Food Security & Livelihoods

Food security in South Sudan is likely to deteriorate to unprecedented levels, with thousands of people at risk of famine. At the height of the lean season in July 2023, some 6.6 million people – will be facing high levels of acute food insecurity driven by economic decline climatic shocks and conflicts. Despite the significant deployment of humanitarian assistance between February and March 2022, an estimated 6.83 million people (55% of the population) faced high acute food insecurity (IPC phase 3 or above), of which 2.37 million people faced emergency conditions (IPC Phase 4). The most food insecure states between October and November 2022, where more than 50% of their populations are facing Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse acute food insecurity, are Jonglei State (68%), Unity State (66%), Northern Bahr el Ghazal State (62%), Upper Nile State (58%), Warrap State (57%), and Lakes State (57%).

 

In the post-harvest projection period of December 2022 to March 2023, an estimated 6.31 million people (51.0% of the population) will likely face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse acute food insecurity, with 33,000 people likely to be in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) acute food insecurity in Akobo and Fangak of Jonglei State; and Pibor County of Greater Pibor Administrative Area. During this period, an estimated 1.97 million people are likely to face Emergency (IPC Phase 4) acute food insecurity. In the lean season projection period of April to July 2023, an estimated 7.8 million people (63% of the population) will likely face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse acute food insecurity, with 43,000 people likely to be in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) acute food insecurity in Akobo, Canal/Pigi and Fangak counties of Jonglei State; and Leer and Mayendit counties of Unity State. During this period, an estimated 2.90 million people are likely to face Emergency (IPC Phase 4) acute food insecurity.

 

People affected by communal conflicts and floods and displaced households are facing alarming food consumption gaps. As the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan has deepened and expanded, food insecurity has risen to unprecedented levels due to a combination of natural disasters, communal conflicts, insecurity, low cereal production, severe economic crisis, and the exhaustion of coping capacities in the last five years of post-crisis. These multiple and interlocking threats have caused a decline in purchasing power, reduced trade flows, decreasing agricultural production and expanding insecurity, making the food security situation highly precarious. Negative coping strategies have been adopted by most of the population, particularly reducing the number of meals consumed (61%), reducing adult consumption (76%), relying on wild food (73%) and spending a day without food (61%). Most Livelihoods have been have not been restored even in the last 5 years of post-crisis.

In response to these CMD will focus on the following goal and strategies: