Two thirds of South Sudan’s population remain in need of assistance or protection

This year, the South Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan requests US$1.5 billion to reach 5.6 million people with urgent life-saving assistance.

The United Nations and hundreds of non-governmental humanitarian organizations will work to reduce food insecurity and malnutrition by providing access to basic services like health, water and sanitation; protection to women and children; and promotion of recovery and resilience.

The number of people in need of humanitarian assistance remains high due to years of conflict, displacement, lack of investment in basic services, lost food production, destroyed livelihoods, sexual violence and children losing their education.

“Despite a period of relative stability since the signing of the revitalized peace agreement in 2018, some 7.5 million people are still in need of humanitarian assistance or protection and 3.7 million are displaced inside and outside of the country. Women and children continue to be the most affected,” said Alain Noudéhou, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan. He added: “The women, men and children of South Sudan are impatient for peace. The year 2020 offers great hope that the country’s leaders will begin the long road to recovery from conflict.”

Mr. Noudéhou emphasized that with improved access across South Sudan, the United Nations and hundreds of non-governmental humanitarian organizations are committed to working together with the authorities and affected communities to re-build lives.

“Reaching and protecting vulnerable people, especially previously inaccessible communities, is central to the 2020 response,” said Mr. Noudéhou.” We want to reduce hunger, see a decrease in the number of infant and maternal deaths, give people access to the basic services they need to survive, and build resilience in communities so they can cope with continued shocks, like the recent floods.”

Last year, South Sudan experienced unprecedented floods, affecting more than 900,000 people across the country. The disaster was a stark reminder of the need to strengthen people’s resilience.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in 2019, 5.3 million people were reached with assistance and protection through the 2019 Humanitarian Response Plan. This is thanks to the dedication of thousands of humanitarian workers, most of whom are South Sudanese, and the generosity of donors who contributed more than $1 billion towards the response.