South Sudan

Overview

South Sudan has witnessed intermittent civil war since December 2013 and widespread communal and localised violence. As a result, there is widespread insecurity, large-scale internal displacement, and refugee outflow to Sudan and Uganda, as well as largely deteriorated food security. As of Januyary 2020, 7.5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.?

The latest peace agreement in South Sudan signed in 2018, also known as the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), has brought a fragile truce and led to the formation of a Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) in February 2020. While there has been a reduction in conflict between the government and main opposition, and localised violence has surged as a result of conflict over land and resources, cattle raiding, and reprisal attacks.

The surge in intercommunal violence throughout South Sudan resulted in significant civilian casualties during the first quarter of 2020. In 2020, people living in Jonglei state and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area have experienced recurring violence, displacing more than 60,000 and crippling the food security and livelihoods of growing numbers of people.?These displaced people urgently require food assistance, healthcare and WASH services?Overall nearly 4 million people are  displaced, including 1.6 million IDPs and 2.2 million South Sudanese refugees. In addition, South Sudan hosts nearly 300,000 refugees from Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Central African Republic.?

INFORM measures South Sudan's risk of humanitarian crisis and disaster for 2019 to be very high, at 8.9/10, down from 9/10 in 2018. South Sudan's vulnerability is measured at 9.2/10.?

Latest Developments

15/09/2020: Heavy rainfall over July-August resulted in overflow of the White Nile and its tributaries, affecting some 700,000 people across 26 counties in South Sudan. The number is likely to increase as further heavy rainfall is expected in the coming weeks. Jonglei (particularly Pibor), Upper Nile, Eastern Equatoria, and Warrap are the worst affected states. 980,000 people affected by flooding in 2019 also remain in need of aid. Restrictions related to COVID-19, together with increased insecurity in states like Jonglei, have been impeding affected populations' access to resources and relief. The Government of South Sudan has declared a state of emergency in Jonglei State and Pibor Administrative Area. Food security is a major concern in the country.?

18/08/2020: On 11 August, an NGO convoy was ambushed by an armed group in Yei county, Central Equatoria state. An ambulance was looted of medical and nutritional supplies while on its way to Lasu settlement, which hosts refugees from DRC and Sudan. This is the first ambush on an aid convoy on the Yei-Lasu road since 2018.?

13/08/2020: Clashes between the South Sudanese army and armed civilians in Tonj East county, Warrap state, have left 127 people dead. Fighting erupted during a disarmament campaign. A market was looted and shops burnt. Many civilians were displaced, the majority being women and children. Information on number and locations of the newly displaced is lacking.?

For information on the impact of COVID-19 in South Sudan, see the paragraph below.