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Press Releases & Updates

12 MAY 2014

African Crisis – South Sudan Update

Latest Situation

There is an acute humanitarian crisis in South Sudan and the situation on the ground is deteriorating rapidly:

  • Most acute in conflict affected states of Unity, Upper Nile and Jonglei
  • 7 million people overall at risk of food insecurity (nearly 60% of total population)
  • 3.7 million of these are urgently in need of assistance
  • 1.2 million of people forced to flee their homes – approximately 300,000 of these have fled to Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya and Sudan
  • 1.25 million children under the age of five estimated to need immediate nutrition services by June
  • Grave abuses have been committed against civilians by all sides to the conflict, causing 10,000 people killed but figure likely to be much higher
  • Health facilities destroyed and looted making access to health care difficult
  • Rains have come, hampering the relief effort as roads become impassable
  • Food security will deteriorate further in August and to further alarming levels in December if action is not taken
  • UN appeals for US$1.27 billion to reach 3.2 million of people up to June, but it has so far only received US$515m – 40 per cent funded

 

Oxfam’s Response

  • In South Sudan, Oxfam has helped 180,000 people with clean water, safe sanitation, public hygiene promotion, food, cash and essentials such as soap and other items. We are assisting those in need in Juba, Bor, Malakal, Melut, Mingkaman, and preparations for distributions are beginning in Waat and Lankien. 
  • In Uganda, Oxfam has provided support to 36,000 people (South Sudanese refugees and host communities) in the form of water and sanitation, and emergency food security and livelihoods and peace building.
  • Oxfam is asking the international community to generously support the UN  appeal for South Sudan by releasing flexible funding to allow aid agencies provide a rapid response to scale in light of the extraordinary needs of 3.7 million people including approximately 300,000 refugees in Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Sudan, and also to condemn violations of, and promote respect for, human rights and international humanitarian law in South Sudan.