nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
Two of five payams in Tonj South have limited access due to insecurity. Violence and displacement are significantly affected access of people to health services, in Manyang ngok and Wanh Alel, the displaced families in hard toreach areas, as well as resupply of facilities and pre positioning efforts ahead of the rainy season
Shortage of nutritional supplies was reported from nutrition facilities in Kirrik and Rualbet. Due to security incidents, nutritional facilities in Alabek and Aliek were non operational, during the reporting period. Low stock of health supplies was reported by partners who were unable to access facilities since December 2020.
Reports of increasing GBV in areas of displacement, including in collective locations is being reported. Protection partners, funding and access remain critical challenges to scaling up the protection response.
Health facilities remain open and are run by Ministry of Health staff; however, due to insecurity, humanitarian health partners are unable to access facilities. The number of consultations at the health facilities has significantly reduced due to subnational violence, insecurity and displacement. Despite these challenges, health facilities provided 2,074 curative consultations. There is high vulnerability of almost all people in Tonj East, particularly internally displaced people  ( IDPs ) , to malaria, diarrhoea, respiratory infections and COVID 19. Health Cluster partners received 7 IEHK kits and 15 pneumonia kits since the beginning of the response.
Insecurity continues to greatly impact basic services and access to protection across Tonj East. All six payams of Tonj East are currently inaccessible to partners. Basic services are operating in a limited capacity with government health workers on ground in many facilities, trying to ensure continuation of the health response. However, many nutrition and health facilities have not been resupplied since December 2020 and are running out of critical supplies.
There are 10 partners including 5 INGOs, 1 NNGO and 4 UN agencies operating in Aweil South.
Lack of funding and resources was also highlighted as a constraint to ensure the that the Panthou Hospital is fully functioning for referral services, which is currently only operating at reduced capacity as a PHCU. Some communities still have to travel long distances to access health services.
Five counties are recorded as having 16 or more hazardous areas and are considered catastrophic. The majority are located in the Equatorias, which are projected as being the main conduit and location for returns from Uganda. These hazards impact the ability of civilians to access basic services, such as education and health, and natural resources, including water and land, reducing coping mechanisms.
The GBV response priority interventions include providing psychosocial support, GBV case management services, establishing and strengthening GBV referral systems, and implementing Women and Girls Friendly Space  ( WGFS )  programming. Provision of legal services, livelihood and economic support, including CVA, establishing and operationalizing safe houses, and providing capacity building training to frontline service providers are the other response priorities
The GBV prevention priorities include community engagement, awareness raising activities, and primary prevention programmes that transform harmful social norms contributing to gender inequality
Migration within and across states as well as outside the country is common in South Sudan. Overall, 23% of households reported migration of at least one member to other parts of the country in the 12 twelve months prior to the survey for reasons not related to insecurity. Of those who migrated, 43% moved to a town or city within South Sudan, while 37% relocated to a neighboring country, mainly Uganda, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Sudan or Central African Republic.
Sourcing goods has become more difficult, but it is rarely considered a key business obstacle. Border closures and movement restrictions have raised transport cost and slowed down sourcing. Among market traders who source agricultural products from Juba or abroad, 85% said buying supplies had become more difficult since the onset of the pandemic. However, while traders mentioned poor availability of inputs  ( 8% )  and transport cost  ( 13% )  as obstacles, they gave far less prominence to them than to other constraints. Similarly, nearly four in five businesses  ( 79% )  said that since April, it had become more difficult to buy goods to re sell or use as inputs. Yet, poor availability of inputs  ( 2% )  and transport cost  ( 12% )  were mentioned less frequently than more pressing constraints.
Far more businesses worry about going out of business, in particular in Juba. While there are few reported business closures, nearly half of all respondents reported that they knew a direct competitor who had gone out of business  ( 47% ) , and one in three  ( 35% )  reported that they had considered going out of businesses since April, reflecting the serious worries caused by the crisis.
Most of the learning centers and schools are located near settlements. School going children receive their education within 1 kilometer's distance from their home in 43% of IDP settlements, while the distance covered to access schools increases to 1 2 kilometers in 29% of IDP settlements. This might largely be explained by the use of temporary structures which are placed near IDP settlements. Also, at individual level, the DTM mobility tracking data shows that 21.8% of IDPs, and 22.7% of returnees live in settlements that are farther than 6 kilometers away from the closest primary education facility, and that 57.8% of IDPs and 62.7% of returnees live in settlements where no more than half of the children are attending primary education.
The pandemic's effects have slowed economic activity at a time when greater stability had allowed recovery to begin. When last surveyed in summer and fall 2019, households, market traders, and businesses alike reported that they were beginning to see some improvements in their economic lives after years of conflict. The arrival of the pandemic and its systemic effects in the world economy has reversed some of these dynamics.
The main needs for urgent assistance include food, health  ( essential drugs ) , NFIs  ( cooking sets, mosquito nets, blankets, sleeping mats ) , WASH soaps, and livelihood support  ( seeds, tools, and fishing gear ) .
Households that experienced drops in income were most food insecure, but in economies where few jobs pay well, most households face difficulties in providing enough food. As noted, households that had been unable to buy staples were likely to explain that their difficulties were due to a lack of money or high prices, rather than closure of markets or insufficient stocks.
Some households have experienced unrelated shocks since the arrival of the pandemic, including about one in ten households outside of Central Equatoria which were affected by floods or droughts, and about one in twenty which experienced crime over the three months between the onset of COVID 19 and survey time.
Respondents stopping work was more commonly reported in Central Equatoria  ( 42% )  than in other urban areas  ( 34% )  and rural areas  ( 23% ) . This could be associated with the greater stringency of lock down measures in Juba, as well as the greater importance of wage work  ( including for NGOs )  in the capital.
COVID 19 and concurrent shocks have stretched households' coping strategies. The most commonly reported shocks  ( Figure 37 )  were food price increases and loss of income generating activities, both in line with the economic impact of the COVID 19 pandemic discussed above. Around half of households throughout the country reported that food prices had risen.
Among market traders, there was no change at the median in wages paid to their helpers, compared to 2019.
Similarly, market traders at the median reported that they employed a paid helper from outside their own family  ( 1.8 per stall on average ) , a substantial increase over employment at the same stalls in 2019. Perhaps remarkably, businesses reported a further modest increase in the number of workers they employed by 7% between April and June 2020.
Income from farming was reduced for 38% of households and had stopped entirely for 11% of households. It is important to note, however, that the arrival of COVID 19 in South Sudan coincided with the onset of the lean season, which may account for some of the decline in income from agriculture.
The disruption wrought by the pandemic has led to widespread losses of income among households, traders, and businesses. Half of all households reported that their incomes had fallen. Among those particularly affected were the many households that operate a non farm business activity to contribute to their livelihood. While data on the jobs of individual respondents is less conclusive than data on household activities, it is clear that for many, loss of income has gone hand in hand with loss of some income generating activities.
The real but limited extent to which activities have been lost may be expected, given that households and businesses in South Sudan have weathered many shocks. It is worth recalling that, since 2013, conflict led to the loss of primary activities for 47% of households, while 50% of businesses lost assets and 43% had to temporarily close.
COVID 19 has disrupted household access to markets and other essential services, including healthcare. A fifth of HMS households  ( 19% )  reported being unable to access any market at some point during the first three months since containment measures were put in place.
The government is considering a comprehensive environmental audit of all of South Sudan's active oilfields. The government announced on January 10, 2020 that an independent and comprehensive environmental audit would be undertaken before any new oil exploration or operations take place in the country.
With limited physical infrastructure, most school going children in IDP settlements receive education from temporary learning spaces. The settlement level data indicates that almost nine out of ten  ( 88% )  of the surveyed IDP settlements in South Sudan have access to primary schools. However, more than 50% of IDP settlements have their children learn in temporary spaces and only 36% of the settlements have access to formal primary education schools.
Malaria was reported as the most common health concern among the internally displaced population. More than four in five IDPs  ( 82% )  reported malaria as the most challenging health concern. Other common diseases include diarrhea, skin diseases, respiratory diseases, and complicated pregnancies for mothers. It should be noted that diarrhea, and skin diseases such as scabies are caused by poor hygiene which is a major challenge in IDP camps.
Origin of IDPs; 6% IDPs arrived from abroad and 94% IDPs arrived from South Sudan.  ( Source: Computed using IOM's Data Tracking Matrix, 2020 )
However, current oil revenue has been heavily impacted by lower oil prices and OPEC+ production cuts, with South Sudan's oil production down to an estimated 58.4 million barrels in FY2021. Government has postponed plans for an oil licensing round until FY2022 because of the impact of the COVID 19 crisis. While current oil production is still about half of what it used to be before the conflict, the sector is estimated to account for more than one third of GDP, 90% of central government revenue, and more than 95% of the country's exports.
The FY21 budget has a significant financing gap.
In 2019, South Sudan exported live animals worth USD 107,000; oil seeds worth USD 294,000; and wood products worth USD 9.6 million. Other exports included meats, fish, dairy, and articles of apparel and textile. These products provide low hanging fruits that can be seized to build a diversified and competitive export sector that could provide opportunities for majority of South Sudanese.
Oil dominates South Sudan's exports. A reconstruction of South Sudan's trade data from international databases shows that the country's exports were estimated at USD 1.6 billion in 2019, representing a 5% reduction from USD 1.7 billion in 2018. Oil exports, which were estimated at USD 1.55 billion in 2019 and USD 1.54 billion in 2018, accounted for 96% of total exports in 2019 and 90% in 2018. Consequently, South Sudan is one of the least diversified and most oil dependent countries in the world.
The authorities instituted some monetary policy measures meant to alleviate the impacts of COVID 19 on the economy. On April 24, 2020, the Bank of South Sudan reduced the central bank rate by two percentage points to 13% from 15%. In addi9on, the reserve requirement ra9o was reduced from 20% to 18%. This was followed by addi9onal measures announced on July 7, 2020 that included reducing the Central Bank rate by a further 3 percentage points, down 10%, and further reduced the Reserve Requirement Ra9o to 10%, and suspended the recent regula9on of higher minimum paid up capital for commercial banks. BSS also reiterated that the South Sudanese Pound  ( SSP )  is the only legal tender for settlement of domes9c payments and encouraged banks to restructure loans as necessary. These measures were intended to reduce the cost of credit while supporting banking sector liquidity.
The FY21 budget envisages a more balanced allocation of resources, with a significant reduction on anticipated security sector spending. Across sectors, the budget envisions a large allocation to infrastructure  ( 23% ) , which is expected to absorb 85% of capital spending. The security sector is expected to absorb 8.4% of budget while education has been allocated 10.3%; natural resources  ( including agriculture )  2.8%; and health 1.9%. The budget includes an allocation for the clearance of arrears both for central government and states, which is expected to absorb 10% of the budget.
In addition, total salary arrears were estimated at SSP 18.45 billion and USD 1.63 billion categorized as follows: foreign missions, USD 1.63 billion  ( 19 months ) ; central government, SSP 6.17 billion  ( 5 months ) , organized forces SSP 5.75 billion  ( 5 months ) , state transfers SSP 6.53 billion  ( 5 months ) . Without an approved arrears management strategy, budget execution will continue to be a challenge in the medium term.
The FY21 budget seeks to stabilize the economy, provide basic services, consolidate peace, and address COVID 19 effects. Given existing challenges, the available resources for spending are far less than the size of the government's expenditure outlays. Therefore, the focus shall be on existing obligations of salaries, operating expenses, capital, and outstanding salary arrears for FY 2019/2020 both at the national and subnational levels. The budget envisions 27% expenditure of available resources  ( net after deducting oil related expenses and TFA )  on capital projects, 24% on wages, 13% on allocations to states, 13% on operating expenses, 9% on COVID 19 response, 5% on peace expenses, 5% on contingency items, and 1% on interest payments.
Revenue collection and the fiscal balance were improving before COVID 19 hit. Preliminary data for the first three quarters of FY20 suggested some improvements in tax collection. Indeed, some tax heads were collecting above the annual target as the National Revenue Authority continued the momentum built over the past two years. However, the COVID 19 containment measures affected business, and some policy decisions affected the gains made in the first half of the year.
The recovery in private sector credit observed starting in May 2020 was driven by positive month on month credit growth to these two sectors as well as building and construction. However, credit to real estate, transport and household activities continued a downward trend.
The South Sudan banking sector is generally small with limited financial intermediation. It is generally understood that banks are reluctant to lend given the substantial risks and economic uncertainty. in the financial markets and an expected increase in non performing loans  ( NPLs ) . With these challenges, credit to the private sector declined by 16% from already low levels, over a five month period up to April 2020, before starting to recover in May  ( Figure 14 ) .
During the learning process, some schools highlighted external factors that interrupted learning: Theft or looting by armed groups   34%, hit by bullets   30%, Military  ( occupation/recruitment )    16%, Direct attacks  ( physical/verbal )  on staff or pupils   14%, burning   6%. Greater Upper Nile region leads in the frequency of attacks in schools followed by Greater Bahr El Ghazal and Greater Equatoria.
The depreciation of the South Sudan pound has continued at a faster rate over the weeks preceding the writing of this report in October 2020, with the SSP trading at 750 for 1 USD in the second week of October, up from 450 one month earlier.
Locations in Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Lakes reported MSSMEB  ( Multi Sector Survival Minimum Expenditure Basket )  price increases more commonly than locations in other states, largely driven by currency depreciation and poor road conditions.
The cost of the national median Multi Sectoral Minimum Expenditure Basket  ( MSSMEB )  increased by about 18% between July and August, and 86% year on year.
Exchange rate depreciation and rising inflation have affected purchasing power, putting households in both urban and rural areas in a difficult situation and depressing market demand.
The gap between the official and the parallel rates constitutes loss of revenue and therefore entails a large cost on investment and development resources flowing into South Sudan. The FX market has not been aligned to economic fundamentals, and the sharp depreciation of the SSP is mostly reflected in the parallel market and not the official market, showing that the foreign exchange market is already distorted.
However, a period of rapid depreciation followed and the SSP reached 500 for 1 USD during the 4th week of September 2020, and 750 by the second week of October 2020.
The market exchange rate has depreciated significantly in the first half of FY21. The market exchange rate had appreciated at the start of 2020 amid growing business confidence in the period leading to the formation of the unity government, and again in late March as the demand for SSP increased relative to that for USD after the RTGoNU introduced COVID 19 containment measures  ( hence limiting imports ) . The SSP traded at 260 in the second week of February and averaged 285 through much of March and April.
However, food inflation started rising again in a second episode from August 2020 as the exchange rate depreciated significantly on the parallel market. Combined with an approaching lean agricultural season and effects of floods in parts of the country, these developments have contributed to increases in prices of agricultural commodities.
In March 2020, the government had announced various precautionary measures, including suspension of most international flights, land border restrictions, evening curfews, social distancing, school closures; and a mandatory 14 day quarantine period for travelers. The government also encouraged businesses to allow their employees to telework and warned the business community against increasing prices and hoarding essential goods and commodities. With the exception of mandatory 14 day quarantine period for travelers, many of these restrictions have since been eased.
Some 27,000 hectares or half of the cultivated land was damaged in Jonglei.
At the same time, the disregard for environmental standards to safeguard activities in the oil industry has contributed to localized intercommunal conflict, particularly when livestock are killed. In addition, conflicts usually arise when fires result from oil spills, destroying grazing and cropping lands, leading to increased competition over communal resources.
Oil operations in South Sudan have resulted in soil and water being polluted with toxic chemicals and heavy metals that have serious consequences on the health of residents in oil rich regions. Environmental Contaminations usually result from wastewater, drilling muds, and oil spills. Media reports have detailed how soil and water pollution with toxic chemicals and heavy metals have resulted in dire consequences on the health of residents in oil rich regions, with increased number of birth defects, still births, a spike in unexplained illnesses.
Identified reasons for school days interruption: Hunger   8%, heavy rains & Poor infrastructure   23%, death of key persons/public holiday   54%, teachers training/not paid   8%, biometric registration/verification   8%
Per capita incomes in the vast majority of low income countries  ( LIC )  and emerging market and developing economies  ( EMDEs )  are expected to shrink this year, tipping many millions back into poverty. With the region already home to about 60% of the world's extreme poor, this rise is bound to further concentrate global poverty in the region.
The COVID 19 pandemic has, with alarming speed, delivered a global economic shock of enormous magnitude, leading to steep recessions in many countries. These developments represent the deepest global recession in eight decades, despite unprecedented policy support.
Lower fees in markets and check points can also help lift a burden on business activities. Further, with low consumer demand, development partners can look to ramp up humanitarian purchases to create opportunities for farmers, and Government efforts to regularly pay public servants can do much to restore a customer base for market traders. Finally, direct support to cash strapped households can help workers do better in self employment and household businesses, first of all, in processing and trading food products.
The main reasons for lost educational days for Greater Equatoria were insecurity and lack of incentives.
Crop, vegetable and fishing kits to 1,660 vulnerable households  ( 9,860 people )  in Lekuangole Payam of Pibor. A Post Distribution Monitoring exercise indicated that 72% of the respondents  ( n=196 HHs )  were satisfied with the quality and quantity of the kits;
By October 2020, i )  250 health facilities were supported with IPC or WASH activities and screening / triage are ongoing in prioritized facilities, and ii )  Nearly four million people have been reached with COVID 19 prevention and control messages and 4,844 community mobilizers, hygiene promotors and health facility staff trained on COVID 19 risk communication strategy.
The funding, which is channeled through UNICEF, is supporting different pillars including i )  Risk Communication and community engagement, ii )  Infection Prevention and Control; iii )  Points of Entry; and iv )  Operations and logistics. The World Bank is processing an additional financing of USD 5 million under COVID 19 Fast Track Facility to replenish the already activated CERC. In addition, an amount of USD 1.58m was approved and transferred to WHO to support the procurement of PPE and diagnostics in the country.
World Bank allocated quick disbursing resources in Support of Coronavirus emergency response. In response to the Government of South Sudan's request and to help the country better manage the COVID 19 pandemic and strengthen national systems for public health preparedness, the World Bank on April 6 activated the Contingency Emergency Response Component  ( CERC )  under the ongoing Provision of Essential Health Services Project  ( PEHSP )   ( USD 5 million )  while reprogramming some remaining funds from the earlier activated Ebola CERC  ( USD 2.6 million ) , for a total of USD 7.6 million.
The new taskforce drew on technical and political leadership relevant for managing a health pandemic with the Vice President in charge of the service cluster, and Minister of Health recruited as chairperson and secretary respectively. News of the reconstitution of the taskforce came at a time when cases of community transmission were rising with reported cases among protection of civilian sites and exacerbated by government decision to ease rather than enforce containment measures.
South Sudan authorities reconstituted the COVID 19 taskforce amidst rising cases and criticism over perceived inefficiency. On May 18, 2020, President Salva Kiir dissolved the High  Level Taskforce on COVID 19 pandemic and reconstituted a new one, with the issuance of order no.13/2020, for the reconstitution and appointment of members of the national taskforce committee on Corona Virus Disease. The High Level Taskforce is government's main source of expert advice on the pandemic and the central planning body for its response.
On May 11, 2020, the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority officially announced the reopening of all airports to domestic and international flights. These directives came at a time when the number of confirmed cases has increased sharply both in country and in region, even as there has been concerns about consistency in enforcement of restrictions.
South Sudan was among the first countries in East Africa to ease lockdown restrictions even as COVID 19 cases surged in May 2020. South Sudan authorities begun to ease some lockdown restrictions, including constraints on travel and trade in May 2020. In a directive by the Presidency published on May 7, 2020, businesses including bars, restaurants, motorcycle taxis  ( boda boda ) , rickshaws, and others were allowed to reopen during non curfew hours. The directive has also relaxed curfew time from the previous 7pm 6am to 10pm  6am.
The COVID 19 pandemic came on the back of two other shocks including floods and locust infestation that have affected agricultural production in parts of the country.
In May 2020, the International Committee of the Red Cross  ( ICRC )  reported that COVID 19 measures had reduced its surgical capacity by 30%, as physical distancing measures meant that the number of hospital beds had to be reduced. At the same time, implementation of COVID 19 containment measures, including restrictions on people movement, made it difficult to arrange movement of sick persons and healthcare personnel and to quickly scale up operations in the event of a large patient influx3.
Approximately 2.3 million men, women, boys, girls and older people are living with inadequate shelter and NFIs.
In South Sudan, only 22% of health facilities are fully functional, with nearly 3.6 million people lacking access to health assistance. At the same time, the health budget accounted for less than 0.5% of FY2019/20 government expenditure. With these challenges, South Sudan struggled to mount a credible and adequate COVID 19 response nationally without external support. While humanitarian actors help to bridge the gaps in service delivery to some degree, the recent rise in incidents of intercommunal violence at a time when medical facilities are putting in place social distancing measures have strained existing capacities.
Already, movement of humanitarian personnel, both in country and internationally, has been a challenge with pre  and post travel quarantining as well as testing requirements, though the latter has recently been lifted.
The main reasons for lost educational days for Greater Upper Nile were insecurity, community migration and lack of teacher incentives.
The persistent transmission of HEV in Bentiu PoC continues with  ( 409 )  cases since beginning of 2019, There were  ( 3 )  new cases reported in week 25, 2020. 75% of cases are less than 15 yrs old, Male 50% and female 50%
Slow response from RRT team to conduct immediate verification and sample collection of suspected COVID 19 cases.
Insufficient space in the admission wards to enforce social distancing in the health facilities.
COVID 19 awareness campaign is limited to some areas and not all over.
The increase of incidents of inter communal violence, cattle raiding, revenge killings and armed violence throughout the country has had a negative impact on the protection of civilians with threats to life, abductions, GBV and displacement.
No one is maintaining physical distancing and wear masks. Handshaking is still widely practised. Community member removing awareness banners and use them for personal use. Lack of physical distancing and overcrowding by the community during WASH kit distributions.
EBOLA UPDATE IN DRC  ( as of 24th September 2020 )  Current Situation: The last confirmed case was reported on 18th Sept. in Lotumbe HZ. 124 cases  ( 118 confirmed, 6 probables; )  50 deaths  ( 40.3% CFR ) , 67 recoveries; 40 affected health areas, 12 health zones; 32,346 vaccinated including 2,387 frontline health workers; 5 known confirmed cases are in the community  ( 4 in Lotumbe and 1 in Mbandaka )
In partnership with Stop Poverty Community Initiative  ( SPOCI ) , 13,000 people in host communities, IDPs and refugee returnees have improved, equitable and sustained access to safe water in the areas with highest malnutrition rates and heightened health risks
A total of 86 Community mobilizers and 208 community influencers  ( religious, youth and community leaders )  were oriented on COVID 19 risk communication. Through a partnership programme with 40 radio stations, a total of 6,326 radio jingles on COVID 19 were broadcasted in 10 widely spoken languages in the country and 169 talk shows focusing on COVID 19 and its impact were held. Communication materials focusing on signs and symptoms of COVID 19, prevention and proper use of facemasks were printed, and distribution to partners is ongoing in all the 10 states, with materials printed in 5 languages. During the reporting period, a total of 1,700 posters, 350 banners, 35,000 fliers were distributed
Risk communication and community engagement interventions are being implemented to mitigate the spread of COVID   19 in all the 10 states. During the month of October 2020, a total of 544,617 people  ( 319,471 females and 225,146 males )  were reached with COVID 19 key mitigation messages through house to house visits by community mobilisers. In addition, 365,978 people were reached through megaphone walks in the communities and other strategic locations like markets and street corners
Furthermore, UNICEF was one of the lead agencies to develop the UN's socio economic response plan for COVID 19, which includes a focus on social protection safety nets through cash transfers for vulnerable households . In an effort to expand its overall cash programmes, UNICEF is finalizing long term agreements  ( LTAs )  with financial service providers  ( FSPs ) , and has started processes for integrating prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse  ( PSEA )  as part of capacity assessments for Financial Service Providers  (  FSPs )
During the period January to October 2020, the WASH programme provided life saving interventions through the provision of access to safe water, basic sanitation and hygiene services to the vulnerable and affected people in host communities, Protection of Civilian sites  ( PoCs )  and internally displaced people in collective sites. As a result, a total of 268,523 individuals have so far been provided with access to safe drinking water through water trucking, construction of new and rehabilitation of non functional waterpoints.
UNICEF is also working with Implementing Partners to ensure the continuity in the delivery of essential health services within the context of the COVID 19 pandemic. In this regard, UNICEF continues to support the implementation of COVID 19 prevention interventions including the establishment and functionality of triage and screening points/areas for early recognition and referrals of suspected COVID 19 cases as well as adherence to stringent Infection Prevention and Control  ( IPC )  measures in all supported health facilities.
UNICEF continues to work closely with the Government of the Republic of South Sudan and other partners to support life saving emergency integrated primary health care services in all the 25 counties of Jonglei and Upper Nile States. The support also includes the distribution of essential drugs and medical equipment to 1911 health facilities as part of efforts to improve the quality of service delivery
The nutrition programme activities have been ongoing in all states as per the adapted guidelines for nutrition sector service delivery in the context of COVID 19. Mothers/caretakers were trained on Family mid–upper arm circumference  ( MUAC )  to determine the nutrition status of their own children at a family level and ensure self referrals to the nearest nutrition site. In addition, the nutrition response is ongoing in all the flood affected counties as per the comprehensive response plan at state levels. Communities are collaborating with nutrition sector implementing partners to reinforce the structure of nutrition sites and digging ditches among other key activities in some locations
UNICEF is providing preventive and curative nutrition services for children and women in South Sudan in partnership with nutrition implementing partners. From January to October 2020, a total of 166,955 children suffering from SAM  ( 62 per cent of the target )  were treated in inpatient and outpatient therapeutic programs. This is a reduction of about 20 per cent SAM admissions in 2020 as compared to 2019.
Inadequate IEC materials for risk communication. Lack of Sample collection kits for COVID 19 .
As of 30 October, a cumulative total of 2,903 confirmed COVID 19 cases and 58 deaths had been recorded with a case fatality rate  ( CFR )  of 2 per cent.
UNICEF Appeal 2020: US$ 180 million. Funding gap: US$90.1M, Funds recieved: US$66.5M, Carry over: US$23.8M.
4.1 million children in need of humanitarian assistance  ( UNICEF HAC, December 2019 )
Communities more focus on flooding and sustainable solution due to the displacement.
Screening should be strengthened at point of entries. Lack of social distancing on boat travel between South Sudan and Northern Sudan.
UNICEF is co leading three Clusters and Area of Responsibility  ( AoR )  out of a total of 10 clusters and 3 AoRs currently active in the country. UNICEF at a national level co leads the Child Protection AoR and the Education Cluster with Save the Children, the Nutrition Cluster with Concern, Action Against Hunger  ( ACF )  and the World Food Program  ( WFP )  and the WASH Cluster with the Norwegian Refugee Council  ( NRC ) . UNICEF continues to participate in the inter agency protection of sexual exploitation and abuse  ( PSEA )  task force, which functions under the auspices of the Special Representative of the Secretary General  ( SRSG ) /Resident Coordinator  ( RC ) /Humanitarian Coordinator  ( HC ) , and plays an active role to advocate for better protection of children against sextual exploitation and abuse  ( SEA ) .
Plan International South Sudan supported consultations with adolescent girls in South Sudan.
Over the past six years, Plan International South Sudan has raised €202m in cash and Gifts in Kind  ( GIK ) . The largest funding partner is WFP who has provided €131m  ( GIK )  and €19.2m in cash.
Resumption of disrupted emergency services  ( Situation Report No. 3, as of 26 February 2021 )
Reported school days lost: 7 weeks and above   10%, 6 weeks   5%, 4 weeks   10%, 3 weeks   18%, 2 weeks   26%, 1 week   31%.
The reason as to why schools are not functioning varied from school, county, and state. In general, insecurity was the major reason cutting across states, followed by departures of teachers and students, the inconsistency in payment of teachers', and the lack of teaching and learning materials.
Most schools were not in operation in Unity.
School allocation by region  ( 2018 ) : Bahr El Ghazal   42.8%
School allocation by region  ( 2018 ) : Equatoria   29.8%
School allocation by region  ( 2018 ) : Upper Nile   27.3%
In collaboration with WFP, IOM conducted community consultations with IDPs and the host community in Abyei centre and Agok to discuss methods to prevent, respond to, and achieve solutions to internal displacement. A total of 168 members  ( 117 men; 51 women )  attended, comprising of youth, women, persons with disabilities, local administration, IDPs, host community members, elders, as well as Community Development Committee leadership.
IOM continued to provide primary health care services in eight static and five mobile health facilities in Rubkona, Wau, and Malakal counties, attaining the following results: 52,717 individuals received outpatient consultations, 35,061 individuals reached with health promotion messages, 10,177 children received measles vaccinations, 286 deliveries attended by skilled birth attendants
In Abyei Administrative Area, IOM trained 10 men on modern basic beekeeping for honey production, and the group received assorted essential beekeeping equipment. IOM also conducted the first phase of peace club patrons training in Abyei for 60 peace club patrons, representing 19 schools. The training included awareness raising on COVID 19 and conflict management and peacebuilding in schools.
As part of the national response, and in collaboration with implementing partners, UNICEF reached 4,746 beneficiaries  ( 954 girls, 1,236 boys, 1,706 women and 850 men )  with gender based violence  ( GBV )  prevention, risk mitigation messages and GBV response services, individual and group case management services, referrals for other specialized and non specialized services, as well as skills building courses on livelihoods and well being through the Women and Girls Friendly Spaces  ( WGFS )
The pressure on food prices had started to dissipate in June and July as South Sudan inter state and cross border movement restrictions were lifted. This is reflected, for example, in the decline in maize flour inflation from 137% in May to 74% in July.
During this time, movement of cargo trucks transporting petroleum, food items, and construction materials slowed down significantly as truck drivers were required to undergo COVID 19 screening procedures.
Bureaucratic impediments, access denials and operational interference continue.
Low market demand already posed an important obstacle before the pandemic, and it has further declined. Even before the pandemic, businesses of all sizes viewed constrained demand for goods and services as a key obstacle. The pandemic has decreased household incomes and further reduced purchasing power. Thus, not surprisingly, businesses and market traders agreed that demand for their goods and services had further tightened.
IOM continued to provide water, sanitation, and hygiene  ( WASH )  services to over 136,271 IDPs in Bentiu, Malakal, and Wau PoC sites. On 19 September, IOM handed over a solar powered water yard to the community in Hai Barak, Juba, providing an estimated 3,000 individuals with access to safe and clean drinking water daily
The S NFI cluster supported a total of 51,963 individuals through the provision of emergency shelter and non food items during the reporting period. In addition, S NFI partners conducted 15 assessments, 13 distributions, and two post distribution monitoring  ( PDMs )  in conflict and flood affected areas. The Cluster completed the strategy for flood response, targeting 60,000 households  ( 360,000 individuals ) , with a funding requirement of USD 4.55 million.
Plans to increase oil production have been affected by COVID 19. Oil production was estimated at about 62.1 million barrels in FY20, a 26% increase from 49.1 million barrels in FY2019.
During the reporting period, a total of 490 people  ( 37 girls, 29 boys, 219 women and 205 men )  received protection of sexual exploitation and abuse  ( PSEA )  awareness messages. A total of 50 staff and volunteers from implementing partners  ( 25 women and 25 men )  were trained on GBV prevention and response basics, multi sectoral safety audit data collection and other GBV risk mitigation skills.
Implementation of priorities; risk communication and community engagement; active case search and testing; quarantine for contacts; isolation of confirmed cases, infection prevention and control; and management of cases are currently underway
The child protection sector is working with partners to ensure the continued provision of child protection services for the most vulnerable children in the context of COVID 19 in Juba Reformatory Centre and Yei prisons. The support includes COVID 19 awareness messaging, distribution of soap and handwashing buckets to support vulnerable children.
During the reporting month 3,053 individuals  ( 770 girls, 809 boys, 709 women and 765 men )  were reached with explosive ordnance risk education  ( EORE )  key messages in the communities in Lakes, Central and Eastern Equatoria states. This includes 133 community liaison leaders  ( 49 women and 84 men )  who were trained on key EORE messages and 14 teachers  ( 2 women and 12 men )  who were oriented on key EORE messages in schools.
UNICEF and partners reached 2,874 children  ( 1,502 boys and 1,372 girls )  with psycho social support activities in childfriendly spaces in Jonglei, Eastern and Western Equatoria, raising the total to 5,792 children reached since January 2021.
In collaboration with Community Empowerment for Progress  ( CEPO ) , a national partner, two community theatre performances and one radio talk show on the roles youth can play in reducing conflict and violence was conducted in Wau. CEPO and IOM also led an inter generation dialogue with at risk youth and their parents on the gaps which exist between parents, elders, and youth
In Wau, IOM continued supporting community based facilitators in conducting COVID 19 awareness and functional adult literacy activities for 100 female beneficiaries. In addition, IOM conducted women's leadership training for 25 women livelihoods beneficiaries in Bussere and Bazia Jedid
As of 30 September, the Bor PoC site has been re designated to a traditional IDP site, and IDPs have been informed about the decision
23 requests for WASH and Shelter NFI supplies were approved and processed, 19 WASH and S NFI Cluster partners received NFIs for distribution, 32,788 HHs in 16 counties & 11,525 HHs in 16 counties benefited from WASH & S NFI supplies respectively, 28 MT of S NFI & WASH supplies transported for prepositioning in Rumbek, Bor and Wau.  ( IOM )
While IOM Core Pipeline was able to preposition 28 metric tons of WASH supplies to Rumbek logistics hub, the rainy season has posed challenges, with most road networks to other logistics hubs remaining impassable. The rainy season also caused flooding in some parts of the country, creating an increase in demand for emergency WASH and S NFI supplies. Some of the most in demand supplies include plastic sheets, rubber ropes, household water treatment and storage
IOM facilitated two workshops with the Policy Task Team on Diaspora Engagement and Remittances to discuss policy proposals. In addition, meetings were organized with the Technical Working Group on Identity Management to discuss the planning of the consultative workshop on Civil Registry and examine the discussion paper provided by IOM's technical experts on Identity Management.
In other PoC sites, respective camp management agencies and the Cluster team continues to engage with UNMISS, state/national level ICCG, different clusters, and community members to discuss the transition process. In addition, the Cluster team also contributed to the joint discussion between UNMISS, Protection Cluster, OCHA, and camp management agencies on camp administration roles and responsibilities, which will later be taken up by the government and the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission  ( RRC ) .
The Health Rapid Response Team  ( RRT )  mission in Kajo Keji is ongoing, through which support is provided to three health facilities. A total of 1,907 consultations were conducted, 102 mothers were provided with antenatal care, and 1,891 individuals were reached with health promotion messages. The Health RRT was also deployed to Canal Pigi, Ulang, and Manyo counties to provide primary health care. IOM also continued to provide HIV prevention services, including awareness raising, HIV testing, and counselling for key populations
Toll free numbers for a Regional Hotline for MHPSS in South Sudan are functional in all three field locations in Wau, Malakal, and Bentiu, to provide remote MHPSS services.
IOM continues to disseminate messages on COVID 19 awareness  ( regarding prevention, transmission, and signs of COVID 19 ) , proper hand washing with soap and water, social distancing, and maintaining a safe water chain. 1,037,393 individuals reached through COVID 19 health and hygiene promotion outreach in September.
In response to the COVID 19 pandemic, IOM is carrying out response activities, focusing on health screenings; risk communication and community engagement; health and hygiene promotion; WASH/Infection, Prevention, and Control; and displacement tracking.
Parties to the September 2018 peace deal have delayed on further sub national appointments and the implementation of other key aspects of the agreement while the transitional government grapples with the economic impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic. At the same time, conflict has persisted at the national, sub national, and local levels, driven – at least in part – by continued contestation over land and authority
IOM conducted a protection assessment in Twic, Warrap, which led to the identification of 22 individuals for protection assistance. Teams and partners in the location were trained on protection mainstreaming, protection against sexual exploitation and abuse  ( PSEA ) , and Disability Inclusion, reaching 25 individuals  ( 18 men; 7 women ) .
Wau PoC site & Hai Masna Collective Centres: 14,684 individuals, Bentiu PoC site: 99,052 individuals  ( present )
IOM Core Pipeline also received most of the PPE supplies for COVID 19 through Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance  ( BHA )  and UK   Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office  ( FCDO )  funding. The available Personal Protective Equipment  ( PPE )  items are reflected in the South Sudan common pool managed by the Logistics and Operations Technical Working Group
With support from the USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, the Rapid Response Fund commenced with the due diligence and subsequent proposal review for emergency flood responses. The areas of WASH, health, protection, and S NFI are the current focus of RRF's ongoing and proposed response initiatives.
8,010 confirmed COVID 19 cases in South Sudan; > 85% in Juba with 94 deaths and a case fatality rate  ( CFR )  of 1.04%. Total 12,210 contacts identified, quarantined, & undergoing follow up.  ( data as of 28th Feb, 2021 )
• In order to respond to increasing cargo movement needs in Jonglei State as a result of flooding, the Logistics Cluster has temporarily relocated the Rumbek based Mi 8 helicopter to Bor to support the provision of cargo air transportation services.
UNHAS transported 3,052 passengers and 100.5 mt of light cargo to 45 destinations across South Sudan during the month of September. UNHAS continued to support the national COVID 19 response transporting samples from across the country to the National Laboratory in Juba. UNHAS also continued to provide dedicated support to flood response, transporting Inter Cluster Working Group missions to flood affected areas.
All health facilities should report, and conduct casebased investigation of suspect measles cases and routine measles immunization should be strengthened in all counties
Oil prices have seen a partial recovery in May, as some countries started to ease lockdown restrictions and oil producers have implemented sharp cuts to production.
South Sudan had recorded approximately 3,000 cumulative COVID 19 cases, approximately 1,300 recoveries and less than 60 deaths as at November 15, 2020.
In partnership with United Networks for Health, 13,381 outpatients have accessed quality essential health care services in Gumuruk and Lekuangole Payams
• Monitoring the Free Residual Chlorine  ( FRC )  levels at the taps stands in the different sectors, and the concentration of chlorination should maintain at 0.5 1mg/L as the point of collection
The WASH Cluster/HEV task force should engage in group discussion with Community leaders and woman group at water distribution points to understand their opinions on issue of Collapsing Jerry cans distribution.
The Maternal Neonatal Tetanus Eradication  ( MNTE )  efforts targeting 35,970 women age group 14  45 years in Pibor reached 29,270  ( 79% coverage ) .