Conflict broke out in South Sudan in December 2013. Due to its localised tribal dynamics and natural resources the Greater Upper Nile Region – Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile States – has been most affected by the conflict. In response to the high levels of displacement, as well as destruction of personal and private property in these states, OFDA and SDC have funded REACH to assess hard to reach areas across the Greater Upper Nile Region. To share the findings of this assessment with the humanitarian community, REACH publishes monthly situation overviews (SO).  These will evolve across a 12 month period to comprehensively document displacement trends and changing humanitarian needs in the region. To date, a baseline Situation Overview and three updates Situation Overviews for Unity State have been published.

The baseline outlined displacement patterns of IDPs in the state, assessing the pre-crisis and current humanitarian situation in communities with regard to access to basic services, food availability, and presence of livelihood opportunities. Primary data, collected in December 2015 from Bentui PoC and UN House PoCs, triangulated with prior REACH findings and secondary data, was compiled to construct a comprehensive baseline.

Following the completion of the Unity State baseline, monthly Situation Overviews have evolved from tracking shifts between current and pre-crisis conditions, to providing an overview of key monthly changes in the state’s displacement trends and humanitarian needs. Forthcoming Situation Overviews for Jonglei and Upper Nile State, will follow a similar trajectory.

Upon completion of the baseline in all three states, the focus of the Situation Overviews will shift to identify key points of similarity and differences between the three areas. Monthly cross analysis of trends in each county and state will create an understanding of the evolution of displacement and humanitarian needs across the Greater Upper Nile Region to be viewed in a single Situation Overview. This broader overview will allow for a better understanding of how the coordinated humanitarian response in South Sudan can meet the needs of local communities and IDPs, as well as respond to those of IDPs returning to their home territories or resettling in new ones.

Click here for the Unity State March Situation Overview.

Image: IDPs, displaced by cattle raiding to an island in the Sudd, split cane to make sleeping mats