South Sudan

Overview

Since December 2013, South Sudan has experienced intermittent civil war and intercommunal and localised violence. This environment has resulted in widespread insecurity, large-scale internal displacement, increased refugee outflow to Sudan and Uganda, and deteriorating food security. 8.9 million people in South Sudan are in need of humanitarian assistance in 2022.?

The latest peace agreement in South Sudan – the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan – was signed in 2018. The agreement has led to a fragile truce and resulted in the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity in February 2020. While hostility between the Government and the main opposition has decreased, localised violence has surged because of conflict over land and resources, cattle raiding, and reprisal attacks.?

The surge in intercommunal violence throughout South Sudan affected less civilians in 2021 than in 2020. There were 3,414 victims of killing, injury, abduction, and conflict-related sexual violence in 2021. In 2021, Warrap and Western Equatoria states were most affected by conflict, accounting for 43% of the total civilian victims.?

Since 2013, more than four million people have been displaced, including 2.2 million IDPs and 2.3 million South Sudanese refugees. South Sudan hosts about 341,000 refugees from Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and the Central African Republic.?

INFORM estimates South Sudan's humanitarian crisis and disaster risk for 2022 to be very high, at 8.5/10. The lack of coping capacity is estimated at 9.5/10, and vulnerability is estimated at 9/10.?

Latest Developments

From late December 2022 to January 2023, intercommunal violence in Gumuruk and Lekuangole counties (Greater Pibor Administrative Area – GPAA) and in Akobo and Nyirol counties (Jonglei state) killed at least 85 people, injured 39, and led to the abduction of around 1,300 children and 505 women. The violence has also displaced 32,000 people in assessed areas of GPAA, but actual numbers could reach up to 50,000. Some have found refuge in Pibor town. In Jonglei state, the violence has displaced 37,600 people, some within Akobo or Nyriol county. In Nyirol, 3,300 cattle have been stolen and 39 houses burnt. In Gumuruk county, schools, health facilities, markets, and boreholes have been attacked. Many of the displaced people currently lack shelter and are sleeping out in the open. Armed attackers have also targeted humanitarian compounds and staff in Gumuruk county and Pibor town.  Security and safety concerns, as well as poor road conditions, constrain humanitarian access to the people displaced. The IDPs have previously been affected by consecutive years of flooding. They have urgent needs for food, health, WASH, shelter, and core relief items.?