50,000 people displaced in 3 payams in Tonj North, according to the RRC. Displaced people are sheltering in collective sites including schools, churches and other public buildings.
Replenishment of personal protective equipment  ( PPE )  and infection prevention and control  ( IPC )  supplies to the Provision of Essential Health Services Project  ( PEHSP )  supported health facilities is ongoing. UNICEF procured and donated 40 oxygen concentrators and their accessories to the National Ministry of Health  ( MoH )  to support and enhance the ongoing COVID 19 case management interventions, these supplies will be distributed to COVID 19 treatment facilities/wards in ten states and three administrative areas across the country.
UNICEF continues to work closely with the government and NGO partners to support integrated primary health care services in all the 25 counties of Jonglei and Upper Nile States targeting an estimated 1.8 million people. The support includes the distribution of essential drugs and medical equipment to 1911 health facilities to improve the quality ofservices, support for emergency preparedness and response activities as well as national and sub national support to the Ministry of Health.
In Greater Pibor Administrative Area  ( Jonglei State )  revenge killings, age set fighting, intra/inter communal clashes are being reported, these could further perpetuate insecurity in the state
Criminality remains a major concern in Juba coupled with robberies, snatching, house break ins and other opportunistic crimes which are being widely reported. In addition, there is widespread inter communal violence in Upper Nile State, Lakes State as well as in other states.
The nutrition situation is critical, with 53 counties  ( 68% )  of the total being classified as IPC Acute Malnutrition  ( AMN )  Phase 3 and above during the period November 2020 to March 2021. Approximately 1.4 million children under the age of five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition in 2021, including 313,391 children who are projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition. The estimation of the nutrition caseload was based on seasonal historical data from food security and nutrition monitoring systems, SMART nutrition surveys and the admission trends for 2020.
In the second projection period of April to July 2021, an estimated 7.24 million people  ( 60% of the population )  are likely to face Crisis  ( IPC Phase 3 )  or worse acute food insecurity, with 31,000 people likely to be in Catastrophe  ( IPC Phase 5 )  acute food insecurity in Akobo County  ( 11,000 )  in Jonglei State, Aweil South County  ( 7,000 )  in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, and Tonj North County  ( 13,000 )  in Warrap State. During the same period, an estimated 2.47 million are likely to be in Emergency  ( IPC Phase 4 )  acute food insecurity
According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification  ( IPC )  assessment results shared in December 2020, in the first projection period of December 2020 to March 2021, an estimated 5.82 million people  ( 48.3% of the population )  will likely face Crisis  ( IPC Phase 3 )  or worse acute food insecurity, with 11,000 people likely to be in Catastrophe  ( IPC Phase 5 )  acute food insecurity in Pibor County in Pibor Administrative Area. During this period, an estimated 1.79 million people are likely to face Emergency  ( IPC Phase 4 )  acute food insecurity
In 2021 women and children in South Sudan are faced with multiple risks which include extreme food and nutrition insecurity, residual impact of floods, localized conflict, an ongoing economic crisis and disease outbreaks including COVID 19.
UNICEF Appeal 2021: US$ 198 million. Funding Status  ( in US$ ) : Funding gap= 175M and Carryforward= 23$.
A total of 17,263 individuals have gained access to basic sanitation facilities through the construction and rehabilitation of latrines in schools and health facilities. In relatively stable communities in Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Eastern Equatoria, community led total sanitation  ( CLTS )  is being implemented as a sustainable approach to promote sanitation and expand the sanitation coverage. A total of 39 villages have so far been triggered in both locations. In addition, a total of 1,570 people have been reached with key hygiene promotion messages.  ( By UNICEF )
UNICEF continued to provide support in the operation and maintenance of water yards, surface water treatment  ( SWAT )  systems and urban water supply systems. In addition, UNICEF continued to support the construction of water supply systems for urban and peri urban communities in Juba.
A majority of informants  ( 95.70% )  revealed that they had gone without a salary for at least 5 months, while 4.3% had gone without a salary for more than 6 months. This shows that every government teacher in South Sudan has not received a salary even if it was just for a month, bringing to light issues such as teacher motivation
# of pupils receiving a meal in school in Upper Nile region: Yes   23%, No   77%
In 2020, reports indicate that incidents of armed conflict increased by 60 percent compared to 2019. Violence reached unprecedented levels in Jonglei and Greater Pibor with four successive waves of violence displacing some 200,000 people in 2020. Across Warrap, conflict and insecurity have continued to delay and interrupt WFP distributions for 400,000 people facing ICP Phase 5  ( Catastrophe )  conditions.
Policy priorities to promote better jobs and growth in business activities remain the same as before the pandemic. However, support has become more urgent, in particular, activities to strengthen resilience at the household level, and restore aggregate demand for business activities.
In summary, since the onset of the COVID 19 pandemic, health concerns, containment measures, and the global economic downturn have taken a toll on livelihoods. Mandated closures to COVID 19 have subsided, and there has been limited change in urban job activities and the main business constraints, though supply chains remain affected. However, income from business activities at all levels has declined markedly, chiefly due to depressed aggregate demand – a second round effect of the macro fiscal difficulties that result from the pandemic  ( discussed in Part 1 of this report ) .
Following the release of the IPC assessment results, a joint team from UNICEF, WFP and other nutrition cluster partners conducted a field mission to Pibor county from 15 to 22 January 2021.The purpose of the mission was to assess the nutrition situation and support implementing partners on the ground. Mid upper arm circumference  ( MUAC )  screening was conducted in three payams of Gumuruk, Likuangole and Pibor, reaching on average 300 children in each Payam. The findings showed that the proxy GAM in Gumuruk, Likuangole and Pibor was 9.7%, 14.2% and 14.2% respectively. The proxy GAM in all the three Payams was significantly lower than the results of the mass screening conducted by the implementing partner in November 2020 and whose results were used for IPC analysis. The proxy GAM in November 2020 was estimated at 18.1%, 20.3% and 23.7% for Gumuruk, Likuangole and Pibor respectively. One of the main reasons for the significant difference between the November 2020 and January 2021 results is the analysis method.
The rapid increase in acute food insecurity during 2020 is explained by COVID 19 which affected the supply chains leading to an increase in prices.
Total requirement for the GBV sub cluster is $30 million.  [ South Sudan: 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan ]
Child protection life saving interventions such as case management can be costly and demanding a higher ratio of specialized human resource capacity. Reunification of UASC is expensive in South Sudan as there is a need to charter flights, especially when parents are in different states. Rehabilitation and reintegration programming for children formerly associated with armed forces and groups are also extremely expensive and requires long term and sustained funding.
Vulnerable communities with severe food insecurity in places classified at IPC crisis levels require continued assistance to stop going even hungrier in the May through September lean season.
In 2021, food insecurity in South Sudan is alarmingly high. The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification  ( IPC )  assessment warned that 7.24 million people will face severe acute hunger at the height of the lean season in July, while 1.4 million children will be acutely malnourished.
WFP will not reduce nutrition assistance for mothers and children who are refugees or internally displaced; WFP provides especially nutritious food to treat and prevent malnutrition in pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as children between six months and two years of age.
WFP immediately needs US$125 million for its food assistance operations for the next six months to provide food in sufficient quantities, including larger food rations for refugees and the displaced
In those five counties main pull factor reported by county Improved security  ( Tonj East )   100% HA access  ( Canal Pigi )   87% Food access  ( Akobo )   53% Improved security  ( Koch )   73% Shelter  ( Gogrial West )   42%
The United Nations World Food Programme  ( WFP )  is cutting food rations for refugees and internally displaced people in the country due to significant funding gaps. The rations will be reduced from this month and affect nearly 700,000 refugees and internally displaced people who will now receive 50 percent of a full ration, down from 70 percent. A full ration provides 2,100 kilocalories per person and 50 percent is 1,050 kilocalories.
These cuts  ( Cuts in food ration by WFP )  are likely to lead to higher rates of malnutrition and anaemia, stunted child growth and people resorting to survival strategies. People who struggle to meet their basic food needs cope by skipping or reducing meals, taking loans with high interest, selling assets, and using child labour. There is often also increased domestic violence when people are in this situation.
“We must try to save the lives of those likely to face famine during the lean season if they do not receive sufficient assistance. WFP simply does not have enough resources to provide full rations to all of those in South Sudan who rely on our assistance to survive,' said Hollingworth. ( Matthew Hollingworth, WFP Representative and Country Director in South Sudan. )
The Logistics Cluster is working with humanitarian organizations to urgently utilize the dry season to pre position supplies in hard to reach locations in Priority 1 counties ahead of the rainy season. In support of these efforts, the Logistics Cluster facilitated the transport of over 26 MT of relief items including food, nutrition, shelter and WASH items for partners working in Akobo County, during the reporting period.
50,000 people were reached with food assistance in February.  ( Situation Report No. 3, as of 26 February 2021 )
Protection partners report a continued escalation in violence, including attacks on civilians and further displacement. In addition, there is a heavy deployment of armed forces in Greater Tonj areas. Without proper integration and proper support for barracks and food, the armed forces have relied on the communities, resulting in increased violence with displaced people and host community, with increased reports of GBV.