South Sudan: Humanitarian Snapshot (September 2023)

By the end of September, vulnerable people continued to require humanitarian assistance due to food insecurity, conflict, economic downturn, displacement, climatic shocks including floods and droughts and disease outbreaks. As of 30 September, nearly 293,000 people¹, mostly South Sudanese returnees, have been registered crossing the border into South Sudan since the Sudan crisis started in April, with more people expected to arrive as the fighting continues. An inter-agency team reported that most residents of Terekeka County², Central Equatoria State, migrated to locations along the Nile River and others towards the neighbouring counties of Mundri East in Western Equatoria State, Awerial in Lakes State and Juba in Central Equatoria State in search of food and water due to localized dry spell, which resulted in crop failure and lack of pasture for livestock. Floods due to heavy rain in Renk County, Upper Nile State and Mundri West County in Western Equatoria State destroyed houses and household properties and displaced an estimated 2,800 people³ in Renk town and about 3,200 people4 in Kotobi, Mundri and Amadi in Mundri West County. From 17 to 19 September, fighting between armed groups in Pochalla town, Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) killed several people and nearly 12,000 residents of Pochalla town were reported as displaced to other locations. Needs assessment by partners in Canal/Pigi County of Jonglei State found increased death rates among the population, mostly women and children, due to measles, malaria and malnutrition. With limited access to health services, some communities walked for days to access health care. An unknown disease outbreak5 with symptoms including generalized skin rash, jaundice, fever and flu has killed at least 17 people, including 15 children under age 5 in Jebel boma in the GPAA in three weeks.