US$1.7 billion needed to support the most vulnerable in South Sudan in 2023

Humanitarian partners target 6.8 million people with life-saving support

(Juba, 20 December 2022) The humanitarian community in South Sudan launched today its 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan. The plan seeks US$1.7 billion to provide life-saving assistance and livelihood support to 6.8 million of the most vulnerable people affected by conflict, climatic shocks and protracted displacement across the country.

In launching of the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan, Ms. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan said, “Today’s launch reflects months of consultations and planning by humanitarians to ensure that we can respond to people’s needs in the face of competing global emergencies and dwindling funding. The people of South Sudan deserve more, and not just efforts that allow them to survive,” said Ms. Nyanti.

Endemic violence, ongoing conflict and floods continue to increase people’s vulnerabilities. Over two-thirds of South Sudan's population will need some form of humanitarian and protection assistance in 2023. Eight million people may be severely food-insecure at the peak of the lean season between April and July. Women and girls are likely to continue to be at risk of being attacked while carrying out their daily routines as they take care of their families, and children may not have access to education. Life-saving health services risk not being accessible to millions of people. The lack of proper water, sanitation and hygiene services may lead to more infectious diseases and malnutrition.

“Our immediate priorities in 2023 include sustaining our response to people with urgent humanitarian and protection needs, especially women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Humanitarian partners need unimpeded and safe access to deliver timely and essential life-saving assistance. We also need urgent funding to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation,” Ms. Nyanti stressed.

“I thank our donors, humanitarian partners and government counterparts for their support in 2022. We will continue to build bridges between short-term assistance, medium-term outcomes, and longer-term impact in 2023. But we need the violence to stop so that the people of South Sudan can rebuild their lives,” Ms. Nyanti stated. “The most vulnerable have inspired us with their resilience and hope. I ask for your support to help shift their hope into a reality,” the Humanitarian Coordinator concluded.

Note to editors:

An estimated 9.4 million of the most vulnerable people in South Sudan will need urgent life-saving assistance and protection in 2023, compared to 8.9 million in 2022. In 2022, the Humanitarian Response Plan was funded at 67 per cent. South Sudan continues to be the most violent context for aid workers. Since the beginning of 2022, nine humanitarian workers were killed in the line of duty in South Sudan. Across the country, aid workers – mostly national humanitarian workers – are affected by violence and operational interference.

For further information, please contact:

Joseph Inganji, Head of Office, inganji@un.org

Krasimira Antimova, Public Information Officer, antimova@un.org

OCHA press releases are available at www.unocha.org/south-sudan or www.reliefweb.int.