Situation Overview: Awerial, Yirol East and Yirol West Counties, , South June 2018

Introduction Map 1: Assessment coverage in Lakes State in Population Movement and cattle raids in areas near county and state June 2018 borders, particularly in the past two years. The Eastern Lakes is a region affected by inter- Displacement insecurity negatively affected food security and communal violence and cattle raids, mostly Migration towards Mingkaman thus created migration movements. in areas near county borders. The violence, North in combination with high levels of food In the past year, Eastern Lakes has increasingly Migration towards Mingkaman has reportedly Cueibet Rumbek insecurity, has induced migration flows towards Centre been characterised by continuous migration been further amplified by abnormal weather Yirol East Mingkaman. A variety of indicators show a Rumbek towards Mingkaman, driven by inter-communal patterns this year. The lack of rain has presented East concerning humanitarian situation, particularly violence, cattle raids, abnormal weather an additional challenge to food security by in Yirol East and West − areas commonly Yirol West patterns and the resulting shortage of food. reducing crop yields and delaying harvest. Wulu Awerial overlooked by humanitarian actors. Eastern Lakes is hosting ten thousands of When food is becoming increasingly scarce in rural settlements, some family members are To inform the response of humanitarian actors IDPs from Awerial, Yirol East and Yirol West, 1 sent away to temporarily stay with relatives in working outside of formal displacement sites, as well as . Most of the IDPs 0 - 4.9% 21 - 50% Mingkaman. According to FGD participants, REACH has been conducting an assessment settled in urban hubs due to the relatively 5 - 10% 51 - 100% this coping strategy was applied to a larger of hard-to-reach areas in since higher availability of services and provision 11 - 20% Assessed settlement 2 extent in June as well as earlier in the year. 2015, for which data on settlements across of humanitarian assistance. Outside of Yirol Greater Upper , Greater and Town and Mingkaman, there is a relatively Pakam displacement to Yirol East using 5 Focus Group Discussion (FGDs) low presence of IDPs; a mere 8% of assessed Greater Bahr el Ghazal region is collected on Yirol East has been witnessing a large influx of conducted in Mingkaman, as well as with settlements in Eastern Lakes reported such in a monthly basis. Data on Eastern Lakes has thousands of IDPs from Rumbek North since interviews with humanitarian actors, secondary June, as opposed to the countrywide figure of been collected since June 2018. early May 2018.3 Tensions among communities, data, and previous REACH assessments of 30%. In June 2018, REACH interviewed 169 Key hard-to-reach areas of Lakes State. land disputes and a disarmament campaign led Informants (KIs) from 132 settlements in This movement towards urban areas has been to the displacement of the Pakam community.4 Awerial, Yirol East and Yirol West Counties in This Situation Overview is the first of its driven largely by insecurity. While there are The IDPs have mostly been settling among Lakes State. All the KIs were interviewed in kind on Lakes state, a region where data no active frontlines in Eastern Lakes, an area the host community in the areas of Pagarau, Mingkaman. Findings have been triangulated on the humanitarian situation has been which is largely shielded off from the ongoing Mamer and Nyang in Yirol East. KIs reported notoriously scarce. This baseline study outlines conflict on the national level, violence is presence of IDP in areas of Yirol West and # of key informant interviews conducted: 169 displacement and access to basic services in nevertheless significantly shaping the region. Awerial by late June, suggesting that some of # of assessed settlements: 132 Eastern Lakes in June 2018. The first section Tensions among communities, an increasingly the IDPs had further spread out beyond their # of counties covered: 3 (of 8) analyses displacement trends while the second unstable political landscape and a deterioration initial destination. evaluates access to food and basic services for of food security have tumbled the region into # of focus group discussions conducted: 5 The IDPs arrived from Rumbek North to Yirol both displaced and non-displaced communities. a vicious cycle of inter-communal fights and : 1. IOM DTM, Mobility Tracking Round 1, April 2018; FGDs in Mingkaman with participants from Eastern Lakes 2. FGDs in Mingkaman with participants from Eastern Lakes 3. IRNA, Needs Assessment of displaced Pakam community, June 2018 4. Danish Refugee Council, Yirol East - Rapid Protection Assessment Factsheet, August 2018 Map 2: Migration and cattle movements in a lack of resources in the settlements. In June, METHODOLOGY 29% of assessed settlements in Eastern Lakes To provide an overview of the situation Pakam displacement named moving to cattle camps a common in hard-to-reach areas of Lakes State, TY Migration towards Mingkaman strategy to cope with a lack of food. REACH uses primary data provided by e ort Cattle migration anyiiar key informants who have recently arrived, Situation in Assessed or receive regular information, from their Settlements WESTER eiet e pre-displacement location or “Area of AR EL etre AAL Protection Knowledge”. Information for this overview Rumbek Yirol East was collected from key informants in Pagarau Inter-communal tensions, which manifest Mingkaman, Lakes State. yang themselves in fighting, cattle raids and land e After data collection was completed, all East Yirol JLE disputes, have been giving rise to protection concerns in Eastern Lakes, particularly in the data was examined at the settlement level, Yirol West Awerial past year. The effects of such strife is mostly felt and settlements were assigned the modal Wl response. When no consensus could be by the populations living near county borders, found for a settlement, that settlement volo Mingkaman particularly in the areas near the borders was not included in reporting. Descriptive between the Yirols and Rumbek East, as well WESTER erekeka CETRAL statistics and geospatial analysis were then EATRA EATRA as Yirol East and Panyijiar. Tensions are also used to analyse the data. high along the Yirol East and West/Awerial, Yirol West/Mvolo borders and to a lesser The data analysis was disaggregated at East via two routes: (1) by foot, some as part members of the community reportedly owned degree along the Awerial/Terekeka border. the county level when at least 5.0% of the of cattle camps, through the swamps along the cattle in June. border with Panyijiar and (2) following the road settlements of a county were assessed. In The cows are kept at pasture and in large cattle The frequent reports of inter-communal violence via Rumbek Town.5 Many reportedly arrived June 2018, this threshold was attained for camps all year around. From May to June, there from FGD participants were also highlighted in poor physical condition and with only a few Awerial, Yirol East and Yirol West Counties. has been a seasonal migration of cattle from in REACH Area of Knowledge data, with 38% personal belongings.6 The conclusions drawn are therefore swampy regions and riverbanks near the Nile of assessed settlements reporting incidents indicative of likely trends in Awerial, Yirol Given that the local authorities and humanitarian in Awerial and Yirol East towards areas further of violent conflict in June, and a further 46% East and Yirol West Counties and may community are working towards establishing inland and closer to communities’ settlements.7 reporting incidents of looting — levels well not capture the humanitarian situation in humanitarian services in Yirol East, which could The movement is driven by annual rain falls, above the countrywide rate of 24% and 34% some of the settlements worst affected by be a pull factor for populations in surrounding which flood Nile-near areas and provide water to respectively, and regionally only exceeded in episodes of violence. areas, further population movements may take dried up river beds. The movement furthermore State. Please note that REACH is in the process place in the coming months. allows communities to keep cattle closer to Indicative of the unrest in the border regions, their settlements, while bringing in youths, who of establishing sustained data collection Cattle migration being killed or injured by members from a in Lakes State. As a result, the current typically stay in the cattle camps, to support different community was the most frequently coverage is limited to Eastern Lakes. Cattle significantly shape the economic and their families in the annual crop harvest. cited protection concern for men (27%) and cultural dynamics of the region. In 86% of The migration of cattle constitutes a movement women (21%) in Eastern Lakes in June. assessed settlements in Eastern Lakes, most of a significant number of people, due in part to Such high levels of conflict-related protection

2 5. MEDAIR, Assessment Summary Report - Yirol East County, August 2018 6. Phone interview with KI from Pagarau, May 2018 7. Key informant interview in Mingkaman, July 2018 Figure 1: Most cited protection concerns for tensions in the areas near the Rumbek East Map 3: Percentage of assessed settlements Map 4: Percentage of assessed settlements men and women in assessed settlements, and Panyijiar border. reporting adequate access to food, Eastern reporting food assistance as main source of Eastern Lakes, June 2018 Lakes, June 2018 food, Eastern Lakes, June 2018 21+17+11 Due to the above-mentioned insecurity and Inter-communal violence 27% resulting protection concerns, perceived safety Rumbek North Rumbek North Cattle raiding 19% of communities in Eastern Lakes tends to be relatively low. In 87% of assessed settlements, Cueibet Rumbek Cueibet Rumbek Centre Centre Looting 17% Yirol East Yirol East 11+9+8 members of the communities never or only Rumbek Rumbek East Inter-communal violence 21% sometimes felt safe, which was above the East countrywide percentage of 66%. IDPs in Yirol West Yirol West Domestic violence 19% Mingkaman from Awerial, Yirol East and Yirol Wulu Awerial Wulu Awerial Sexual violence 12% West consistently identified conflict-related protection concerns and lack of safety to be among the primary reasons for displacement.8 0% 61 - 80% 0% 61 - 80% 1 - 20% 81 - 100% 1 - 20% 81 - 100% concerns for women were not observed in any Food security and livelihoods 21 - 40% Insufficient data 21 - 40% Insufficient data other region in South Sudan. This may highlight 41 - 60% Assessed settlement 41 - 60% Assessed settlement the nature of the inter-communal conflict in the The above discussed insecurity and protection Figure 2: Percentage of assessed settlements area, which is not fought along clearly defined concerns, as well as weather patterns and proportion of assessed settlements reporting the concentration of humanitarian services reporting most people eating fewer than 2 frontlines but around and in settlements where that most members of the community ate fewer meals per day, Eastern Lakes, communities reside. Sexual and gender-based to a few urban hubs had critical ramifications than 2 meals per day (see Figure 2) − a practice violence related concerns for women were on livelihoods and the level of food security in more commonly found in Eastern Lakes than reported in 32% of assessed settlements to be Eastern Lakes in June. in South Sudan overall (45%). Likewise, self- the main protection concern. Low levels of food security in Yirols; reported levels of hunger were considerably In 19% of assessed settlements, cattle raids dependence on food assistance in Awerial higher in Yirol East (65%) and West (54%) than 43+57+A82+18+A78+22+A were named as the main protection concern in Awerial (32%) (see Figure 3). Awerial Yirol East Yirol West At the regional level, Eastern Lakes was only 43% 82% 78% for men, which is a sign of the high levels of slightly behind in a variety of food security While for most food coping strategies there cattle-related violence in Lakes. Cattle raids indicators. Adequate access to food was were no differences across counties, skipping predominantly take place near county border Figure 3: Percentage of assessed settlements reported in 24% of assessed settlements in entire days was far more commonly reported reporting hunger is severe or the worst it can areas and are reflective of the inter-communal Eastern Lakes in June. At the county-level, in Yirol East (in 50% of assessed settlements) be, Eastern Lakes, June 2018 violence in the region. substantial differences were apparent: 57% of and West (42%). In Awerial (25%) such Eastern Lakes is the region with the highest assessed settlements in Awerial had sufficient extreme coping strategies were at levels near proportion of assessed settlements reporting access to food, but only 17% in Yirol East, and the countrywide proportion (27%). The low the occurrence of land disputes (36%). In Yirol 14% in Yirol West (see Map 3). levels of food security and resulting coping strategies in Yirol East and West were likely East (43%), land disputes were even more The relatively low levels of food security in Yirol 32+68+A65+35+A54+46+A impacting nutrition outcomes: A SMART survey Awerial Yirol East Yirol West frequently reported than in Awerial (29%) East and West were further underlined by a high and Yirol West (32%), which may be linked to from June conducted in Yirol East found that 32% 65% 54%

8. FGDs in Mingkaman with participants from Awerial, Yirol East and Yirol West, June 2018 3 Figure 4: Reported primary reason for inadequate access to food in assessed settlements without in 74% of assessed settlements reportedly Figure 5: Most commonly cited livelihood adequate access to food, Eastern Lakes, June 2018 engaged in cultivation, which was the second activities, Eastern Lakes, June 2018 most frequently reported livelihood activity after Awerial Yirol East Yirol West Awerial 25% 25% 25% 25% keeping livestock (see Figure 5).

Yirol While in some areas in Awerial, too much rain Livestock 86% 67% 83% 29% 20% 2% 13% 13% 22% East led to flooded fields, other regions, especially Yirol in the Yirols, have witnessed limited rainfalls. Crops for 30% 13% 3% 15% 28% 13% 81% 59% 66% West WFP VAM data shows a rapid decline in rainfall sustenance 12 Conflict-related Lack of rain destroyed crops Floods destroyed crops levels in Eastern Lakes since June. 9 Fishing/hunting 52% 65% 44% Pests destroyed crops No consensus Other According to FGD participants, the limited rainfall earlier in the year caused some the prevalence of GAM (WhZ) was above WHO food security is likely stronger in the tense communities to delay planting of the seeds, thresholds at 22.6% (confidence interval: 19.3 border areas where inter-communal violence security, namely inter-communal violence, a which will subsequently delay the harvest of - 26.3%).10 is prevalent. Key informants from these areas lack of safety, and abnormal weather patterns the crops and possibly extend the lean season. identified fighting and the resulting limited are critical push factors creating migration The relatively higher levels of food security Throughout June, the lack of rain caused the access to lands for cultivation as a major driver flows. Given the substantial provision of food reported in Awerial as opposed to Yirol East destruction of crops in some areas, which will of food insecurity. Protection concerns in those assistance in Mingkaman, which has been and West were linked to the substantial reduce the output of the harvest and may put areas were particularly high, and movements a critical pull factor, food insecurity induced food assistance provided to communities in communities in a more vulnerable position for cultivation are thus kept at a minimum. migration towards Awerial will likely persist. Mingkaman. In Awerial, 57% of assessed when next year’s lean season arrives. Indicative settlements reported that the community had Reflective of tensions in border areas, FGD of the limted rainfall, 20% and 13% of assessed Shelter & NFIs received food assistance in the last 3 months; participants furthermore stated that violence settlements in Yirol East and West reported The reported violence in county border areas 43% reported (and 0% in Yirol East and West) in some border areas led to destruction of that the lack of rain was the main reason for was reflected in the number of reported shelter that humanitarian assistance was the main farming land and agricultural inputs, while cattle inadequate access to food in June. damages. While no destruction was reported in source of food, which suggests a substantial raids reduced herd size of cattle owned by the Key informants reported a lack of rain to be assessed settlements in Awerial, 18% (12%) dependence of Awerial’s population on the communities. a challenge to crop production in some parts indicated at least partial shelter destruction General Food Distribution (GFD) in Mingkaman. Weather patterns delay harvest and reduce of Awerial too. At the county-level, however, within the previous month in Yirol East (Yirol Violence drives food insecurity crop yields localised heavy rainstorms earlier this year West). The reported shelter damage may be led to crop destruction by floods: In 25% of In 21% of assessed settlements where access Abnormal weather patterns and a Figure 6: Tukuls as main shelter type of host assessed settlements, floods were named to food was inadequate in Eastern Lakes, disproportionate distribution of rainfalls communities in assessed settlements, Eastern the main reason for a lack of food. In 25% insecurity was reported as the main reason, have created challenges to crop production Lakes, June 2018 of assessed settlements in Awerial, the making it the most frequently named barrier to throughout the region.11 Reductions in crop inadequate foods levels were mainly attributed food security in Eastern Lakes. yields put the communities at risk as a 99% of assessed to pests (such as fall armyworm). substantial portion of food traditionally comes settlements reported tukuls The differences among counties were not from own production. In June, communities The above mentioned challenges to food as main shelter type substantial, though the impact of fighting on 991+A

4 9. “No consensus” stands for settlements on which multiple key informants were surveyed but there is no modal answer for the respective indicator. 10. Help e.V., Pre-harvest SMART survey report, June 2018 11. Limited rainfalls had already affected Yirol East and West in the previous year. 12. WFP-VAM, CHIRPS/UCSB linked to inter-communal fighting in the border Figure 8: Percentage of assessed settlements Since many people live along rivers or near Map 5: Physical access to healthcare in areas towards Rumbek East and Panyijiar. without latrine usage, Eastern Lakes, June 2018 swamps, which are frequently used as primary assessed settlements, Eastern Lakes, June sources of drinking water, open defecation 2018 The residents of Eastern Lakes generally can contaminate water sources and represent resided in permanent structures: Tukuls were Rumbek North a serious health risk, especially in the rainy the main shelter type of host communities in season when incidences of waterborne Cueibet Rumbek virtually all assessed settlements in Eastern Centre diseases are usually on the rise. Yirol East Lakes (see Figure 6), which was significantly Rumbek 54+46+A72+28+A68+32+A East above the countrywide average of 72%. Awerial Yirol East Yirol West Health Yirol West 54% 72% 68% Due to the relatively low number of settlements All assessed settlements in Awerial reported Wulu Awerial hosting IDPs outside of the traditional access to healthcare, but only around 70% in settlements assessed across Eastern Lakes, catchment areas of Mingkaman and Yirol the Yirols. The settlements without access are only 59% of assessed settlements reported Town, the collected data on IDPs’ shelter and likely in remote areas, making the public and 0% 61 - 80% access to improved water sources in June, 1 - 20% 81 - 100% NFI needs was insufficient to be analysed. INGO-supported hospital in Yirol Town too which is near the 53% country-average. 21 - 40% Insufficient data Furthermore, no distribution of NFIs reportedly difficult to reach. Wherever health facilities were 41 - 60% The main sources of drinking water besides Assessed settlement took place in any of the assessed settlements not accessible, it was mainly because there had boreholes were swamps, ponds and rivers. in Eastern Lakes. previously never existed one in the area, likely In Awerial, 39% of assessed settlements due to remoteness. In early 2018, WHO declared a rift valley fever Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) 13 reported that swamps and ponds were the main (RVF) outbreak in Eastern Lakes. Though RVF AoK figures suggest relatively high rates of WASH conditions in Eastern Lakes are poor. sources of drinking water in June, which is due primarily affects animals, it can also spread to malaria, notably in Yirol East and West, where Limited access to improved water sources and to the large proportion of settlements located in humans. Despite effort from the humanitarian 50% and 44% of assessed settlements reported the widespread practice of open defecation swampy areas along the Gel River. Gathering community to contain the disease, suspect malaria to be the main health concern. The 14 create an elevated risk of water-borne diseases. water from swamps and ponds is less common cases continued to be reported in June. levels are likely elevated during the wet season. in Yirol East, where rivers (such as the Yei Accordingly, presence of livestock diseases Access to improved water sources (e.g. As rainfall intensifies, the prevalence of malaria River) were in turn more frequently used as was reported in 80% of assessed settlements borehole, water yard, tap stand) was low in may further increase in the coming months. water sources. in Eastern Lakes − levels not seen anywhere Figure 7: Main source of drinking water in else in South Sudan. This high rate may in part Posing a risk for those settlements with no assessed settlements, Eastern Lakes, June Figure 9: Percentage of assessed settlements be due to the RVF outbreak. 2018 access to improved water sources, open with malaria as main health concern, Eastern Lakes, June 2018 Education 57% 59% 56% defecation was widespread in Eastern Lakes in June. With 72% and 68% of assessed 39% The proportion of assessed settlements in settlements reporting that none of the people in Eastern Lakes reporting access to education 17% 18% 9% their community were using latrines, Yirol East was 58% in June, virtually the same as the 4% 4% and Yirol West were above the countrywide countrywide average. The limited access to average of 58%. The primary reason given for 44+56+A Awerial Yirol East Yirol West 29+71+A50+50+A education services was mostly a result of a lack not using latrines was the lack of latrines in their Awerial Yirol East Yirol West 29% 50% 44% of facilities, as reported by 74% of assessed Borehole Swamp/pond River settlements.

13. WHO, Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) - Epidemiological Update, 5 Week 12, March 2018 14. WHO, Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) - Epidemiological Update, Week 26, July 2018 Figure 10: Primary reason reported for lack community. of school attendance for girls and boys in assessed settlements, Eastern Lakes, June However, violence in county border areas, 2018 including fighting and cattle raids, have spiked in the last year. Coupled with worsening food

36+25+14 security levels, this has created increased 26% Need to work 36% migration flows from Eastern Lakes towards 25% School fees 25% Mingkaman. 21% Lack of supplies 14% 21+25+26 Many indicators paint a concerning picture of the Yirols, while the severity of humanitarian settlements without access. needs in Awerial is more in line with South While no differences to access to education Sudan at large. Only a few humanitarian actors existed across counties, there were considerable have been supporting communities in Yirol disparities in regard to gender. Reported school East and West as opposed to Awerial, where attendance was higher for boys than for girls, substantially more food assistance is provided. a phenomenon reported across assessed Besides low levels of food security, protection settlements in South Sudan. The extent of the concerns due to inter-communal violence and gender disparity was even more pronounced in a recent influx of a large number of IDPs, poor Eastern Lakes than in South Sudan at large. hygiene conditions, high reported rates of In 93% of assessed settlements, at least half malaria as well as limited access to healthcare of boys were attending school, while the same services create challenges to the population was reported for girls in only 32% of assessed residing in the Yirols. About REACH settlements. The grim food security situation in Eastern REACH facilitates the development The primary reasons given for not attending Lakes is further amplified by a lack of rain, of information tools and products that school (see Figure 10), for both boys and girls, especially since June. The abnormal weather enhance the capacity of aid actors to make were the need to work, school fees and a lack conditions will likely have an impact on crop evidence-based decisions in emergency, of supplies. yields and potentially delay this year’s harvest, recovery and development contexts. All thus extending the lean season, which in turn REACH activities are conducted through Conclusion increases the need for humanitarian aid. inter-agency aid coordination mechanisms. For more information, you can write Due to the absence of active frontlines, limited Data on the humanitarian situation throughout to our in-country office: southsudan@ exposure to the ongoing conflict on the national Lakes has been scarce. Future rounds of reach-initiative.org or to our global office: level, and the perception that inter-communal REACH data collection will provide further [email protected]. fighting and cattle raids have historically been evidence on the above outlined dynamics www.reach-initiative.org a normal occurrence in the region, Lakes state and shed more light on the needs of the local Visit and has often been overlooked by the humanitarian population. follow us @REACH_info.

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