WFP South Sudan Situation Report #316, 31 August 2023

HIGHLIGHTS

• In August, WFP distributed 18,759 mt of food and USD 6.43 million in cash-based transfers to 2.52 million people, representing 87 percent of the people targeted in August.

• As part of the Sudan response, WFP had assisted 235,000 people with hot meals, high-energy biscuits, dry rations and cash by 31 August.

• WFP requires 446,590 mt of food in 2023 under its need-based plan and had resourced 216,759 mt of this food by 31 August, representing 49 percent of the requirements.

• WFP faces a funding gap of USD 566 million between September 2023 and February 2024 and had to reduce the number of people targeted in 2023 from 7.7 million to 5.4 million, and continued to deprioritize IPC 3 counties, in a move likely to exacerbate food insecurity in the deprioritized counties.

SITUATION UPDATE

• South Sudan continues to face multiple intersecting crises which is having a profound and adverse impact on food security in the country. Some of the difficulties the nation is experiencing include insecurity, subnational violence, developing regional and national socioeconomic challenges exacerbated by the global economic slump, and the effects of climate change.

• At the beginning of the year, Humanitarian partners estimated that 76 percent of the South Sudan population would need humanitarian and protection assistance in 2023, representing an increase of 4 percent from 2022. Data collection for the annual Food Security and Nutrition Monitoring System (FSNMS) took place in August and results are expected in mid September. The results of the FSNMS will provide a better understanding of food security and vulnerability status.

• The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) reported that emergency levels of food insecurity would persist in several counties during the lean season harvest amid returnee influx. FEWS NET's assessment indicated that during the peak of the lean season in July and August, over 60 percent of the population experienced significant food consumption shortfalls, which are indicative of a crisis (IPC Phase 3) or an emergency (IPC Phase 4). This challenging situation is further exacerbated by the increasing prices of essential food items, influenced by elevated regional prices, disruptions in cross-border trade, and a delayed initial harvest in some regions. These factors are compounding the already-existing challenges in obtaining an adequate food supply during the lean season.

• The ongoing conflict in Sudan continues to compound an already dire situation, forcing thousands of people to cross into South Sudan. As of 31 August, 252,242 people had crossed into South Sudan, and is anticipated to rise to at least 600,000 through end of the year. Of these, 91 percent were South Sudanese returning to a country hosting over 300,000 refugees and 2.3 million internally displaced, with limited livelihood opportunities. Access to primary services for people living in South Sudan and new arrivals remains strained, further complicating the provision of humanitarian assistance.

• The conflict in Sudan has had a notable impact on trade between Sudan and South Sudan. The decrease in imports from Sudan has contributed to an increase in the cost of the food basket. According to WFP market monitoring data, the cost of the food basket has been on the rise since the onset of the Sudan crisis, with increases ranging from 25 to 138 percent in areas bordering Sudan. Since the conflict in Sudan, markets in South Sudan (Wau in Western Bahr el Ghazal) are serving as a supply source and/or transit market for food items to the markets in Sudan (border markets), mainly to the near-by markets in Darfur and Kordofan states. This situation and the continued influx of returnees from Sudan will likely aggravate the increasing trends in cost of basket.

• During August, various localized incidents of armed clashes, minor criminal activities, abductions, banditry, and cattle raids were reported across different regions in South Sudan which caused disruptions to delivery of assistance and local livelihoods.