Tareq Talahma, Acting Director, Operations and Advocacy Division: Statement to the Security Council on the Humanitarian Situation in South Sudan on behalf of the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator

Mr. President,

Thank you for the opportunity to brief the Council on the humanitarian situation in South Sudan.

Since we briefed the Council in June last year, the humanitarian situation has worsened.

Violence, displacement, hunger, climate-related shocks, and public health challenges continue to drive humanitarian needs, as highlighted by the SRSG.

This year, a record 9.4 million people – 76 per cent of South Sudan’s population, including 350,000 refugees, may need humanitarian assistance, a five per cent increase from last year. The latest food security assessments project that an estimated 7.8 million people will face crisis level of acute food insecurity during the April-July lean season – with 43,000 people likely to be in Catastrophe (known as IPC Phase 5) in Jonglei and Unity states. An estimated 1.4 million children under age 5 are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition. More than 675,000 pregnant and lactating women are expected to be at risk of acute malnutrition.

These numbers of malnourished and severely food-insecure people have reached a record high, surpassing what was seen during the conflict in 2013 and 2016.

Violence continues to be one of the main drivers of displacement and food insecurity with armed conflict and intercommunal violence recorded across the country. In 2022, thousands of people were newly displaced, of whom 70 per cent were children and women. During the last quarter of 2022, conflict in northern Jonglei and Upper Nile states caused major displacements, cutting off people from essential services, resulting in serious violations against women and children, in particular linked to gender-based violence.

Mr. President,

Climate change has further driven humanitarian needs. Last year, the country experienced a fourth consecutive year of intense flooding. Over a million people were affected as water swept away homes and livestock, flooded farmlands, submerged water sources, all further exacerbating an already dire food insecurity situation.

Early action is vital to intervene ahead of predicted shocks to safeguard lives and assets. For example, in Bentiu, Unity State’s capital, flood waters did not recede, leaving its population, including people in the largest camp for internally displaced persons, on an island protected only by dikes. Severe flooding impact was lessened by humanitarians, in collaboration with the government and other actors, to reinforce the fragile dikes, averting a humanitarian catastrophe.

The early release of funds from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund in May 2022 further supported early action.

As the humanitarian community, we commit to protecting more lives and livelihoods through expanded early action measures.

Mr. President,

Prolonged and repeated displacement is deepening vulnerability. Over 2.2 million people remain internally displaced – some since 2013. Over 2.3 million South Sudanese refugees live in neighbouring countries.

Sustainable solutions are needed for affected people to return, integrate, or move to another location as determined by themselves. There are already many good examples, such as in Western Bahr el Ghazal where the Governor and her team devised a four-year strategic development plan to support conflict- and disaster-affected communities, which is aligned with the government’s strategic development plan.

The launch of the Secretary General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement and the selection of South Sudan as a pilot country also presents an opportunity to reinforce sustainable solution mechanisms for displaced people.

Mr. President,

Allow me to extend my deep appreciation to humanitarian partners, working in extremely difficult environments, who have shown unwavering commitment to stay and deliver.

South Sudan remains one of the most dangerous places for aid workers, as highlighted by the SRSG. Sadly, in January this year, three aid workers were killed in the line of duty. Nine lost their lives in 2022.

Yet despite these challenges humanitarian partners reached nearly five million people with assistance and services in 2022. Over four million people received food assistance and livelihood support.

Together, we need to do more in 2023. This year’s Humanitarian Response Plan requires $1.7 billion to reach 6.8 million of the most vulnerable people. To date, the response plan is only 3.5 per cent funded.

Let me conclude, Mr. President, by reiterating three key messages:

First and foremost, we urge all actors to ensure the de-escalation of violence and uphold their commitment to protect civilians and civilian assets. We urge safe and unhindered access to reach people who need help.

Secondly, international support for South Sudan needs strong peace, humanitarian, and development collaboration to address the drivers of the protracted crisis, and the multipliers of people’s needs. To this end, I am pleased, to note the recent strengthening of the Office of the DSRSG/RC/HC through the establishment of an Integrated Office in support of the role of the “Triple Hat” in driving cross-pillar collaboration to advance joint peace, development, and humanitarian outcomes that will bring more alignment and breaking down of silos.

And thirdly, CERF and the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund continue to play an important role. In 2022, the Emergency Relief Coordinator approved $54 million through CERF for South Sudan, which makes it the second-largest recipient globally. We would like to reiterate our call for your continued generous support to the humanitarian operation in South Sudan, through the provision of flexible, unearmarked and early funding at scale.

Thank you very much indeed, Mr. President.