South Sudan: Acute Food Insecurity Situation for May 2017 and Projection for June - July 2017
RELEASE DATE
01.05.2017
VALIDITY PERIOD
01.05.2017 > 31.07.2017

Key
results


Recommendations
& next steps


Acute
Malnutrition


Food security in South Sudan has further deteriorated due to armed conflict, economic crisis, and below-average harvests that were exhausted well before the ongoing lean season. An estimated 6.0 million (50% of the population) people are expected to be severely food insecure in June-July 2017, compared to 5.5 million (45% of the population) people in May 2017Famine is no longer occurring in Leer and Mayendit counties, and further deterioration was prevented in Koch and Panyijiar counties of former Southern Unity State as a result of immediate and sustained multi-sector humanitarian assistance delivered to the affected population since March 2017. 

Even though no county has been classified under famine (Phase 5) in this IPC update, the situation continues to be very critical. In June-July 2017, in addition to approximately 45,000 people estimated to be facing Humanitarian Catastrophe, an estimated 1.7 million people are likely to be facing food security emergency (IPC Phase 4) - one-step below Famine on the IPC scale. 

Gains made in previously Famine-affected and Famine-risk counties must not be jeopardized through the reallocation of humanitarian assistance to ongoing and developing acute food insecurity hotspots because the affected populations’ livelihoods are effectively eroded thus leaving them heavily reliant on humanitarian assistance. Should humanitarian assistance be compromised, the areas could easily slip into Famine again.

Of great concern is former Greater Jonglei State, where food security is rapidly deteriorating, predominantly in the counties of Ayod, Canal/Pigi, Duk, Nyirol and Uror, which are facing Emergency (IPC Phase 4) acute food insecurity, with Ayod having an estimated 20,000 people experiencing Humanitarian Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) at least through July 2017. 

Greater Equatoria, and particularly some of the country’s most productive Greenbelt counties from Yei, Lainya, Morobo, Kajo Keji and Magwi, are facing Crisis (IPC Phase 3) and Emergency (IPC Phase 4) levels of acute food insecurity, driven largely by armed conflict that has had severe effects on agricultural activities and markets.

The Western Bank of former Upper Nile state is experiencing Emergency (IPC Phase 4) food insecurity, mainly in Manyo, Panyikang, and Fashoda where large displacements have occurred due to ongoing armed conflict.

Former Northern Bahr el Ghazal state is facing severe food insecurity caused by high food prices and diminished household purchasing power. In former Western Bahr el Ghazal, a spike in armed conflict in the counties of Wau and Raga has disrupted trade, displaced populations, and destroyed livelihoods.

Acute malnutrition remains a major public health emergency in several parts of South Sudan.


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