South Sudan: Nation Sees 'Concrete Improvements', Says Aid Official

Nairobi — The 2014-2016 Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) for South Sudan reflects an improving humanitarian situation amid a slowdown in the arrival of new refugees and returnees from Sudan and overall improvements in food security, says a senior UN official.

However, a significant proportion of the South Sudanese population still needs food and livelihood support as well as clean water, sanitation and health assistance.

"While humanitarian needs in South Sudan remain immense, the situation has shown concrete improvements on several fronts," Vincent Lelei, the head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in South Sudan, told IRIN.

"Humanitarian needs have reduced for the first time since 2011. The arrival of refugees from Sudan has slowed down and returns of South Sudanese have continued to decrease. Food security overall improved for many people."

In 2014, OCHA anticipates that some 4.4 million people in South Sudan will be in humanitarian need, compared to 4.6 million in 2013. "The reduction is due to lower refugee and returnee arrivals anticipated, and less people expected to be food insecure," added Lelei.

Of the 4.4 million, aid agencies are aiming to target the most vulnerable 3.1 million individuals in 2014. The country's population is 12 million.

The three-year CAP requested a sum of US$1.1 billion to meet the needs of the 3.1 million ($355 per person), focusing on emergency health, food and nutrition support.

According to Lelei, humanitarian assistance will be provided across 12 sectors including: 2.3 million people who will be targeted with food and livelihood support; 2.9 million people who will be assisted with clean water and sanitation; and two million people who will be provided with health assistance.

"We anticipate that South Sudan will host 270,000 refugees by the end of next year. These people will be supported with assistance including shelter, food, education and nutritional support," he said.

Humanitarian needs

South Sudan is home to an estimated 225,557 refugees, according to OCHA. The refugees are mainly from Sudan's Blue Nile and South Kordofan states.