Based on the IPC for Acute Malnutrition guidance to focus analysis within the same season, nutrition assessments conducted between April and August 2016 were included in the “Current ” analysis. A total of 26 County level assessments were used for the “Current” classification which were higher than the 15 assessments available in April IPC update. Based on the analysis, the Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM)/Proxy GAM was “Extreme Critical” (>=30%) in Aweil North and Aweil West, which were the only two counties in Northern Bahr el Ghazal with recent assessments, and “Critical” (15% to 29.9%) in Akobo, Twic East, Uror, Abiemnhom, Guit, Mayom, Mayendit, Panyinjar, Rubkona, Bentiu POC, Pariang, Longetchuk, Nasir, Maiwut, Ulang, Wau, Gogrial West and Gogrial East). Eighty one percent of the assessments have GAM above the 15% WHO emergency threshold. Counties namely, Kapoeta North, Melut, Maban and Tonj North are in “Serious” (10% - 14.9%) while Kapoeta South in “Alert” (5% - 9.9%).

The overall nutrition situation across South Sudan remains Critical and significant deterioration is noted in the two counties assessed in Northern Bahr el Ghazal. Despite some improvements registered in the general food security indicators in some areas notably in the Greater Upper Nile region, the nutrition situation continues to lag behind with majority of counties above the emergency threshold.

Key food access, child, maternal and public health factors contribute to the poor nutrition outcomes in South Sudan. Sub optimal IYCF practices prevail in many parts of South Sudan; nationally, only 6% of children 6 to 23 months receive the Minimum Acceptable Diet (MAD). A meagre 16% of children 6 to 8 months are introduced to complimentary feeds timely. The feeding practices are important for appropriate growth and development in infants and children. Additionally, 42% of children under five years suffered from at least one of the common childhood diseases. Poor WASH facilities and practices exacerbate the situation whilst coverage of quality health care services remains deplorable. Also, access to food has been severely compromised by escalating food prices which when coupled with depleted food stocks in the lean season dispose the poor to inadequate food consumption. Widespread conflict notably in the Greater Upper Nile, Wau, parts of Eastern and Central Equatoria states also continues to adversely impact the nutrition situation.

In the upcoming season (September -December 2016), the nutrition situation is expected improve slightly in most counties akin to a typical year, attributed to the expected harvest, pasture and availability of milk. Admissions to nutrition programmes are also expected to decrease in most counties during this season, related to decreased incidence of malnutrition during the harvest season. However, given the current existing burden of acute malnutrition, market price trend and existing conflict, the nutrition situation in Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Unity states will have insignificant changes and will likely remain in “Critical”. Counties in the Greater Jonglei, Upper Nile, Central and Eastern Equatoria are likely to be in alert phase. There is no evidence to classify Juba urban (based on the new IPC for Acute Malnutrition protocols). All IPC partners involved in the analysis agreed that the nutrition situation in Juba urban is likely to be at serious if not critical level given the recent conflict, economic crisis and market dependency of the urban population as well the poor hygiene and sanitation situation which contributed to the recent cholera outbreak. The need for close monitoring of the situation and scale up of interventions to address the contributing factors is urgent while the treatment of acute malnutrition should also be continued.

DISCLAIMER: please note that this IPC Acute Malnutrition analysis was integrated with an IPC Acute Food Insecurity analysis referring to the same period. To view the related Acute Food Insecurity analysis, please click here or download the full brief. 

DISCLAIMER: please note that this IPC Acute Malnutrition analysis was integrated with an IPC Acute Food Insecurity analysis referring to the same period. There are no specific Population Estimates for Acute Malnutrition for this analysis, to view the Population Estimates for Acute Food Insecurity, please click here or download the full brief. 

The current analysis was limited by insufficient recent evidence; hence the analysis could not provide a current classification for all counties in South Sudan. However, projection analysis was done for most of the counties in the country using historical data. South Sudan IPC TWG and IPC Global Support Unit calls for improved data availability for better classification of counties in the next round of IPC analysis.