Humanitarian Action for Children 2018 - South Sudan
Total population in need: 7 million
Total children in need (<18): 4.2 million
Total people to be reached: 4.2 million
Total children to be reached: 2.4 million
Four years into the conflict in South Sudan, more than half of the nation's children are affected. These children are facing famine, disease, forced recruitment and lack of access to schooling—vulnerabilities that are compounded by the worsening economic conditions and limited access to food and fuel. Nearly 4 million people are displaced, including 2 million people seeking refuge in neighboring countries. Sixty per cent of the displaced are children. The food crisis is unprecedented, with 56 per cent of the population suffering from severe food insecurity as of December 2017. Women and children are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity, and their circumstances are expected to deteriorate. An estimated 250,000 children will be affected by severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in 2018 and pre-famine conditions persist across the country. Some 5.3 million people urgently require safe water for drinking and hygiene. Cholera remains prevalent, with children disproportionately impacted, and malaria is the primary cause of morbidity among children under 5. As insecurity deepens, girls are increasingly at risk of sexual violence, child marriage and exploitation, and boys face recruitment into armed groups. Nationwide, 1.8 million children are out of school, and girls make up only 40 per cent of those accessing education.
In 2018, UNICEF will strengthen and expand its programmes through four modalities that will increase the capacity and reach of interventions: 1) static operations in stable areas; 2) outreach programmes; 3) mobile campaigns; and 4) the Integrated Rapid Response Mechanism. These approaches will facilitate sustained service delivery in both secure and highly inaccessible locations.
UNICEF will continue to invest in strengthening national partner capacities and improving accountability to affected populations by building on existing community-based networks. Advocacy with the Government will focus on increasing and sustaining humanitarian access. Access to and the quality of education will be improved for conflict-affected children, particularly girls, through the provision of child-friendly learning spaces and teaching and learning materials, as well as teacher training. Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) activities will focus on increasing access to safe water in urban areas and outside of Protection of Civilians sites. Nutrition programming will utilize integrated and preventive approaches.
UNICEF will bolster immunization activities and increase access to quality health care through mobile outreach. Coherent coordination will be promoted through UNICEF cluster leadership. UNICEF will also work closely with the World Food Programme (WFP) and other United Nations partners to implement its humanitarian strategy.