In the current analysis period of January 2019, 6.17 million people (54% of the population) are estimated to have faced Crisis (IPC Phase 3) acute food insecurity or worse, out of which 1.36 million people faced Emergency (IPC Phase 4) acute food insecurity and 30,000 faced Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) . The people in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) in January 2019 are found in four counties, namely: Canal/Pigi and Pibor (former Jonglei); Panyikang (former Upper Nile); and Cueibet (former Lakes). Large-scale humanitarian assistance is urgently needed to save lives and protect livelihoods in these counties. Compared with the same time last year, the January 2019 levels of food insecurity reflect a 13% increase in the population facing Crisis (IPC Phase 3) acute food insecurity or worse in the post-harvest season.
In the projection period of February to April 2019, and in the presence of Humanitarian Food Assistance (HFA) , a total of 6.45 million people (57% of the population) will face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) acute food insecurity or worse, with an estimated 45,000 people in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5). In the projection period of May to July 2019, and in the presence of Humanitarian Food Assistance, a total 6.87 million people (60% of the population) will face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) acute food insecurity or worse, with an estimated 50,000 people in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5).
In January 2019, 16 former counties across the country were classified in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) acute food insecurity, with Greater Upper Nile region having seven (Panyijiar, Koch and Guit of former Unity State; Fashoda and Panyikang of former Upper Nile State; Canal/Pigi and Pibor of former Jonglei State); Greater Bahr el Ghazal region having six (Cueibet, Yirol West, Yirol East and Awerial of former Lakes State; Aweil East of former Northern Bahr el Ghazal State; and Wau of former Western Bahr el Ghazal); and Greater Equatoria region having three (Budi, Kapoeta East and Kapoeta North of former Eastern Equatoria State). Of the remaining counties, 59 are in Crisis (IPC Phase 3), out of which 10 counties are classified in IPC Phase 3! (Crisis – would likely have been at least one phase worse without the effects of Humanitarian Food Assistance (HFA)). Ibba and Tambura, in former Western Equatoria State, and Renk of former Upper Nile State, are facing Stressed (IPC Phase 2) acute food insecurity. Areas of concern from previous analyses, including Leer, Mayendit and Greater Baggari sub-area of Wau County are classified in Crisis (IPC Phase 3!) because of large-scale humanitarian food assistance.
The high levels of acute food insecurity continue to be driven by the cumulative effects of the national and localized conflicts, heavy reliance on unpredictable and poor rainfall performances, associated population displacements and prolonged years of asset depletion. These contributed to insufficient crop production, with only 52% of the 2019 national cereal needs being met by harvests. Additionally, conflict has disrupted livelihoods and impacted on households’ access to other food sources, such as wild foods, fish, and livestock products. Furthermore, the on-going economic crisis has significantly reduced households’ purchasing power and vulnerable populations who are reliant on market purchases of highly priced foods. Other significant drivers include the prolonged dry spells at critical stages of crop growth, flooding, and crop pests and diseases.
Click here to see an alert on the results.
Click here to see a snapshot of the results.
Food Security:
In all regions, the necessary conditions for addressing the food security crisis are: (1) the cessation of all hostilities and the implementation of the peace agreement; (2) scale-up provision of humanitarian assistance (in kind and cash transfers) to counties in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) and above; to cover at a minimum the six most food insecure months of the year; (3) provide livelihood support through improved market access (feeder roads), provision of seeds & tools (farm inputs) to stimulate production back to former surplus levels in the more productive and stable counties; (4) in less agricultural productive locations maintain support to small scale subsistence producers (often the pastoral/ agro-pastoral areas) and include veterinary support (animal health); and (6) scale up and improve access to basic services: WASH and health service delivery year round; plus emergency nutrition, especially during the lean season.
Nutrition:
Continued scale up of treatment of acute malnutrition targeting the current and future caseload is a high priority. Further expansion of services to previously insecure areas for both treatment of severe acute malnutrition is also important to reach the less accessible areas. The parallel expansion of nutrition services for both severe and moderate acute malnutrition will ensure continuity of care through seamless referral mechanisms across the different treatment programmes for children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM).
While ensuring universal treatment for acute malnutrition is a priority, attention must also be given to addressing other factors identified as major contributing factors to acute malnutrition to prevent acute malnutrition in the future. The prevention efforts should focus on child care practices including improving quality of food consumed by children and treatment and prevention of childhood illness. Support access to fresh food to vulnerable households, including children and pregnant and lactating mothers. It is recommended that a response analysis involving all nutrition, health, food security, as well as WASH stakeholders in the country be carried out to identify appropriate interventions to address acute malnutrition. This response analysis may initially focus on the Greater Upper Nile and Warrap and Northern Bahr El Ghazel which have relatively elevated levels of acute malnutrition but ideally should be done for all regions. It is also recommended that resource mobilization efforts be scaled up to address treatment and prevention of malnutrition as well as sustaining the gains already made in combating malnutrition.
A total of 860, 000 children are likely to suffer from acute malnutrition in 2019 based on the results of the SMART nutrition surveys, Food Security and Nutrition Monitoring System (FSNMS) and admission trends for 2018.
42 counties are classified as Serious (IPC Acute Malnutrition Phase 3) and above. The counties of Akobo, Ayod, Canal Pigi, Pibor, Duk, Uror (former Jonglei); Abiemnhom, Panyijar and Pariang (former Unity); Twic (former Warrap); and Awerial (former Lakes) are classified as Critical (IPC Acute Malnutrition Phase 4). No county was classified as Extremely Critical (IPC Acute Malnutrition Phase 5). However, further deterioration is expected in the projection period (lean season) of May-August 2019 with more than 55 counties classified as Serious (IPC Acute Malnutrition Phase 3) and above, therefore requiring urgent and targeted response.
The major factors contributing to acute malnutrition include insufficient availability of food, very poor quality and diversity of food , relatively high prevalence of diseases and poor child care practices. Elevated level of food insecurity (IPC AFI phase 3 and above) in some counties also contribute to acute malnutrition. Additionally, reduced access to food, nutrition and health services linked to conflict including inter communal conflict in some counties is also aggravating the levels of acute malnutrition.
To view the Acute Malnutrition maps for this analysis, please click here.