South Sudan: Humanitarian situation remains dire

Highlights

• An estimated 9 million people, including refugees in South Sudan, will experience critical needs
• Children remain at critical risk of malnutrition, and the IPC projection is that 1.6 million children aged 6 to 59 months are at risk of acute malnutrition, of whom 480,000 are at risk of severe acute malnutrition.

By Marie-Helene Verney

The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) of South Sudan is committed to a future that sees people being self-reliant. Sadly, evidence-based needs remain high, and the people of South Sudan will continue to require significant support from the international community throughout 2024.

An estimated 9 million people, including refugees in South Sudan, will experience critical needs in 2024. As the HCT, we aim to target 6 million of these people with some form of humanitarian support, depending on the resources available.

This means that some people will experience needs that humanitarians cannot respond to. An estimated 7.1 million people will require food assistance during the lean season from April to July 2024, as projected through the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).

The humanitarian situation

Children remain at critical risk of malnutrition, and the IPC projection is that 1.6 million children aged 6 to 59 months are at risk of acute malnutrition, of whom 480,000 are at risk of severe acute malnutrition.

The impact of the Sudan crisis resulted in the arrival of vulnerable population that require assistance, increasing market costs and further stretching people’s coping capacities.

Women and girls remain at risk of gender-based violence (GBV) as they try to undertake their daily activities. Violence, displacement and high levels of deprivation is felt in some parts of the country. People in South Sudan suffer the consequences of development deficit characterized by chronic poverty, lack of livelihoods and limited access to basic social services. South Sudan is one the countries badly affected by climate change. Dry spell and flooding contribute to people’s food insecurity situation.

The call

It is vital that the Government of South Sudan upholds their responsibility to their citizens by providing basic services and protection for all civilians.

Protection of civilians remains a concern for some, as the Revitalized Peace Agreement continues to be implemented with elections planned for December 2024.

“To meet the needs of the 6 million people targeted in 2024, US$1.8 billion is required. Timely and at-scale funding is required to ensure that the humanitarian response meets people’s needs and priorities. Without this support, people’s vulnerability risks further deterioration.”

The HCT’s two-year strategy, articulated in this document, seeks to maximize opportunities to address people’s needs in a collaborative and cooperative way with peace and development actors, leveraging opportunities to address the root causes and drivers of people’s needs. The strategy will be reviewed after one year or when the context changes.

The HCT works through initiatives, including the Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC) Flagship Initiative, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Agenda on Solutions to Internal Displacement, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)-led Pockets of Hope, among others.

I admire the ongoing commitment and dedication of humanitarians who support people in need. We engage with communities to understand and respond based on their needs and priorities in a people-centred approach, embodying the centrality of protection.

We commit to a zero-tolerance approach and commit to the protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA). We dedicate efforts on localization, including capacity-strengthening and partnerships with local organizations.

The humanitarian community will do everything possible to support the Government to take leadership to meet people’s needs as enshrined in the social contract with its citizens.

Finally, I acknowledge and appreciate the immense support and generosity of the international community towards the people of South Sudan. The people of South Sudan still require assistance, and I call on the international community not to forget them. Your support saves innocent lives.

The Writer, Marie-Helene Verney is a Humanitarian Coordinator ai