nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
From October 2017 to June 2018, 526 patients were admitted, mostly with gunshot wounds. In the October 2018 to June 2019 period, the Committee admitted 688 patients, an increase of nearly 25 per cent.
The intercommunal conflict, fuelled in part by a governance and security vacuum resulting from the delay in the appointment of governors, has caused a significant disruption to civilians in several areas. The spillover of this violence risks destabilizing the country, eroding peace gains and spilling into politically charged conflict with disastrous consequences.
Through this strategic response plan, the Organization proposes four priority areas : enhance agriculture and food security information systems to monitor the impact of COVID 19; stabilize incomes and access to food; reduce the risk of COVID 19 transmission along the food supply chain; and prepare for the post COVID 19 recovery phase.
Restrictions on freedom of movement heighten the risk of gender based violence, limit the transportation of personnel and essential drugs and medical supplies, and impede access to populations in need. Any cessation of the assistance reaching the broader population could risk an influx to existing locations for internally displaced persons and refugees, where services and assistance could be perceived as more available, thereby increasing transmission.
UNMISS deployed military patrols and integrated teams to hotspots in Warrap, Lakes and Unity to engage communities and reinvigorate previously signed peace resolutions. In addition, UNMISS facilitated direct communication between influential community leaders from the affected areas, including through sa tellite phones and video conferencing.
Direct contact with women's organizations was limited owing to COVID 19, but UNMISS remained engaged remotely to sustain the gains. COVID 19 has opened new entry points for women as agents for change through awareness raising on modes of transmission in communities and prevention measures, referral of increasing domestic violence cases and economic empowerment alternatives, such as the production and sale of masks and soap.
The police strength stood at 1,888  ( of an authorized 2,101 police personnel ) , comprising 665 individual police officers  ( 200 women, or 30 per cent ) , 1,148 personnel in formed police units  ( 220 women, or 19 per cent )  and 75 corrections officers  ( 18 women, or 24 per cent ) .
UNMISS conducted three workshops to strengthen the capacity of women's organizations to continue advocating their participation in governance institutions, as well as to develop skills for participation in decision making processes.
Despite COVID 19 related challenges, UNMISS provided transport to deliver 20 storage containers and 418.55 metric tons of food and non food items across 10 locations in support of implementation of the transitional security arrangements.
My Special Representative continued to exercise good offices to support the peace process and engage with senior government and opposition officials and traditional leaders, as well as with IGAD and African Union member States, to facilitate the formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity. On 22 February, my Special Representative participated in the swearing in ceremony of the new presidency, at which he reiterated the support of the United Nations to South Sudan.
The Mine Action Service deployed 25 teams, which surveyed and released 6,708,608 m² of land and removed and destroyed 2,218 explosive items and 182,846 rounds of small arms ammunition.
UNMISS horizontal engineering companies undertook the rehabilitation of key supply routes, which ensured efficient and quicker delivery of humanitarian assistance. However, the COVID 19 prevention measures imposed by host nation security forces on UNMISS significantly impeded maintenance efforts in Warrap and Western Equatoria. Work was fully suspended between 7 and 29 April and partially resumed from 30 April.
UNMISS continued to conduct long  and short duration patrols across the country to support the delivery of assistance or the protection of humanitarian workers. UNMISS provided force protection to 339 integrated missions, enabling access to high risk areas. It conducted 4,421 force protection patrols supporting convoys, including those of non governmental organizations.
UNMISS recorded 75 status of forces agreement violations compared with 64 in the previous reporting period. Some 55 violations involved movement restrictions imposed by the Government impeding the Mission's ability to implement its mandate.
A total of 38 children were released by SPLM/A IO, including 26  ( 23 boys and 3 girls )  from training centres, while 12 boys were informally released by SPLM/A IO in Jonglei and Unity. The South Sudan Peoples' Defence Forces released 15 boys affiliated with SSUF/A who had been apprehended in August 2019 during clashes between the forces. Two boys attributed to SSOA and one boy attributed to the South Sudan National Police Service were also released, while one boy escaped from the South Sudan Peoples' Defence Forces in Unity and reunited with his family.
In support of cantonment and training, UNMISS carried out three human rights due diligence policy risk assessments of assistance to non United Nations security forces.
UNMISS continued to support the South Sudan Peoples' Defence Forces Military Justice Directorate in promoting accountability for conflict related sexual violence and other serious human rights abuses. Specifically, UNMISS facilitated the production of advocacy materials to assist military personnel of the South Sudan Peoples' Defence Forces in eliminating sexual violence and protecting citizens.
UNMISS continued its support for national accountability measures for security incidents affecting protection of civilians sites. A total of 101 persons suspected of being responsible for serious security incidents within protection of civilians sites in Juba, Bentiu and Malakal were detained in UNMISS detention facilities. UNMISS referred 17 persons to national authorities for investigation and prosecution.
In conjunction, the UNMISS force established 19 temporary operating bases and conducted 15,979 patrols, including 1,749 short duration patrols, 463 long duration patrols, 159 dynamic air patrols and 13 riverine patrols. To enhance its protection impact, the UNMISS force carried out threat and risk analysis in areas of return and developed a contingency plan for transition to the wet season.
Displaced persons in camps or camp like settings are particularly vulnerable to the virus owing to overcrowding, poor access to safe water and sanitation, and limited health care and related services.
In a country where 56 per cent of the population has no access to even primary health care services, along with existing comorbidities, the loss of life resulting from COVID 19 will be almost impossible to prevent. Moreover, the pandemic poses a significant risk to the precarious health system; the potential for health worker absenteeism owing to sickness, death or protest will mean that primary health care will suffer and such diseases as malaria, diarrhoeal disease and malnutrition could result in excess morbidity and mortality far exceeding the fatalities directly related to COVID 19.
The existing crisis conditions have made the population extremely vulnerable to experiencing illness associated with the transmission of COVID 19.
Within the SPLM/A IO, several defections and desertions were noted, especially following the formation of the Cabinet. On 17 March, four SPLM/A IO generals, led by Lieutenant General James Koang Chuol, defected to the South Sudan Peoples' Defence Forces. A member of the SPLM/A IO political bureau and former national Minister of Petroleum, Dak Duop Bichiok, led another group of defectors, accusing Mr. Machar of nepotism and failing to govern the movement appropriately. SPLM/A IO criticized the President for allegedly encouraging and facilitating defections at a time when reunification was essential.
From 1 February to 31 May, a total of 9,632 UNMISS and affiliated staff were trained on United Nations standards of conduct and the zero tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse. The Mission adopted a standard operating procedure to enhance and streamline training efforts and ensure maximum compliance with mandatory courses.
The FSNMS round 24 conducted in the lean season of 2019 reported that among under five children the prevalence of GAM was 16.2 per cent, increasing from the 13.3 per cent reported in FSNMS round 22 conducted at the peak of the 2018 lean season.
Health facilities are inadequate to provide quality basic emergency obstetric and newborn care  ( BeMonc ) , comprehensive emergency obstetric, neonatal care  ( CeMonc )  per 50,000 people, clinical management of rape survivors and emergency contraceptive services.With a significant under five mortality rate and maternal mortality rate all these factors depict the suboptimal performance of primary health care services.
The Service Availability Readiness Assessment  ( SARA )  conducted across the country in 2019 shows that service availability readiness stands at 37 per cent with suboptimal implementation of the basic package of health and nutrition
Most of the approximately 300,000 refugees seeking safety in South Sudan rely on food assistance and approximately 60 per cent of refugee households employ emergency livelihood coping strategies.
At the time of releasing the HNO, abnormally heavy seasonal flooding had been devastating large areas of South Sudan since July 2019, with an estimated 908,000 people affected. At least 620,000 people were estimated to need immediate assistance. These included IDPs, returnees, refugees and their host communities across some 30 counties in Jonglei, Upper Nile, Warrap, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Unity, Lakes, and Central and Eastern Equatoria.
They have mobilized around 1 million people through household and community meetings and broadcasted 23,300 radio spots with public messaging, and generated evidence through two EVD research studies on communities' knowledge, attitudes and practices.
A total of 7.5 million women, men, girls and boys are expected to be in need in 2020, across all South Sudan's 78 counties. This is a slight increase in absolute numbers from the 7.1 million people estimated to be in need in the 2019 Humanitarian Needs Overview and the 7.2 million presented in the Periodic Monitoring Report after the first quarter of 2019. Accounting for an increase in the population baseline from 11.4 million in 2019 to 11.7 million in 2020, however, the proportion of South Sudanese people in need remains two thirds.
Some 5.2 million of the people in need are host community members or people who are otherwise affected but not displaced, while 1.4 million are IDPs, some 560,000 are IDP and refugee returnees, and about 300,000 are refugees in South Sudan. Within these population groups, some of the vulnerable groups that may have specific needs include children, women at risk, the elderly, people with disabilities, single headed household members, and the extremely poor.
In an assessment covering over 60 counties, all assessed settlements without access to assistance reported that they were in need. Of the settlements reporting dissatisfaction with assistance received, 30 per cent stated insufficiency, 23 per cent reported that the assistance period was too short and 10 per cent reported that the physical distance to the distribution point was too far.
On the other extreme, Mayom, Kapoeta South, Renk, Pariang, Kapoeta North, Aweil West, Gogrial East and Gogrial West counties have the highest resilience capacities. Even in these counties, however, humanitarian needs are relatively high, ranging from 50 per cent of the Mayom population in need to 75 per cent of the Kapoeta North population in need.
The highest proportion of households relying on surface water are in Greater Upper Nile  ( 59 per cent ) . Only 19 per cent of households use improved sanitation facilities, including shared facilities.
The first graph shows that for the majority of the people in need, high levels of acute food insecurity determine the maximum number of people in need in 60 counties.
The years of conflict, instability and lack of services has affected the population's mental health. Applying the latest prevalence estimates of mental disorders in conflict settings to South Sudan, approximately 2.5 million people or every fifth South Sudanese might have a mental disorder at any point in time. This includes mild  ( 4 per cent ) , moderate  ( 13 per cent )  and severe  ( 5 per cent )  mental disorders.
Although the ceasefire has largely held across the country in 2019, the number of patients with injuries from violence admitted to the International Committee of the Red Cross surgical units has increased since the signing of the R ARCSS.
Most counties in Unity, Upper Nile, Jonglei and Warrap and parts of Eastern Equatoria and Lakes faced critical malnutrition. This signals a worsening of the nutrition situation across the country. In 2020, more than 1.3 million under five children are projected to be acutely malnourished, per the IPC.
Armed conflict, proxy fighting, intercommunal violence and cattle raiding have resulted in displacements.
Furthermore, these explosive hazards inhibit civilians from collecting water or firewood, cultivating land, attending school and receiving health care, among other daily needs.
The high level prevalence of acute malnutrition translates into an estimated 1.8 million South Sudanese and more refugees will be in need of treatment for acute malnutrition in 2020. These include more than 290,000 children who are suffering from SAM, some 1 million children with MAM and nearly 470,000 pregnant and lactating women suffering from acute malnutrition.
With a prevalence of GAM at 16.2 per cent, the country has crossed the emergency threshold of 15 per cent. The highest nutrition needs are observed in Jonglei, Unity, Upper Nile and Warrap. Five of the 10 states show a prevalence of 15 per cent or more.
Women and girls face increased risk of harassment, assault and sexual violence when collecting water, using communal latrines and accessing menstrual hygiene products.
A total of 2.1 million people, including an estimated 300,000 refugees in South Sudan, are in need of nutrition services.
Jonglei has the highest number of people estimated to be in crisis  ( IPC Phase 3 )  or worse acute food insecurity, with 1.25 million people, followed by Upper Nile with 845,000 people. Twenty eight counties are classified as being in emergency  ( IPC Phase 4 ) .
Concurrently, 1.7 million people are experiencing large consumption gaps, reflected by malnutrition and excess mortality, or are able to mitigate these but only through emergency livelihood coping and asset liquidation  ( IPC Phase 4 ) .
In August 2019, some 6.35 million people  ( 54 per cent of the population )  were estimated to be acutely food insecure  ( IPC Phase 3 or worse ) .
Some 6.35 million people, or 54 per cent of the total population, were severely food insecure  ( IPC Phases 3, 4 and 5 )  in August 2019. This included an estimated 1.7 million people who are facing emergency acute food insecurity  ( IPC Phase 4 )  and 10,000 people in a catastrophic situation  ( IPC Phase 5 ) .
In both protracted and new displacements, people are forced to leave behind basic household items and shelter materials as a result of conflict compounded by food insecurity and economic deterioration.
It is estimated that more than 70 per cent of the newly displaced population outside PoC sites and other collective centres are unable to meet their basic household needs and will require interventions. Additionally, more than 50 per cent of the returnees  ( returnees from within South Sudan and refugee returnees )  are in need due to the limited access to services.
Physically, mines and explosive remnants of war also inhibit people from returning to their areas of origin, especially in the Equatorias.
Inadequate or lack of infrastructure is also a barrier to continuity of education. Approximately 31 per cent of schools have a permanent structure, 21 per cent are semi permanent, and 39 per cent are open air or under the trees.
Additionally, there is a significant gender gap: male teachers represent 86 per cent of the teaching workforce, while the representation of female teachers is extremely low. This can affect girl student participation and it is a significant factor in girls' education, as female teachers increase perceptions of safety, raise expectations and provide role models for girls.
Some 60 per cent of primary and secondary schools and classrooms are either partially or completely damaged
The CCCM Cluster analysis on population data indicates that 1.28 million IDPs are in dire need of camp coordination and management services.
Approximately 80 per cent of the IDP population living in camp like settings or informal settlements are in critical need of humanitarian assistance.
Across the flooded counties, more than 3 million people needed assistance even before the rains. More than 60 per cent of the floodaffected counties were classified as facing extreme levels of acute malnutrition in 2019.
As of October 2019, the DRC is still dealing with the world's second largest outbreak of Ebola, with more than 3,200 Ebola virus disease  ( EVD )  cases reported, of which 2,152 died  ( case fatality ratio 66.6 per cent ) , since the beginning of the outbreak in August 2018.
People in need are present in all the 78 counties of South Sudan. The table below presents the 7.5 million people by administrative area  ( county ) , sex, age and disability, as well as by the four population groups selected for the analysis.
More than 80 per cent of counties are in extreme severity in relation to well being, while a lower proportion, approximately 25 per cent of counties, face extreme living standards related needs. Whereas well being needs are limited to severe and extreme, there is a broader range of severity of needs related to living standards, with10 per cent of all counties in stress  ( level 2 ) , mainly in Western Equatoria.
Communal clashes continue to create insecurity in affected areas, and have been the main cause of aid worker relocations in 2019. Some 110 humanitarians were relocated due to insecurity between January and September 2019, primarily in opposition controlled areas, including Maiwut and Ulang, both in Upper Nile, and Fangak in northern Jonglei.
As of July 2019, South Sudan hosted about 297,000 refugees, primarily in Upper Nile and Unity. Women and children represent 83 per cent of the total refugee population. More than 90 per cent are from Sudan, followed by the DRC, Ethiopia and Central African Republic. In addition, the number of asylum seekers stood at some 3,000.
The UN refugee agency's  ( UNHCR )  advisory to not facilitate refugee returns was reaffirmed in April 2019 due to the unsustainable conditions for voluntary returns in safety and dignity
A cumulative 193,000 South Sudanese refugees had spontaneously returned to South Sudan from November 2017 to July 2019 due to a mix of push and pull factors. The highest concentrations of refugee returnees are in Magwi, bordering Uganda in Eastern Equatoria  ( 61,000 ) , Pibor by the Ethiopian border in Jonglei  ( 39,000 )  and Rubkona near Sudan in Unity  ( 17,000 ) .
Many areas of early returns are not safe. In early 2019, more than half of the IDP and refugee returnee population in Lakes, Jonglei, Western Bahr el Ghazal and Western Equatoria lived in settlements with reports of conflict related incidents.
Humanitarian organizations' analysis of the severity of humanitarian access constraints between June and September 2019 suggests that humanitarian actors had reached an estimated 2.3 million people or 60 per cent of South Sudanese people targeted with assistance in 44 counties classified as areas with low level84 access constraints. This illustrates a significant access improvement compared to the situation over the same period in last year, when there were only 22 counties being feasibly accessible for partners at previous analysis.
Communal clashes, including those related to cattle raiding, were increasingly prominent in 2018 and early 2019. In 2018, Jonglei and Lakes saw especially high numbers of individuals having moved due to communal violence. For the first quarter of 2019, the proportion was especially high for Western Bahr el Ghazal.
The lack of basic services in many areas of potential return offers limited options for accessing services outside the sites, both rural and more urban areas, and perpetuates a situation in which people's opportunities to improve livelihoods and living standards remain diminished, posing obstacles to recovery from the crisis.
One year into the R ARCSS, more than 2.3 million South Sudanese remained displaced as refugees in six neighbouring countries: Sudan  ( 858,000 ) , Uganda  ( 838,000 ) , Ethiopia  ( 422,000 ) , Kenya  ( 119,000 ) , Democratic Republic of the Congo  ( 102,000 )  and Central African Republic  ( 2,000 ) .
Forests and woodlands cover a large proportion of South Sudan's vast territory, but are fast disappearing by over extraction, as more than 90 per cent of the population directly depends on forests for fuel wood and charcoal production, timber for construction, and non timber forest products for food and nutrition security.
Latest climate projections agree that South Sudan will get warmer with the less certain rainfall patterns. South Sudan is ranked among the five most affected countries in the world according to the Climate Change Vulnerability Index.
Erratic rainfall patterns delay planting seasons, decrease pasture, disrupt people's agricultural and livestock activities, and temporarily48 displace communities.
Sixty six counties have a high convergence of high WASH, protection and education related needs. Of these, 19  ( 29 per cent )  are in Greater Equatoria, 26  ( 40 per cent )  in Greater Upper Nile and 21  ( 31 per cent )  in Greater Bahr el Ghazal.
In many households, men or boys have joined armed groups and forces, adding to protection concerns they face, while forcing women take on additional responsibilities in looking after the family.
In Nyal, Panyijiar County, community members spoke of how the drivers behind the practice have changed since the conflict started in 2013 and estimated that some 70 per cent of girls were married before turning 18, a significantly higher rate than the national pre conflict average of 45 per cent
In line with the annual patterns, it is expected that the upcoming late 2019–early 2020 dry season could see changes in the volume of returns, with mobility becoming more feasible as ground conditions improve. Each year, this has depended to a large extent on conditions and perceptions of security, and such considerations will remain paramount in people's decisions to move.
The conflict is estimated to have led to nearly 400,000 excess deaths in South Sudan's population between late 2013 and 2018, with around half of the lives lost estimated to be through violence.
The country's climate is characterized by extremes with localized droughts, torrential rains and seasonal flooding.
IOM continues to disseminate messages on Ebola Virus Disease and COVID 19 awareness  ( regarding prevention, transmission, and signs of EVD and COVID 19 ) , proper hand washing with soap and water, social distancing, and maintaining a safe water chain
UNICEF is completing the delivery of the fourth quarter health supplies which include essential drugs and medical equipment to hard to reach World Bank supported health facilities in the 25 counties of Upper Nile and Jonglei States.
Groups that are displaced or migrate to other locations due to conflicts, droughts, floods and other natural disasters, famines or land tenure issues are also at acute risk and are vulnerable to malnutrition.
Out of 1.8 million South Sudanese who are in need of nutrition services, some 77 per cent are from the non displaced and host communities, while 16 per cent represent IDPs and smaller numbers are returnees.
Out of approximately 2,300 health facilities that provide health care services to the entire population of 11.7 million, more than 1,300 facilities are non functional.
At the national level, 60 percent of the teachers were untrained or their professional qualification was unknown.
Teachers are not receiving their incentives consistently. Many of them, and their pupils, are on the run after about five years of instability.
1.8 million people assisted by WFP in August 2020
Humanitarian agencies' capacity to reach people who need aid is now limited in some areas.
In responding to the pandemic, the Government should ensure that special attention is paid to those most vulnerable and those immuno compromised who may be more susceptible to the transmission of COVID 19 due to pre existing comorbidities, including elderly persons, persons with disabilities, unaccompanied children, and displaced individuals. The rights to healthcare and the highest attainable standard of living should similarly be guaranteed for all citizens and without discrimination. Further, the State should endeavour to guarantee the right to food, education, water, and sanitation especially for vulnerable populations.
Besides COVID 19 PoC residents stressed the need for additional, urgent humanitarian needs including food, and security.
Some citizens reported to have lost trust in the response, stopped following COVID 19 rules and AYR reported that: “people went into freestyle life which is so risky because coronavirus is still circulating in the communities'.
In their 33rd weekly COVID 19 update  ( covering 2 18 October, week 42 ) , the Ministry of Health also reported challenges in reaching patients for home based care due to incorrect phone numbers and reported that some people refuse to comply with quarantine measures or and deny exposure even if they are known to be a contact  ( NTF, 2020 ) .
Furthermore, inadequate access to hygiene and sanitation facilities limit the implementation and effectiveness of preventative measures.
Continued caution is needed with neighboring countries reopening airports and land borders for travelers.
According to the meeting multiple people refused to provide contact tracers with contact details and other required information about their “contacts' or gave wrong addresses.
In Bentiu, Bor and Wau PoCs, KIs reported people were afraid of interacting with UN staff or visiting UN facilities.
Victimization and stigmatization of people wearing masks was also frequently recorded, and could be one of the main reasons why some people fear wearing masks  ( as they are labelled “corona carriers' ) .
UNOCHA reports that South Sudan is facing multiple humanitarian crisis  ( Source: UNOCHA ) . Critical funding is needed not only for COVID 19 related health and prevention services, and OCHA reports that only 37% of the required funding for all humanitarian needs is currently in place  ( Source: OCHA ) .
The first COVID 19 case in South Sudan was identified on 5 April 2020.
South Sudan continues to see a rise in the number of confirmed cases, with 2,555 confirmed cases, 1,317 recoveries, and 48 deaths, as of 14 September 2020  ( Source: Ministry of Health ) .
The most critical shortage is the lack of COVID 19 testing kits and viral transport medium  ( VTM ) . The global demand is exceeding the production and availability of testing items.
Moreover, over the course of its four mandates, the Commission has consistently observed that in addition to causing large scale displacement and other serious violations, a pattern of arrests, detentions, disappearances, and incidents of rape and sexual violence have often accompanied or followed incidents of localised conflict.
There is a continued need for more personal protective equipment  ( PPE )  to ensure the safety of health workers in UNHCR supported facilities and other frontline workers and staff.
Most incidents between May and July this year occurred during waves of local violence, with survivors unable to access timely medical or psychosocial assistance.
Shelter materials and NFI Kits to all IDPs from Bor and NFI loose items mainly Mosquito nets and Plastic sheeting to Muni affected community after NFI specific assessment.
In Jamjang, UNHCR's partner IRC completed the 20 square meters expansion of the Pamir PHCC adequate functioning.
Shocks such as reduced market access and high prices due to lockdown measures could exacerbate existing food insecurity.
Prior to the COVID 19 pandemic, South Sudan had achieved significant progress due to improved political stability and an uptick in global oil prices.
The impact of the disruption in the regional and global supply chain is posing significant challenges.
A reported a lack of adequate access to boreholes impacts sufficient water access necessary for COVID 19 measures.
In addition, stigma brought about by suspected COVID 19 cases results in some instances in people opting not to seek health services.
UNHCR is staying and delivering for refugees, asylum seekers, refugee returnees, IDPs and those at risk of statelessness during COVID 19.
The regional and international supply chain has been significantly disrupted by border closures and restrictions, including delays in testing at land borders. This is impacting the lead time for pre positioning COVID 19 related items.
In July and August 2020, the South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, UNHCR and partners recorded 6,144 South Sudanese refugee returnees from neighbouring countries, bringing the total number of refugees who have returned in a self organized manner to 30,281 since the outbreak of COVID 19 in the region.
The Protection Cluster and the Office of Human Rights created an illustrated guide presenting protection and human rights considerations for the COVID 19 response in South Sudan, to ensure maximum reach
UNHCR is working closely with its partners to share information and enhance the delivery of activities to refugees, IDPs, refugee returnees and their host communities.
Both IDPs and returnees tend to be concentrated in large settlements. 68.2 per cent of IDPs live in settlements hosting over 1,000 IDPs  ( 95.2% of the IDPs living in camps and 58.4% of those living in host community settlements ) , compared to 61.4 per cent of returnees  ( 65.1% of returnees from abroad and 59.6% of returnees from within South Sudan ) .
For both IDP and returnee populations, rural settlements, according to the GHSL urban classification, fare worse in terms of availability of separate male and female latrines and toilets/ bathrooms with locks from the inside.
The COVID 19 pandemic poses significant challenges to South Sudanese refugees throughout the region, due to the population density in refugee camps, settlements and in urban settings, lack of awareness, poor health and nutrition status and inadequate sanitary provisions and humanitarian assistance.
At National levels the GBV SC supported radio talk shows on the theme “Each for Equal: Implement 35% Affirmative Action for Peace and Development'' .
Incidents of cattle raiding and inter communal violence have increased in the first quarter of this year compared to last year with a total of 204 incidences reported since January 2020 to March 2020.
However, in Northern Bahr el Ghazal  ( NBeG ) , no fears related to population movement were reported, despite the presence of returnees and other movements from Sudan.
A widespread rumour suggested Africans could prevent COVID 19 by drinking tea with salt before sunrise. This belief might encourage community members to break social distancing guidelines to communally drink tea in local shops or with friends and family.
Inter communal and live stock related violence have been widespread, threatening to reverse some of the gains made throughout 2019.
Spiritual and religious beliefs, especially the perceptions that god will provide protection continued to be commonly reported, and seemed especially prevalent in Jonglei and NBeG.
Porous border conditions and the presence of various informal crossings have so far limited the ability to impose and effectively monitor border population movement controls and health checks.
Fighting forces often mirror the patriarchal norms in the society, where negative masculinities and misogyny frequently lead to systematic exclusion of women from the forces leading to inequalities, and a continuous and vicious cycle of violence, manifested in the current political and ongoing communal violent conflicts.
More than 50 per cent of returnees also need emergency shelter and NFI support. ( 2020 )
A contextualised high proportion of assessed settlements reported protection concerns in Juba County in March 2020.
Twic County is the gateway to major trade and migration routes with Sudan. Low food stocks from high rainfall in 2019 resulted in low  yields, impacting adequate access to food into the first quarter of 2020.
Entire communities have fled to higher ground to escape the rising waters.
Additionally, following border closure there has been an upsurge in use of unofficial borders with accompanying risks of undetected transmission. Transnational criminality may spike given weak capacities in policing of official and unofficial border crossing points.
Human rights based approach to COVID 19: Ensuring respect for human rights during the COVID 19 response, including through: i )  supporting the Human Rights Commission and civil society to monitor and use evidence  based analysis on the human rights situation with the aim of promoting a rights based response; ii )  documenting and reporting abuses; iii )  advocating and engaging national authorities to uphold human rights principles; and iv )  undertaking emergency measures to fight the spread of COVID 19.
RRRP partners are also promoting long term livelihood solutions and a strong enabling environment as critical activities to achieve the objectives of resilience and self reliance.
Loss of income related to lockdowns and decreasing job opportunities has affected many refugees, in particular those with specific needs, such as persons with disabilities, unaccompanied and separated children and other vulnerable refugees.
To mitigate the loss of income, RRRP partners have prioritized activities to enable access to productive assets and trainings, and promotion of good agriculture practices and climate smart agriculture.
Response partners have worked to identify and strengthen preferred and trusted channels to maintain proximity with refugees, ensuring the continuation of services and to facilitate community engagement. These efforts include ensuring refugees have access to service providers – including through remote channels – in order to access information, provide feedback and raise complaints.
The use of soap for handwashing and access to health facilities within walking distance was relatively high in Malakal County.
Humanitarians are unable to reach these communities and those internally displaced.
UNHCR is working with the government to continue ensuring access to asylum despite movement restrictions in place to combat COVID 19.
In Juba City, many are dependent on the market as their main source of food, making communities vulnerable to market restrictions in line with COVID 19 contingency.
The focal points who participated in this training of trainers  ( ToT )  then cascaded the training in their respective organizations – with support and guidance from Internews. To date, eleven  ( 11 )  sets of outreach workers have received this cascaded training. The outreach workers who have been trained serve with different humanitarian organizations operating in the four refugee camps and host community.
The Commission recommends therefore that the Unity Government, as a matter of urgency, takes steps to establish functional, effective, and accountable governance structures at the central and sub national levels including by deploying state governors and establishing the new legislature in accordance with the provisions of the R ARCSS. It should also act urgently to address the mutating of the conflict from the national to the localised level and ensure that security sector reform is accelerated. The revenues of South Sudan should be used for the benefit of the South Sudanese population, including the provision of health and social welfare services.
Vast areas of the country along the River Nile are now under water, affecting more than 600,000 people since July in Jonglei, Lakes, Unity, Upper Nile, and Central and Western Equatoria.
In South Sudan, the UN has estimated that more than $80 million is needed for the overall flood response, including $46 million for immediate assistance to 360,000 people until the end of the year.
Some 1,700 children have been supported by education cluster members.
Based on findings of several needs assessment to evaluate the flood impact, the Inter Cluster Coordination Group undertook a prioritization exercise, and identified in September 2020, 60,000 households as those most in need for support with an estimated ask of $43.6 million.
In all assessed locations, there was a disparity between how respondents understood the severity of the virus, and the likelihood they would contract it. This disparity was especially pronounced in early May, as social distancing measures were relaxed across the country  ( despite an uptick in confirmed cases ) , leading to rumours that the virus was eradicated and did not pose a continued threat.
UNHCR and Jesuit Refugee Service distributed 400 pieces of soap to persons with disabilities in Maridi IDP site. Tippy taps were installed at Lalama and Maku IDP sites as a precautionary measure for COVID 19.
No CCCM activities among flood affected populations to date.
Some residents in Juba say that they find it difficult to quit while others say smoking helps with preventing COVID 19.
So far, the committee has launched two advocacy campaigns, spearheaded two research projects and supported humanitarian partners to document stories of COVID 19 change agents within the community.
In Jonglei and Greater Equatoria, respondents reported local communities were fearful of people who had come from outside the settlement or crossed international and county borders.
Child Protection sub cluster partners reached a total of 37,776 people including 23,545 children  ( 10,685 girls & 12860 boys )  with child protection services.
Affected communities face multiple protection issues including GBV.
KIs from some rural communities, who may be less familiar with social distancing measures, expressed distrust and anger at guidelines altering physical greeting practices, in particular, hand  shaking.
Inadequate food stocks due to delayed and heavy rainfall in the last quarter of 2019 resulted in the exhaustion of food stocks earlier than expected, impacting adequate access to food in the county.
UNHCR will be staying and delivering for refugees, asylum seekers, refugee returnees, IDPs and those at risk of statelessness during COVID 19.
Increase nutrition supplies to cater for potential increase in case load.
The ICRC's mental health teams offer counselling sessions in Primary Health Care Centres, surgical wards and physical rehabilitation centres to look after patients physical and psychological health. They have also provided support to people who survived violence resulting from conflict or armed violence as well as victims of sexual violence.
This year, ICRC has trained 70 health care workers to be able to identify common mental health issues and provide basic psychological support and counselling so that such services can be integrated into overall patient care.
Although significant food assistance is supporting Crisis!  ( IPC Phase 3! )  outcomes in some areas, acute food insecurity could quickly deteriorate if flooding or insecurity significantly delay deliveries. A scale up in food assistance beyond planned levels, as well as unimpeded access for delivery, is required to save lives and protect livelihoods throughout 2020. In a worst case scenario, Famine  ( IPC Phase 5 )  would be possible if at least 20 percent of the population in a given area is isolated from accessing food sources or assistance for a prolonged time.
Following the confirmed cases of COVID 19 in South Sudan, some UNHCR offices including Juba Representation office, are now implementing their Business Continuity Plans. Implementation is tailored to local conditions and situations taking into account staff safety, health and security as well as operations continuity.
Humanitarian access, as you all know, has been challenging in South Sudan for years. But the pandemic, along with increased violence in some areas, has magnified pre existing access challenges.
However, the pandemic and oil price shock created severe economic disruption, leading to deterioration in the fiscal and external balances, and a sharp decline in growth, reversing some early gains from political stability.
Panyijiar has a vulnerable population comprised of IDPs from central Unity, with reportedly limited access to health services and high levels of food insecurity.
• Movement restrictions affect river traffic, resulting in cargo movement delays
Land/road is the primary mode of delivering humanitarian assistance and connecting communities in South Sudan, but it poses significant challenges.
Between November 2017 and May 2020, 289,650 South Sudanese refugees have been recorded by the United Nations and its partners as having returned to South Sudan in a self organized manner.
Eye Radio hosted a live call in debate on the role of youth in protecting themselves and the vulnerable groups such as elderly persons as part of the COVID 19 awareness campaign.
Contact tracing is also becoming increasingly difficult as was discussed in the National Steering Committee meeting of 19 October 2020.
The floods started earlier this year and more than half a million people have so far been affected.
But continued funding is needed to sustain health services and other life saving programmes. As a result of the fighting, flooding, and COVID19, funding needs continue to grow.
The price of basic commodities has increased sharply – the price of maize flour, for example, which many people rely on, increased by 50 percent between March and July.
Due to limited agriculture and livelihood opportunities, the vast majority of South Sudanese refugees rely on food distributions.
The African Development Bank Group has approved an emergency assistance relief package of $440,000 to fund ongoing humanitarian and emergency relief efforts in areas recently hit by floods in South Sudan and Sudan.
A total of 189,751 people in need of nutrition response reached
Furthermore, reported increased rates of intercommunal violence during the dry season contributed to reported protection concerns and impacted access to livelihoods and water sources.
The high mobility of refugees and the porous borders put refugees in camps at a heightened risk of infection.
Hygiene is being reinforced through additional hand washing facilities in all public spaces combined with increased distribution of soap, jerrycans and water supply to all refugees in camps and settlements, and often ensuring inclusion of host communities.
Coordination structures are in place in all asylum countries, with dedicated Crisis Management Teams and Task Forces by sector to identify and address the most urgent gaps. UNHCR is working in collaboration with and under the leadership of the national authorities with technical support from WHO and other partners to ensure the refugee response is fully integrated into national efforts.
Case management continues as provided by multiple health cluster members for people in need
A total of 150,400 children in need of critical child protection response
Women living in development or humanitarian settings may be employed in informal, low wage activities that are highly prone to disruption during public health emergencies.
Ongoing insecurity in northern Warrap have resulted in large scale displacement.
The risk of famine is emerging again in areas suffering localized violence
There is a need for mass distribution of insecticide treated mosquito nets to displaced people for prevention of malaria.
A total of 38,567 people  ( 11,269 boys, 10,633 girls, 8,534 men, and 8,131 women received risk EORE by mine action partners in March 2020.
Over 56,754 people in need of health response reached.
The restrictions of movement due to COVID 19 has hampered the humanitarian response including for mobile protection teams.
In this context, alternative and innovative data collection methodologies are required, to support humanitarian decision making and prioritisation.
Locusts were reported in Magwi in February 2020; if the locusts laid eggs this will negatively influence planting in the upcoming season, which will likely have a big impact on food security as communities rely heavily on agricultural production for livelihoods.
Indicators for basic services reflect the high levels of poverty and deprivation. The country has the lowest literacy rate in the world at 35 per cent for those age 15 years and older  ( UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2019 ) , and has the largest refugee crisis in Africa  ( the third largest in the world )   ( USA for UNHCR, n.d. ) , which perpetuates poverty and exclusion.
Malakal has two river ports, one for commercial traffic and the other for humanitarian traffic, both of which are regularly congested and require expansion.
Bordering with Uganda, Yei is a major trading hub with a continued flow of traders travelling between the two countries. Continued flows of IDPs and trading routes increases the risk of COVID 19 transmission.
Furthermore, the Unity Government should implement special measures for halting the spread of the COVID 19 virus and for protecting persons most vulnerable. While there may be a need to restrict some freedom of movement and public assembly, it is essential that freedom of expression and the right to information are respected during this time. This will facilitate the proper flow of information about how to prevent the spread of the virus, as well engender healthy discussion by citizens concerning the continuing peace process and the immediate tasks of the Government. The Commission also calls upon the Unity Government to ensure that measures are taken to secure the protection of girls and women and to ensure accountability for those who continue to perpetrate rape and sexual violence.
In additions, partners provided some basic education supplies and distributed dignity kits to 500 girls.
The Logistics Cluster adjusted the provision of common logistical services to address the unprecedented physical access challenges generated by the flooding. The Logistics Cluster is temporarily, and for the first time since its activation, offering riverine transport from Juba to Bor as the Juba Bor road is not passable. The Logistics Cluster also temporarily relocated the Rumbek based helicopter to Bor to scale up logistic service provision for Jonglei.
Currently, some 2.3 million South Sudanese are living as refugees in neighbouring countries. Displacement in South Sudan is often a result of localized conflicts connected to livestock, and intercommunal violence resulting in loss of life, serious human rights violations and disruption of livelihoods. Contributing to these are the delays in the appointment of governors, initally planned for February 2020 but appointed in July 2020, which has created a
Clothing for women and girls, children, elderly and PSN
Children are more likely than not to be going to bed hungry, as 60 per cent of South Sudanese are classified as living with acute, livelihood threatening food insecurity and 1.3 million children are malnourished.
Staple food prices are reaching exorbitant levels in several key reference markets. In August, the average cost of a malwa  ( 3.5 kg )  of sorghum was 1,680 SSP in Wau, 1,440 SSP in Aweil, and 900 SSP in Rumbek – equivalent to 215 565 percent above the five year average. Prices increased less steeply in Juba, but are also quite high at nearly 720 SSP or 125 percent above the five year average. The sharp depreciation of the SSP from 385 to 500 SSP/USD on the parallel market has compounded the impact of long term currency depreciation, floods, conflict, high taxation, and COVID 19 preventive measures on the costs of importing and transporting staple foods to local markets.
The displaced people fetches water from the Nile which is completely unclean and can expose the masses to diseases
No partner supporting women with dignity kits,