nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
Approximately 23 per cent of assessed settlements reported food as their most needed form of assistance, followed by health  ( 16 per cent ) , WASH  ( 12 per cent ) , non food items  ( NFIs )   ( 11 per cent )  and education  ( 8 per cent ) .
Spontaneous refugee returnees can face additional challenges when returning to their places of origin, due to their prolonged absence from their homesteads. Women , elderly  and childheaded households, as well as persons with disabilities, in IDP and spontaneous refugee returnee communities are in many cases especially vulnerable and less resilient.
Other factors contributing to communities' ability to recover from crisis in areas of return include competition over limited food and livelihood opportunities, people's ability to recover assets such as livestock, and problems related to housing, land and property.
According to the data provided for the analysis, IDPs face more violence than host community members. While general violence was the most common need for the non displaced in only one county, it was the case for IDPs in 37 per cent of the counties  ( 29 counties ) .
When it comes to living standards, the two groups  ( IDPs and non displaced ) share a common problem: poor access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation. For the non displaced, poor access to WASH services explains the high numbers of people in need in 60 per cent of counties  ( 47 counties ) , while the same applies for IDPs in 45 per cent of the counties  ( 35 counties ) .
Regarding well being consequences, the graphs reveal that acute food insecurity is the most common explanation for the number of people in need for both IDPs and non displaced people. In 77 per cent of the counties  ( 60 counties ) , acute food insecurity is the most common need for the non displaced, while the same is true for IDPs in 45 per cent of South Sudan's counties  ( 35 counties ) . This can be explained by drivers of food insecurity–explained earlier in the HNO–affecting most people, indifferent of their displacement status.
Despite the peace deal and ceasefire, continued localized violence and perceived insecurity has been restricting mobility and the movement of populations, which limits access to food, water, life saving goods and services, and livelihoods.
The research results of a study, showed that up to 33 per cent of women in these areas experienced sexual violence from a non partner and many of the incidents were directly related to a raid, displacement or abduction.
In a study conducted on violence against women and girls in three geographical areas of South Sudan that have known war and conflict for many years, the findings indicated that violence against women and girls is pervasive in these conflict zones, with up to 65 per cent of women and girls experiencing physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime.
The camp management mobile response requires a substantive amount of both human resources and logistical support thereby making the operation cost
Cash and Voucher Assistance  ( CVA )  has stabilized over the past four years in South Sudan. However, there are limits to its feasibility in some locations due the official exchange rate. For example, while in kind food assistance still dominated the FSL Cluster's response in 2020 with 73 per cent of the overall response, CVA continued to grow with 16 per cent in 2020. A mixed package of CVA and in kind support represented the remaining 11 per cent of the cluster's response in 2020.
The humanitarian community scaled up assistance to save lives and avert collapse of livelihoods in six counties in response to the latest food security analysis.  [ DECEMBER 2020 ]
People's physical and mental wellbeing, living standards and coping mechanisms are expected to further deteriorate in 2021 due to continued conflict and violence, macroeconomic pressures, climate change and the COVID 19 pandemic. New displacements and possible sudden returns will put additional pressure on the already limited basic services and on communities' coping mechanisms
Aid worker security Two aid workers were killed within days while providing humanitarian assistance in Jonglei, bringing the total number of aid workers killed in 2020 to nine.  [ NOVEMBER 2020 ]
CERF  ( Central Emergency Response Fund )  and SSHF  (  South Sudan Humanitarian Fund )  released a total of $20 million to provide life saving assistance to 360,000 most vulnerable people affected by widespread flooding since July.  [ OCTOBER 2020 ]
Total population 12.1 M, People in Need 8.3M, People targeted 6.6M.  [ South Sudan: 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan ]
Based on the IPC projections for December to March 2021, an estimated 187,000 people will face Crisis  ( IPC Phase 3 )  or higher levels of food insecurity, or 85 per cent of the population of Akobo County, with an estimated 11,000 people likely to face catastrophe levels of acute food insecurity in Akobo County. Scale up to pre positioned critical supplies ahead of the rainy season is vital. Primary access to Akoko West is via the Walgak road as an alternative route from Bor.
Movement between Akobo town in Akobo East and Akobo West remains blocked and there is no movement via road across the county. This is impacting coordination between humanitarian partners and local authorities. An alternate road from Bor Manyabol  PathaiWalgak has opened up access in the dry season to Akobo West. However, the window for pre positioning is closing as the rains are due to begin this month.
Funding for CP and GBV services ended at the end of March leaving critical gaps. There is a need to ensure the continuity of critical CP and GBV services across Akobo County. In some food distribution locations, local community watch groups are protecting food warehouses from vandalism and theft.
Insecurity in Gumuruk delayed distribution of dignity kits. Critical gaps are foreseen in community based protection mechanisms, CP and GBV services, including in case management and referral networks for protection services as ceased at the end of March. There are delays in family tracing and reunification services for abducted children who were recently released due to issues between communities and government recommendations. Communities cannot access Child Friendly Spaces that were submerged by flood waters.
In Akobo West, high numbers of cases of people with eyes infections, especially children, malaria, acute respiratory illness and Acute Watery Diarrhoea  ( AWD )  were reported.
Communal fighting hampered community nutrition volunteer movements in Nyikaan and Wechgoak.
COVID 19 resulted in school closures throughout the country, escalating existing nutrition concerns as many children rely on school feeding programmes for their basic nutritional requirements.
WASH Cluster partners continue to support the operationalization of surface water treatment systems serving 30,000 people in Pibor town, and 5,500 in Gumuruk. In Gumuruk, five boreholes were repaired serving an estimated 2,500 people. WASH partners targeted 6,304 household caregivers of children enrolled in MAM and SAM programmes and provided them WASH kits which included water purifiers, jerry cans, soaps and buckets. In Mayanbol Payam, WASH partners repaired six handpumps supporting 2,500 people. Some 1,253 people  ( 432 women, 224 men 326 girls and 271 boys )  in Jebel Boma, Maruo and Kassingor were reached by community hygiene promoters with hygiene messages and COVID 19 safety protocols.
Some 833 people  ( 503 women, 198 girls, 112 men and 20 boys )  supported with GBV programming in Akobo County. GBV case management services supported 133 people  ( 61 women, 33 girls and 39 men )  and 400 people  ( 295 women and 105 girls )  received dignity kits. The GBV Sub Cluster and partners also pre positioned 2,700 dignity kits in Akobo. Some 120 people  ( 80 women and 40 girls )  benefitted from the Women and Girls Friendly Spaces  ( WGFS )  and 80 people were reached through outreach activities.
Ensure the rapid scale up of identified static health partners to restore critical health services and resupply facilities across Akobo County. Address additional gaps in service provision, especially in WASH and health.
Based on IPC projections for December 2020 to March 2021, an estimated 200,000 people face Crisis and higher levels of food insecurity  ( 90 per cent of the population of Pibor County )  with an estimated 33,000 people likely to face Catastrophe levels of acute food insecurity  ( IPC Phase 5 )  in Pibor between December 2020 and March 2021.
All five sites in Gumuruk Payam were affected by age set fighting which occurred during the second week of March. The pre positioning of supplies to Gumuruk, Likuangole and Vertet warehouses was suspended due to frequent looting, malicious damage of the supplies and rub halls.
The protection response is ongoing in Pibor, including in Likuangole, Vertet, Gumuruk, Pibor town and Boma areas. Child Protection  ( CP )  partners reached 6,843 people  ( 1,803 girls, 1,239 boys, 2,072 women, 1,729 men )  with live saving CP services, including over 300 children  ( 48 boys and 252 girls )  who were identified and supported through case management.
The prevalence of Global Acute Malnutrition  ( GAM )  in Pibor County based on weight for height scores and or children found to have pitting odema was 21.6 per cent, with the prevalence of SAM was 4.9 per cent
At the time of reporting, the Logistic Cluster has completed building seven additional Mobile Storage Units in Pibor to supply the other payams in the county.
Humanitarian partners are under taking a humanitarian operational readiness planning exercise in Pibor County to map facilities at risk of flooding, including health and nutrition sites and reviewing flood mitigation measures to ensure the continuity of service delivery during the rainy season. Additional boats are being transported to Pibor and boat operators are being trained to ensure the movement of staff and supplies. During the last rainy season, boats were the sole means of transport
Other response priorities include phasing out and decommissioning shelters and site facilities left behind by returning or relocating displaced people.
There are 14 humanitarian organizations including 6 INGOs, 4 NNGOs and 4 UN operating in Akobo County.
Following recent monitoring visits, the situation of single elderly people and persons with disability was reportedly concerning, with many people having difficulty in accessing basic services. GBV partners provided women and girls in Pibor County with 1,600 dignity kits, however, these quantities are insufficient to meet the needs.
The lack of funding to run of the Pibor town Hospital remains a critical gap for secondary services, including the provision of surgical services for people in Pibor County. Mobile health services are needed to ensure that people in hard to reach areas can access critical health services during the rainy season.
WASH, FSL and Nutrition Clusters have integrated programming through community based sanitization and hygiene messaging ongoing at health and nutrition centres. At nutrition facilities, 15 boreholes including 10 damaged boreholes at the nutrition sites were repaired. Distribution of WASH materials including soap, water floc, water filter cloth, bucket and jerricans to 1,600 HHs was completed.
There is a critical lack of functional health facilities for people across the district, with only 22 per cent of health facilities operating currently. The Health Cluster scale up includes re establishing functionality of PHCU, PHCCs and mobile health services
Flooding in Alali Payam has impacted access to the area. A recent assessment found that while most people fled to Ethiopia during recent flooding episodes, 130 HHs remain in Alali Payam with limited access to basic services and in need of support. Some 3,000 returnees – both from within and outside the country – were reported through 2020. These people are reported to need assistance.
In Alali Payam, three hand pumps were repaired. Work is ongoing to support nutrition interventions across the county to facility the repair of hand pump and distribution of WASH hygiene kit items to families of under nourished children.
Lack of functioning health facilities across Akobo County remains critical, with only 5 of 23 facilities functioning at present, predominantly due to the lack of resources. To address existing gaps in service provision, two partners are scaling up services in the primary health care unit  ( PHCU )  in Nyandit Payam and through mobile medical teams in Bileky, Denjok and Gakdong payams in Akobo East. However, critical gaps remain for in health services for people in Akobo West.
Insufficient potable water supply to meet people's needs continues to be highlighted as a critical gap across Pibor County. Longer term funding is urgency needed to ensure continuous WASH service provision, including the provision of the full sanitation and hygiene promotion package, especially for people in areas that are at high risk of disease outbreaks.
Increasing insecurity has also adversely affected humanitarian response efforts and generated threats against relief workers in Central Equatoria in recent weeks. Between February and mid March, unknown armed actors attacked and looted humanitarian convoys in Morobo on seven occasions, according to the UN
Funding to run the PHCCs in Gumuruk and Likuangole expires at the end of March. There is no PHCC in Vertet, and currently, patients are referred to the hospital in Pibor Town. A major gap is the lack of support for critical services such as surgical interventions. Mobile health services are needed to ensure that people in hard to reach areas have access to critical health services, especially for those in remote areas which are cut off during the rainy season.
Security incidents remain a key constraint impacting the scale up of humanitarian services, especially in Gumuruk Payam. Community fighting among age set groups in Gumuruk Payam was reported on 9 and 14 March, and impacted nutrition services, for children under 5 and pregnant and lactating women during the reporting period in Gumuruk Payam, including Gumuruk, Lawlor, Vuveth, Lothila, Molokthoch and Manyabol nutrition sites. Authorities have engaged communities in Gumuruk to calm tensions in the area, and activities recommenced. On 14 March, insecurity was reported in Manyireng Village, Vertet Payam.
Partners reached 1,800 individuals  ( 760 women, 230 men, 440 girls, 370 boys )  through home outreach sessions offering awareness raising, risk mitigation, and psychosocial support.
More than 1,100 women and girls benefited from Women and Girls Friendly Spaces programming, which included the provision of psychosocial support, bead making activities and referral services.
There are 27 humanitarian organizations including 12 INGOs, 10 NNGOs and 5 UN operating in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area  ( GPAA ) .
In the six Priority 1 locations, 810,000 people are deemed to be in Crisis or worse levels of food insecurity  ( IPC Phase 3+ )  according to the IPC projections. This includes over 300,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition and some 480,000 pregnant and lactating women who are acutely malnourished and in need of treatment.
Camp Coordination and Camp Management : 1.6m People in need, 900k People targeted, Female 56% and Male 48%, 18m  ( US$ )  Requirements
COVID 19 related access constraints amplified pre existing difficulties in reaching people, especially during the first half of the year. Approximately half of the COVID 19 related incidents were administrative in nature. In March, all international flights were suspended, with exceptions to limited number of cargo and internal flights. Sixty staff members from the UN, international and national NGOs from listed countries were denied access and visa issuance for new staff was suspended. In May, UNHAS flights resumed, which significantly improved the operating environment.
Over half of the looting incidents were recorded in Jonglei where key humanitarian facilities and infrastructure were damaged or destroyed in Pibor and Bor South during sub national violence, leading to a loss of over 635 metric tons of food and nutrition items.
Partners who did not comply were threatened with expulsion and some had assets confiscated. Such local interventions are costly with time spent negotiating with the authorities and costs needed for continuation of operations. Illegal taxation and extortion, particularly at checkpoints, hampered the delivery of aid in both government and opposition controlled areas, with demands for up to 100,000 South Sudanese Pound per vehicle, making humanitarian cargo transport costly and time consuming.
In Bentiu, threats by the youth against Equatorian staff and other nationalities disrupted activities since September, impacting services for some 97,000 people.
Looting and theft of humanitarian supplies from warehouses and convoys in transit significantly increased in 2020.
Active hostilities in Central Equatoria between the South Sudan People's Defence Forces/Sudan People's Liberation Army in Opposition and the National Salvation Front also hindered the delivery of assistance to people in Kajo keji, Lainya and Morobo counties.
Aid organizations continue to face widespread access challenges. While humanitarian access has improved since the signing of the revitalized peace agreement in September 2018, the number of incidents recorded in 2020 rose from 2019. An increase in sub national and localized violence, including the resumption of politicised conflict in parts of the country, impacted humanitarian operations and impeded humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people.
Concurrently, stronger accountability measures should be designed to ensure that people in need are supported by the humanitarian partners who provide the best standards of response, increase awareness of those accountability requirements for all stakeholders, while promoting localization through greater national NGO representation in governance and decision making.
The January 2005 signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Government of Sudan and the southern based Sudan People's Liberation Army officially ended more than two decades of north–south conflict during which famine, fighting, and disease killed an estimated 2 million people and displaced at least 4.5 million others within Sudan.
With $26.4 million in FY 2020 funding and $14 million in FY 2021 funding to date, USAID/BHA provides countrywide support to the humanitarian response through the WFP managed UN Humanitarian Air Service  ( UNHAS )  and Logistics Cluster for South Sudan.
With more than $43.2 million in FY 2020 funding, USAID/BHA reached nearly 2.5 million people including more than 325,200 IDPs with life saving nutrition services. USAID/BHA has also dedicated more than $63.7 million in FY 2021 funding for nutrition assistance in South Sudan.
Using a community based approach, USAID/BHA partners promote recommended infant and young child feeding practices through one on one counseling and group education to manage acute malnutrition
USAID/BHA supports partners in their efforts to prevent and treat malnutrition across South Sudan. In partnership with the UN Children's Fund  ( UNICEF ) , WFP, and NGOs, USAID/BHA nutrition assistance reaches children and pregnant and lactating women nationwide with specialized food products to treat malnutrition and provide supportive supervision to frontline health nutrition staff
To mitigate the effects of the COVID 19 pandemic, USAID/BHA partners are training local healthcare workers in infection prevention and control methods and strengthening community health coordination. Additionally, State/PRM supports UNHCR to address the specific health care needs of refugees and other vulnerable populations in South Sudan. Health interventions are integrated with nutrition and WASH services wherever possible to ensure a sustainable system of clinical services and support.
With approximately $36.8 million in FY 2020 and FY 2021 funding, USAID/BHA provides health care services in South Sudan through community health facilities and mobile medical units  ( MMUs ) . Through MMUs, partners provide a range of primary care, mental health, and maternal and newborn health services.
With support from USAID/BHA and other donors, IOM, the Government of the Republic of South Sudan Ministry of Health, and partners conducted a first round oral cholera vaccination campaign in Jonglei's Greater Pibor Administrative Area between January and late March, inoculating nearly 58,000 people ages 12 months and older.
South Sudan's April to September rainy season is likely to result in above average rainfall across most parts of the country, according to the 57th Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum. Coupled with atypically high water levels in the Nile River, the high projected rainfall amounts will likely lead to widespread, severe flooding in many parts of South Sudan by August, resulting in a third consecutive year of significant flooding in Pibor, FEWS NET reports. Relief actors note that flooding will increase the risk of waterborne diseases, including cholera, due to inadequate or damaged WASH facilities in flood affected areas
In early March, WFP identified approximately 45 miles of dikes from Bor to Jonglei's Panyagor town currently in need of repair, as well as at least 120 damaged dike points. The UN agency is currently undertaking the rehabilitation of the dike and road network, aiming to complete repairs prior to the start of the rainy season. However, in mid March, WFP reported an emergency funding shortfall of $7.5 million to complete dike rehabilitation activities in Jonglei.
In late February, OCHA identified approximately 30,000 flood affected people in Akobo and reported that other large populations had travelled to Gambella refugee camp in Ethiopia to access basic services.
Relief actors have responded to increased humanitarian needs in Central Equatoria by providing three   month stocks of essential medicines to health care facilities in Katigiri, Lainya, and Wonduruba counties, and additional interventions are ongoing. Relief actors note that the situation in Central Equatoria remains volatile; in recent days, local armed groups threatened to launch reprisal attacks against the pastoralist groups if local authorities do not take action to address the problem.
In those five counties , main pull factor reported by county Improved security  ( Akobo )   76% Improved security  ( Manyo )   55% Food availability  ( Kajo Keji )   43% Access to IGAs  ( Fashoda )   27% Improved security  ( Lafon )   55%
Despite concerted efforts to scale up the humanitarian response in areas experiencing Emergency IPC 4  and Catastrophe levels of acute food insecurity in South Sudan, widespread insecurity and flooding continue to limit access and relief activities.
The HRP anticipates that 7.7 million people will require food assistance during the year, including an estimated 108,000 people who are likely experiencing Catastrophe IPC 5 levels of acute food insecurity. Furthermore, an estimated 1.4 million children younger than five years of age and 480,000 pregnant and lactating women will likely require treatment for acute malnutrition during the year.
The UN released the 2021 South Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan  ( HRP )  on March 16, requesting nearly $1.7 billion to reach 6.6 million people with life saving, multi sector support in 2021. The number of intended beneficiaries in the 2021 HRP increased nearly 20 percent from the 5.6 million people targeted for humanitarian assistance in the 2020 HRP.
With $22.9 million in FY 2020 and FY 2021 funding, USAID/BHA supports multi sector protection interventions that ensure the safety and dignity of more than 5 million people including approximately 200,000 IDPs in South Sudan.
USAID/BHA supports four UN agencies and nine NGOs to bolster food security, livelihoods, and early recovery efforts in South Sudan.
Between July 2020 and January 2021, heavy rains and resultant flooding adversely impacted more than 1 million people in South Sudan, including approximately 495,000 people in Jonglei. While floodwaters had largely receded from most flood   affected areas of northern and western South Sudan by February, flooding continues to constrain access to food and limit humanitarian response efforts in large areas of Jonglei, as well as parts of neighboring Unity and Upper Nile states.
The presence of armed pastoralist groups has also prevented IDPs and host communities from accessing essential humanitarian services. For example, the occupation of three Lainya health facilities by pastoralist groups has disrupted critical health care services in surrounding areas, forcing vulnerable populations to travel long distances to access health care services in Juba or elsewhere in Lainya. Moreover, armed pastoralist groups established encampments near a humanitarian compound in mid March, increasing the risk of interference in relief operations.
The renewed insecurity has also prevented internally displaced persons  ( IDPs )  and refugees from returning to places of origin in Central Equatoria; moreover, some recently arrived former refugees plan to return to locations of asylum in Uganda due to the violence and deteriorating food security following the loss of their farms. IDPs in affected areas are reportedly sleeping in the open or sharing shelters with host community members.
Furthermore, on February 27, unknown armed actors looted approximately 1.5 metric tons  ( MT )  of WFP nutrition commodities from a health care center in Tonj East. Moreover, livestock vaccination and treatment remains suspended in Tonj East and Tonj North due to insecurity. Flood damaged road infrastructure is also limiting humanitarian response efforts across much of Jonglei, including Akobo and western areas of Pibor County, where WFP is using river transport and costly air drops to deliver food assistance.
In addition, renewed sub national violence in Greater Tonj in February and early March displaced an estimated 117,000 people, led to the relocation of 20 health workers, and prompted the UN World Health Organization  ( WHO )  to suspend an ongoing polio vaccination campaign. The violence also delayed the prepositioning of essential health supplies and equipment in Tonj East and led to the suspension of nutrition services in parts of Tonj North, adversely affecting more than 1,100 malnourished children.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs  ( OCHA )  deployed additional staff to Akobo and Pibor counties, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, and Warrap's Kuajok area in early March to assist with the coordination of relief activities in areas with severe humanitarian needs.
According to the HRP, immediate humanitarian response priorities include sustaining the multi sector response scale up in South Sudan's six most food insecure counties Jonglei State's Akobo and Pibor counties, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State's Aweil South County, and Warrap State's Tonj East, Tonj North, and Tonj South counties and preparing for the 2021 April to September rainy season, which is forecast to result in widespread flooding for a third consecutive year
In conjunction with the release of the HRP, State/PRM partner the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees  ( UNHCR )  also launched the South Sudanese Regional Refugee Response Plan, calling for $1.2 billion in 2021 to support 2.28 million refugees in five countries of asylum the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda with support from more than 90 partners.
An estimated 8.3 million people  including approximately 300,000 refugees are currently in need of humanitarian assistance, representing a nearly 11 percent increase from the 7.5 million people in need in 2020, according to the 2021 HRP
Widespread sub national violence, the disruptive impacts of the coronavirus disease  ( COVID 19 )  pandemic on market functionality and household livelihoods, and the impact of two consecutive years of atypically severe flooding in 2019 and 2020 have all contributed to a substantial increase in the severity and scale of humanitarian needs in South Sudan.
At least 2,100 civilians have been killed in South Sudan since from Jan Oct 2020
300 per cent increase in subnational violence incidents Jan Jun 2020 compared to 2019
There were 1,080 human rights incidents documented from Jan Oct 2020
More than 60 per cent of roads become impassable during the rainy season
South Sudan has only one physician for every 65,574 person in the country.
The cost of a standard food basket has increased by 42% in 2020.
One of the highest under five mortality rates  ( 90.7 deaths per 1,000 live births )  in the world.
People's ability to access humanitarian assistance continues to be hampered by sub national violence, violence against humanitarian personnel and assets, bureaucratic impediments, operational interference, and COVID 19 movement restrictions. For two consecutive years, remote communities have been cut off from assistance during the rainy season between July and November. Five counties experienced high access constraints in 2020, compared to three in 2019
As of January 2021, South Sudan has had 3,929 confirmed COVID 19 cases and 64 deaths.
The security situation remains fragile with armed clashes and tensions being reported from different regions. Nevertheless, WFP's programmes continue to be carried out countrywide, mainstreaming risks related to the COVID 19 pandemic, continued flood and conflict.
In February, WFP dispatched 52,041 mt of associated food commodities over land, river and air across the country. WFP installed two mobile storage units  ( MSUs )  in Terekeka, Central Equatoria, to help meet the storage needs for food prepositioning prior to the rainy season.
During the last two weeks of February, the transport of 238 mt of cargo including items for education, food security, general operations, general programme, health, logistics, nutrition, protection and WASH was facilitated by the Logistics Cluster, serving 25 organisations. Around 27 percent of these items were transported by road, while the rest was transported by air.
In February, UNHAS transported 4,476 passengers corresponding to a 17 percent increase compared to January. UNHAS transported 170 COVID 19 test samples between January and February.
In order to ensure scarce in country stocks of personal protective equipment  ( PPE )  were prioritised across the country to meet the needs of the COVID 19 response, the Logistics Cluster launched the central storage and management of PPE on behalf of the humanitarian community in South Sudan
In Tonj South and Tonj North, WFP provided food assistance to 50,000 and 25,000 beneficiaries, representing 100 percent of the February target. WFP reached 50,000 beneficiaries, representing 100 percent of the February target.
In Aweil South WFP reached 27,608 beneficiaries with life saving assistance, representing 100 percent of the February target. Furthermore, in Aweil South, consultative meetings at county and payam level for the targeting of an additional 24,000 beneficiaries, were completed, increasing the number of targeted people under the IPC scale up response to 50,100.
The number of Covid 19 cases saw an upward trend with 51 cases reported as of 31 January 2021, the majority of whom were health care workers . In response to the upsurge in cases Covid 19 Task force was re activated, contact tracing was initiated and sensitization on Covid 19, messaging and awareness raising was intensified utilizing dfferent communication and information sharing platforms.
WFP continues to provide assistance as a priority to populations living in IPC Phase 4 and Phase 5 risk counties. WFP delivered food assistance to 244,990 beneficiaries in IPC Phase 5 risk counties  ( Pibor, Akobo, Tonj North, Tonj South, Tonj East and Aweil South ) , and to 80,309 beneficiaries in IPC Phase 4 risk counties  ( Ayok, Duk, Twic East and Bor South ) .
To respond to the increasing need in South Sudan, the 2018 2020 Interim Country Strategic Plan  ( ICSP )  has been extended to 2021, and may be considered for a further extension, to align with the United Nations Cooperation Framework in South Sudan.
Additionally, the COVID 19 pandemic presents serious risks to an already fragile situation. COVID 19 is certain to further exacerbate acute food insecurity, particularly for market reliant populations as the pandemic significantly contributes to the economic crisis.
1.19 m people assisted* *in January 2021.  ( 57% female and 43% male )  ( By WFP )
USD 211.6 m six months  ( February – July 21 )  net funding requirements  ( WFP, Feb 2021 )
WFP, through the Logistics Cluster, participated in the National Steering Committee on COVID 19, co leading the Operations Support and Logistics pillar, coordinating closely with the Government, WHO and other partners, as well as sharing information and guidance with partners. As part of the National Response Plan, the Logistics Cluster supported WHO to expand bed capacity at the Dr John Garang multipurpose Infectious Disease Unit by donating and installing a Mobile Storage Unit  ( MUS )  at the site.
WFP has biometrically registered 3.47 million beneficiaries into the SCOPE system, WFP's beneficiary information and transfer management platform.
In Pibor two month distributions covering food needs for February and March are currently ongoing. WFP have achieved 84 percent of their target in Gumuruk and achieved 10 percent in Lekuangole, thus far. In Tonj East, 15,000 people have received assistance through two month distributions covering their food needs for January and February, representing 100 percent of the February target. With final assurances obtained from communities in Tonj East, WFP will start food distributions in March.
In 2021, some 8.3 million people in South Sudan need some form of humanitarian assistance. This is nearly 70 percent of the population and an increase of 800,000 people from the 7.5 million people in need, in 2020. There are multiple contributing factors to the steep increase in need across the country, including continued instability, unprecedented weather events and the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic.
Communities across South Sudan, especially women and children, were hit hard in 2020 by the multiple shocks of intensified conflict and sub national violence, a second consecutive year of major flooding, and the impacts of COVID 19 related restrictions on livelihoods. An estimated twothirds of the population needed humanitarian assistance and protection services
During the period from 15 25 April, few rumors of this nature were collected, perhaps suggesting that symptoms are generally understood by communities. While there is relatively low frequency of symptom rumors reported, there remains a perception, as reported in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, that the flu like symptoms already present in South Sudan may be cases of Coronavirus.
Data collected between 15 25 April suggests that rumors and perceptions of the virus as being unable to spread in warm climates continue, as does the belief that COVID 19 is a disease of the West and China.
Recommendations: Increase awareness on known preventative measures, particularly the importance of social/physical distancing, emphasize that COVID 19 is transmissible to all people, regardless of age, race, skin color, nationality, gender or religion, improve messaging to religious leaders to observe restrictions on social and religious gatherings, especially as many continue to open churches for services on Sunday as well as other days of the week.
USAID/BHA has provided more than $35.2 million in FY 2020 and FY 2021 funding for WASH programming in South Sudan to provide access to safe drinking water, handwashing facilities, sanitation services, and solid waste disposal to more than 3 million people including more than 1 million IDPs. WASH programming includes interventions to help prevent cholera outbreaks among vulnerable populations as well as mitigate GBV risks by providing safe access to latrines, sanitation services, and other WASH assets
USAID/BHA partners reached approximately 1.3 million beneficiaries with food assistance monthly in FY 2020.
Persistently high floodwater levels continue to adversely affect populations in South Sudan, impeding food security and livelihoods activities and hampering humanitarian assistance delivery, according to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network  ( FEWS NET ) .
Deteriorating security conditions have increased humanitarian needs and resulted in heightened threats to relief actors in Central Equatoria since early March, relief actors report. Armed pastoralist groups attacked local communities in Central Equatoria's Juba, Kajo Keji, Lainya, Morobo, and Yei counties in recent weeks, resulting in an undetermined number of deaths, reported incidents of GBV, and the destruction of crops, farms, houses, livelihoods assets, and water facilities.
Air and river transport remain the only means to deliver humanitarian assistance to affected people. Parts of Nyirol, Fangak and Ayod continue to face access challenge because of the flooding and its aftermath.
In addition, the USAID/BHAfunded and International Organization for Migration  ( IOM )  managed Rapid Response Fund  ( RRF )  is supporting NGO partners to provide relief commodities and emergency water, sanitation, and hygiene  ( WASH )  services to households experiencing Catastrophe levels of acute food insecurity in Akobo and Aweil South.
Currently Camp Management activities in Mangalla IDP site are being carried out by a national NGO who have been trained by cluster partners on how to implement CCCM activities effectively and in line with CCCM standards.
• In Hai Masna Collective Center, camp management facilitated 2 Town Hall meetings to introduce the new leadership of Hai Masna to the IDP community.
To improve on Communication with Community  ( CwC )  and information dissemination, camp management supported POC community coordination committee  ( PCCC )  and youth office with stationery  ( printing papers and pens )  and two megaphones to be used for messaging in the PoC. The Youth office was also supported with 5 Jerry cans and 25 liters' paint for the painting of the youth center.
• Camp management conducted two day training for a group of 25 women in Malakal town centered on coordination mechanisms, community participation and lifesaving COVID 19 messaging.
• COVID 19 awareness by all sector partners is ongoing. ACTED have requested WHO to provide dead body management training in the IDPs camps but up to now there has been no response.
Response achievements some 1.4 million people assisted with access to safe water and sanitation;
•As at the end of 2020, there has been a drastic reduction of service providers in Juba former PoCs. This reduction has affected service provision in the site. The worst hit sector is WASH and the IDPs have witnessed a reduction of the quantity of water being trucked to the site.
• IOM Camp management in Bentiu PoC site continued its active engagement with UNMISS and humanitarian partners to facilitate the development and roll out of the PoC Transition Work plan and the Community Engagement Strategy which includes key messages on the transition. This was done amidst persisting threats to humanitarian aid workers whereby the youths in the PoC are against other South Sudanese who hail from other states from working in Unity State, PoC inclusive.
As per the humanitarian needs overview  ( HNO )  2021, the CCCM cluster has identified around 46 counties under level 4 and level 5 severity where displaced people need assistance from CCCM cluster. Cluster has identified a total of 1.3 million displaced people are in need of whom 900,000 have been targeted to be served by cluster partners in 2021.
The CCCM Cluster continued to coordinate COVID 19 related response and preparedness activities in PoCs, former PoCs, and IDP sites. CCCM cluster also provided support on PoC transition process at the state level through developing community engagement plans, PoC transition humanitarian plan etc.
The CCCM Cluster contributed to the South Sudan's inter agency Humanitarian Project Cycle  ( HPC )  process and the development of the CCCM Response Strategy for 2021. As part of this process, the CCCM Cluster finalized the identification of People in Need in 2021.
CCCM Cluster : 0.5m reached out of targeted 0.8m, male 0.27m and female 0.27m that is 67%
281 organizations responded between January and September ; 186 LNGOs  ( 66% ) , 89 INGOs  ( 32% ) , 6 UN  ( 2% )
Some 778,000 people received essential household items and emergency shelter; more than 831,000 children, and pregnant and breastfeeding women were provided with emergency nutritional assistance; about 536,000 people were reached through camp coordination and camp management services; and over 242,000 children were supported with access to education in emergencies. The achievements listed include people who were reached through COVID 19 preparedness and response activities.
The following protection risks were confirmed, these including; separation of children, the orphans, elders from families, early/forced marriage, recruitment of child soldiers, rape, snake bites, wild animals, and different unidentified waterborne diseases  ( In Fangak as per the assessment conducted )
Eastern, Central and Western Equatoria saw the lowest number of people reached, with some 40 per cent, 50 per cent and 49 per cent of the target population reached respectively. The low reach to people in these areas was due to a variety of issues including low operational partner presence, inadequate pre positioning of relief supplies which limited the response in the dry season, and funding shortfalls. Poor road conditions during the rainy season, insecurity, bureaucratic access impediments and COVID 19 related restrictions also contributed to the relatively low number of people reached with assistance in the Equatorias.
Response achievements include more than 4.7 million people reached with food assistance and livelihoods support;
Priorities for Immediate Humanitarian response Establishing Complaints and Feedback Mechanisms, governance structures, and community structures at displacement sites  Communication within communities to ease tensions between the host community and IDPs  Distribute NFIs to returnees and IDPs/Host community  ( In Fangak as per the assessment conducted )
Priorities for Immediate Humanitarian response  Strengthening community structure governance through capacity building training on CCCM.  Provide communication equipment to help community leader coordinate their activities.  Support community leaders with infrastructures such as offices  ( In Fangak as per the assessment conducted )
Priorities for Immediate Humanitarian response  Registration and verification of both IDPs and host communities.  Distribution of NFIs  ( kitchen and shelter )  to IDPs, returnees, and host.  Provision of canoes.  ( In Fangak as per the assessment conducted )
IDP's were confirmed to be sharing a household with the host thus sheltered in already built tukuls, where they share residence with multiple families as reported before on average of five to eight people sleep in one room  ( tukul ) . Also, the total average number of people per household is estimated to be 20 people. similarly, the local boma authorities confirmed through KI interviews that, IDP's have integrated within the host communities. This was further confirmed through observation of similar livelihood coping mechanisms and validated by household interviews.  ( In Fangak as per the assessment conducted )
Priorities on humanitarian response  Establish/strengthen of community based protection mechanism  Provision of psychosocial support systems including women and girls' friendly spaces and child friendly spaces  Distribution of dignity kits and shelter NFIs to vulnerable women and girls  ( In Fangak as per the assessment conducted )
Women and girls reported having to walk long distances thus exposing them to risks of GBV.  ( In Fangak as per the assessment conducted )
However, no responses were received from the IDP's about intimate partner violence including sexual assault, a physical assault was reported but the technical team recommends investigation thorough assessment be conducted to ascertain the facts on the ground since it was reported on average five to eight people sleep in one single room  ( Tukul ) .  ( In Fangak as per the assessment conducted )
There's a need to strengthen and establish of community based protection mechanism and referral pathways in all the locations mentioned.  ( In Fangak as per the assessment conducted )
Priorities on Immediate humanitarian response • Rapid nutrition assessment still to confirm more information. • Startup of SAM & MAM interventions inform of outreaches to locations that not being served through the current static nutrition sites, since access to these static sites with children and by pregnant mothers have been hampered by swamps in between the new settlements and these static nutrition sites.  ( In Fangak as per the assessment conducted )
Before the flood, nutrition facilities had been giving service for children, pregnant, and lactating mothers admitted with the existing nutrition centers.  ( In Fangak as per the assessment conducted )
Priorities on Immediate humanitarian response • Prepositioning of nutrition supplies like Ready to Use Therapeutic Food  ( RUTF ) , Ready to Use Supplementary Food  ( RUSF )  and Corn Soy Blend  ( CSB ) ++ for serving these displaced population  ( IDP's ) . • Blanket Supplementary Feeding Program  ( BSFP )  intervention • Emergency food security intervention through food distribution to the vulnerable population. And distribution of vegetable seeds for establishing kitchen gardens in the households.  ( In Fangak as per the assessment conducted )
Malnutrition cases were reported among children U5s, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. Food insecurity was a key factor contributing to malnutrition as respondents confirmed as being the major challenge among the displaced communities and the host.  ( In Fangak as per the assessment conducted )
Priorities for humanitarian response • Provision of cholera kits for possible outbreaks, and distribution of impregnated bed nets • Daily health education sessions on various topics. • Mass distribution of Mosquito nets. Health facility abandoned due to flood • Provision of canoes to aid referrals  ( In Fangak as per the assessment conducted )
Priorities for humanitarian response • A comprehensive health facility fully equipped with drugs and EPI campaign against polio, and measles in identified locations • A mobile clinic providing the medical consultations, antenatal care services, and testing • Training of traditional birth attendants in the various villages on clean and safe delivery with major emphasis on danger signs • Provision of delivery kits recommended  ( In Fangak as per the assessment conducted )
During the visit, the team recorded 38 suspected cases of malaria, 72 suspected cases of diarrheal disease, 31 suspected cases of ARI, 23 injury cases, and eight cases of pregnancy related conditions, and eight live births managed by skilled birth attendants in the communities without the help of specialized treatment from the locations visited  ( In Fangak as per the assessment conducted )
One health facility managed by World Relief  ( Buom )  was affected and it was relocated to Noor village where most families have relocated, other PHCUs affected were Tiep, Wicmoun where most of the families accessing the facilities were displaced hence reducing the number of consultations since movements are restricted by the flood  ( In Fangak as per the assessment conducted )
With already destroyed basic social facilities such as latrines, boreholes, health facilities, farms and nutrition centers, the affected population is in critical need of support.  ( In Fangak as per the assessment conducted )
The flood continues to exert pressure on already fragile health systems in the county  ( In Fangak as per the assessment conducted )
Access to public health services is now severely limited for the community members.  ( In Fangak as per the assessment conducted )
Displaced families are conjected and living in the absence of access to safe drinking water, adequate sanitation facilities and health facilities. Waterborne and vectorborne diseases have been increasing as confirmed during the assessment.  ( In Fangak as per the assessment conducted )