Situation Overview: Upper State, South July-August 2017

Introduction SUDAN SUDAN at the time, mainly in the south-eastern portion of the state (Maiwut, Longochuk, Nasir, Ulang), Between July and August 2017, the revival of MANO MANO which facilitates the provision of information conflict and increased insecurity has disrupted RENK RENK from these areas which are known to have livelihoods, access to services and humanitarian access difficulties and information gaps at assistance in state. Moreover, the moment. However, the central part of the insecurity has caused further displacement MELUT MELUT state (Maban, Melut, Baliet, Renk) was not into and Sudan with continued internal assessed and the western bank had only FASHODA MAAN FASHODA MAAN displacement inside Upper Nile State. one county where over 5% of all settlements MALAKAL To inform the response of humanitarian actors PANKAN ALET PANKAN ALET were assessed (Fashoda). In August, REACH working outside of formal displacement sites, LONOCHUK LONOCHUK interviewed KIs from all 12 counties. However, LUAKPN LUAKPN only three counties exceeded a 5% settlement REACH has been conducting an ongoing NASR NASR assessment of hard-to-reach areas in South ULAN MAUT ULAN MAUT coverage in the western bank of the Nile Sudan since 2015, for which data on settlements (Manyo, Fashoda and Panyikang) and one across Greater Upper Nile, Greater county in the south-eastern part of the state and Western Bahr el Ghazal region is collected Assessed settlements (Maiwut). Given this geographical shift in areas on a monthly basis. ettlement covered between July and August this report Cover ercentage of assessed settlements relative to the CHA (CD) total dataset: does not purport to study trends between July Between July and August 2017, REACH Map 1:0 REACH assessment coverage of Upper Nile State, July 2017 (left), August (right). and August. However, as July coverage was interviewed 190 Key Informants (KIs) from 01 - 491 relatively similar to June coverage, observations 126 settlements in all 12 counties in Upper - 10 on state-level trends between June and July Nile State. In order to ensure an accurate hard-to-reach101 - 20 areas of Upper Nile State. collection sites between July and August, the 201 - 0 coverage of counties where REACH has have been included in this report. understanding of current displacement and This Situation Overview outlines displacement 0 been able to assess over 5% of known population dynamics, all selected KIs had up- and access to basic services in Upper Nile in Population Movement and settlements differed considerably between to-date information about the village from which July and August 2017. The first section analyses July and August (Map 1). Counties where Displacement they had been displaced, whether because they displacement trends in Upper Nile State. the proportion of total settlements assessed had reportedly visited the Area of Knowledge The second section outlines the population Displacement within the state of Upper Nile has is below 5% are not analysed at the county (AoK) within the last month or had been in dynamics in the assessed communities, as well been dynamic in July and August (see Map 2) level, but the settlement data is still included contact with someone livng in the AoK within as access to food and basic services for both as illustrated by 51% of assessed settlements in the state-level analysis. For July, settlement the last month. Findings have been triangulated IDP and non-displaced communities. reporting an IDP presence in their area in using KIs with humanitarian actors, secondary coverage included areas where fighting was August. A large proportion of IDPs reportedly Due to changes in the selection of data data, and previous REACH assessments of more intense and displacement was ongoing crossed the border to Ethiopia during the period : following clashes in the south-eastern part of Simultaneously, insecurity also reportedly METHODOLOGY the state in July, and others fled to Sudan due flared up at the end of July in Kaka, Manyo To provide an overview of the situation in to insecurity along the western bank in August.1 County, which reportedly led even more largely inaccessible areas of Upper Nile 2 Displacement largely affected populations people to move toward Sudan as well as State, REACH uses primary data provided that were already displaced (e.g. Aburoc toward neighbouring Malakal.5 Apart from this by key informants who have recently arrived, displacement site), which illustrates that as movement, however, the entries and exits from or receive regular information, from their pre- insecurity continues there has been a relative the Malakal Protection of Civilians (PoC site) displacement location or “Area of Knowledge”. shrinking of safe spaces for IDPs within Upper largely stabilised following an outbound trend Information for this report was collected from Nile as insecurity progresses. that lasted from February 2017 to June 2017, key informants in , Upper Nile, Displacement in and out of Upper Nile when the population of the site had decreased Akobo, , and Juba Protection of from approximately 30,000 people to 24,000.6 7 Civilians (PoC) site in July and August 2017. Displacement from Longochuk and Maiwut Displacement around Maban The first phase of the assessment Following clashes along the Mathiang- Through July and August a dispute between methodology comprised a participatory corridor in Longochuk and Maiwut in July, IDPs different communities began to build up in the mapping exercise to map the relevant and local communities were displaced and Maban area, which resulted in the evacuation settlements in Upper Nile State. In-depth moved toward Pagak, with an estimated 5000 Map 2: Displacement from Longochuk County, of 27 humanitarian personnel from the interviews were then conducted with selected people crossing the border with Ethiopia in the July 2017, and from Aburoc and Kaka, August area.8 Driven by insecurity in Maban, a small participants using a standardised survey early stages of the armed clashes in the area.3 2017. proportion of the population appeared to be tool comprising questions on displacement Most crossed the border due to the combined leaving towards Sudan, as REACH recorded a was insecurity, as 38% of assessed settlements trends, population needs, and access to effect of persisting insecurity and the lack of few arrivals from the Kilo 10 area in Renk town without adequate access to food reported that basic services. humanitarian assistance in Pagak following the in August. it was too unsafe to access land for cultivation After data collection was completed, all evacuation of most relocatable humanitarian in their area in July. Destruction of crops data was examined at the settlement level, workers in early July. In , where Situation in Assessed by fighting was the second most frequently and settlements were assigned the modal Pagak is located, 61% of assessed settlements Settlements cited reason (36%) for the lack of food in the response. When no consensus could be reported that 50% or more of the population settlements that reported inadequate access found for a settlement, that settlement had left their settlement in July, with the figure Food security to food, which reinforces the hypothesis that was not included in reporting. Descriptive increasing to 80% in August, suggesting that Ongoing insecurity, coupled with the peak persisting insecurity in Upper Nile was the statistics and geospatial analysis were then continued fighting in and around Pagak through of lean season in July, led to an increasing main factor preventing households (HHs) from used to analyse the data. that month has forced more populations to proportion of assessed settlements accessing food over the period. Please note that REACH is in the process leave their area. reporting inadequate access to food. While of establishing sustained data collection in Displacement along the western bank 46% of assessed settlements had reported Access to food in south-eastern counties Upper Nile State. As a result, the current having adequate access to food in June, this Indicative of a lack of normal sources of food coverage is limited. The conclusions drawn Renewed insecurity in Aburoc resulted in figure dropped to 27% in July. due to disruption of livelihoods by insecurity, are therefore indicative of likely trends in the further displacement from Fashoda toward the majority of settlements in both Maiwut and state. and Sudan in July and August.4 The most frequently cited reason for low levels of adequate access to food across Upper Nile Longuchuk were reporting reliance on foraging

2 1. OCHA. Flash Update. 7 July 2017. 5. OCHA. Humanitarian bulletin. Issue 11. 15 September 2017. 2. OCHA. Humanitarian snapshot. July, August 2017. 6. IOM. DTM Malakal PoC. August 2017. 3. OCHA. Humanitarian bulletin. Issue 11. 15 September 2017. 7. Ibid. 4. OCHA. Humanitarian snapshot. August 2017. 8. WHO. Upper Nile Weekly Update. 7-16 August. as their main source of food (71% and 57% of Figure 1: Top three reported reasons for lack following a trend of decline in adequate size portions. Moreover, 49% of assessed assessed settlements respectively). While the of food in settlements that reported inadequate food access over the previous months. The settlements with inadequate access to food consumption of wild fruits is indeed seasonal food access, August 2017 insecurity that was prevalent in this area reported that households were purchasing less between February and May likely led to the expensive food at the market as opposed to during the lean season in the area, such high Unsafe to plant 47% reliance on foraging as a primary source of depletion of food reserves through frequent only 23% of assessed settlements reporting the Crops destroyed by fighting 33% food is indicative of a depletion of alternative displacement and looting and halted cultivation same coping strategy in June, thus suggesting food sources, likely as a result of continued Food distribution stopped 7% in many areas. Moreover, this phenomenon was that the quality of the diet consumed may insecurity. Indeed, Maiwut was the only green crops in some areas. In both Maiwut and compounded by pests that reportedly damaged increasingly suffer from a lack of diversity. maize and sorghum crops during cultivation. assessed county where no settlements reported Longochuk, markets were found to be widely The adoption of coping strategies to offset the to be relying on either purchased or cultivated inaccessible in July, with only respectively 25% A combination of prolonged insecurity during impact of diminishing adequate access to food food in July. Foraging was also a major source and 20% of assessed settlements reporting the cultivation season and reported presence of the was also associated with a vast majority of of food in neighboring Longochuk in July (57%) presence of a functioning market in their area, Fallarmy Worm has destroyed crops, disrupted settlements assessed in August (83%) - mostly but in contrast with Maiwut 43% of assessed thereby preventing HHs from purchasing goods livelihoods and appears to have compounded on the western bank - reporting that they were settlements were also relying primarily on in the absence of alternative livelihood sources. lack of food in the normal lean season, with a not expecting any food distribution in the short cultivation, potentially indicating availability of Continued insecurity prevented planned continued deterioriation of adequate access to term. food across the Western Bank of the Nile from Livelihoods distributions from the Integrated Rapid 11 Response Mechanism in Longochuk and June to August. Adequate access to food ●●●●● In July, 74% of assessed settlements reported ● declined from 67% of assessed settlements ● Maiwut in August, which further impeded access 9 reporting access in May to 25% in August. that cultivation for subsistence was taking RENK to food in a time of disrupted livelihoods. This decrease in adequate access to food was place in their area, which is an encouraging MANYO Although the food security situation was found accompanied by high prevalence of malnutrition, sign given depleted harvest reserves and the ● to be less dire in neighbouring counties of Nasir which was the most frequently cited health general stress on access to food at the end of

● ● and Ulang, the spillovers from conflict in July the lean season. However, the state level figure ● ● ● issue in Manyo County in the month of August MELUT● ●

● were still felt as Ulang and Nasir both had high ● (40% of assessed settlements). In Panyikang, conceals persisting low levels of cultivation

● MABAN proportions of assessed settlements reporting taking place in the western bank of the Nile. FASHODA ● adequate access to food also decreased from ● ●●● ● ●

● ● ● no adequate access to food (40% in Ulang ●● 63% in June to 25% in August whereas in ● MALAKAL● In August, when REACH predominantly ● ● ● ● ● in July and 54% in Nasir). Similar findings ● Fashoda, all assessed settlements reported no ● BALIET ●PANYIKANG assessed the western bank, the proportion of ● ● ● ● ● were reported in a WFP assessment of the adequate access to food in July and the figure ● LONGOCHUK assessed settlements reporting that cultivation ● Sobat corridor (Ulang, Nasir and Baliet) which remained stable in August (8%). All cases ● was taking place decreased to 33% with two ● Insufficient data LUAKPINY/NASIR● found that the ‘food and nutrition situation had suggest a grim trend across the western bank MAIWUT of the most food insecure areas of Upper ● ●●● 0 - 2 ULANG ● deteriorated’, with disruption of livelihoods and of the Nile. ● Nile (Manyo County and Panyikang County) 26 - 0 ● markets due to insecurity and displacement.10 1 - 7 Consumption-based coping strategies reporting that no cultivation was taking place. Access to food along the western bank Access to land for cultivation was also reported 76 - 100 In July, 84% of assessed settlements that to be low in Panyikang (14%), Fashoda (8%) Adequate access to food has remained reported inadequate access to food also Map 3: Proportion of settlements reporting and Manyo (0%), potentially as a result of a adequate access to food, August 2017 challenging in the western bank of the Nile reported that households were reducing meal resurgence of incidents and skirmishes in both

9. WFP IRRM Update. 21 August 2017. 3 10. WFP Country Brief, August 2017 11. WVI. Special Report on Infestation by the Fallarmy Worm. 4 August 2017. Manyo and Fashoda. In the case of the western bank counties, this settlements (between 90% and 95%) reported Figure 2: Proportion of assessed settlements can be explained by a relatively slow decrease market prices increases for oil, sugar and reporting that women, men and children never While access to land remained relatively high in reliance on cattle due to months of insecurity, sorghum during the month of August, which feel safe, June-July 2017. in July, with 69% of assessed settlements raiding and displacement of cattle owners further indicates reduced purchasing power in Upper Nile reporting access, a sharp whereas in Maiwut it appears that the sudden inhibiting household’s ability to purchase decrease was recorded between June and armed clashes that affected the area at the end nutrient-rich products such as fish, meat and July in Longochuk (from 87% to 44%) and of July and in early August led to sudden loss vegetables. Maiwut (from 85% to 44%). In July, 63% of of cattle among pastoralists, presumably due to assessed settlements of Longochuk reported With prices of staples such as cereals indeed displacement or looting/raiding. that cultivation for subsistence was taking at “exceptionally high levels” at the moment place and 71% in Maiwut, down from 88% and In addition to limited cultivation and cattle activity according to the Global Information and Early 92% in June. This decrease is presumably in the western bank of the Nile, only 20% of Warning System (GIEWS), lack of casual labor associated with 25% of assessed settlements assessed settlements of Fashoda reported that opportunities coupled with damaged harvests in Longochuk and 29% in Maiwut reporting that fishing was taking place in July, which could be is likely to cut off large amounts of settlements a majority of seeds and agricultural tools had due to both rising insecurity and the level of the from their usual two main sources of food: been stolen or looted in July. However, at the Nile during the rainy season, as households are their own production and the market. Indeed, state level most tools and farm implements mostly not equipped for deepwater fishing. In high prices and insecurity could prevent were either reported to be with their owners, the south-eastern counties assessed in July, people to afford food from the markets while hidden or looked after by the community or however, over 50% of assessed settlements simultaneously preventing them from producing the family of the owner. In the other assessed reported that fishing was taking place, their own crops. This could lead to continued with 22% of assessed settlements reporting counties of the south-eastern area, access to presumably indicating better access to fishing food insecurity even beyond the upcoming that men never feel safe in June as opposed to land for cultivation remained stable, suggesting equipment and relative security near ponds and seasonal maize and sorghum harvests.12 63% in July, as well as for children, where 33% reported that children never feel safe in June that fighting along the Mathiang-Pagak corridor along the parts of the that were not Protection did not affect cultivation as much in neighboring directly affected by the armed clashes along the whereas the figure increased to 56% in July. Nasir and Ulang. Mathiang-Pagak corridor. Perceptions of insecurity have largely In both July and August the main protection increased at the state level from June to July, concern reported for children was abduction, Cattle reportedly remained accessible to their The proportion of assessed settlements likely reflecting that June featured both a which is driven by the widespread insecurity. owners in both the south-eastern corner of reporting that members of the community were respite in conflict in the western bank as well Upper Nile and along the western bank of the engaging in casual labor activities remained The counties where incidents were reported as a generally calm south-eastern portion of Nile, thereby allowing for adequate access very low in both July (6%) and August (13%), largely drove this upward trend - amongst the state, as opposed to July and August which to livestock products for areas where cattle which means that very few people were able to counties that were assessed by REACH in July, were much more tense. ownership is higher. However, cattle possession access typical lean season income generating perceptions of insecurity for women increased itself was found to be very low among counties activities that would help households to While in June 23% of the overall assessed from 60% in June to 71% in Fashoda, with of the western bank (14% of assessed purchase goods from the market in the absence settlements of Upper Nile reported that women a marked increase in settlements reporting settlements in Panyikang, 17% in Fashoda and of crops reserves from the previous harvest. never felt safe when moving outside of their that sexual violence was the main protection 0% in Manyo) in August and to have reduced Adding to the aforementionned obstacle to the houses, the figure rose to 45% in July (see concern for women in the area, from 31% in in Maiwut from 71% in July to 40% in August. purchase of market goods, nearly all assessed Figure 2). A similar trend was reported for men, June to 64% in July. Perhaps associated with

12. FAO. GIEWS Update. 14 September 2017. 4 this perception of insecurity is that 67% of or damaged, including 70% of settlements reasons cited for lack of access to healthcare in assessed settlements reported that relations assessed in Longochuk, which bore the brunt August were that there were never facilities to

●●●●●

between IDPs and host communities were of armed clashes in that period (see Figure 3). ● begin with (50%) and that staff had left (50%). ● poor in Fashoda in August, as opposed to other Furthermore, 44% of assessed settlements of Lack of personnel because of displacement RENK assessed counties reporting good relations. neighboring Maiwut reported shelter damage or and delayed salaries is concurrent among all MANYO destruction in July but this figure increased to sectors (see the Education section below) and

Perception of insecurity also increased from ● 80% in August as armed clashes moved further is indicative of a large portion of the civilian

25% to 75% for men in Maiwut in July, with main ● ●

down into Maiwut and toward Pagak. This ● population still displaced outside of Manyo. ● ● reported concerns being largely associated to MELUT● ●

● increase is in line with the number of assessed ● the ongoing conflict, namely forced recruitment As malaria transmission is usally more active settlements in these counties reporting an ● MABAN FASHODA ● ● ●●● and killing. Accordingly, the same trend was ● ● in the rainy season, malaria remained the

● ● ● worsening of perceptions of safety and is ●● ● noted in Longochuk, which was affected by the MALAKAL● most frequently cited health concern among ● ● ● reflective of ongoing security trends. ● ● ● ● BALIET same armed clashes and where the proportion ●PANYIKANG assessed settements (50% in July, 65% in ● ● ● ● ● of settlements reporting that men never feel Most settlements assessed in Upper Nile ● LONGOCHUK August). ●

reported that local communities were primarily ● safe increased from 7% in June to 57% in July. ● WASH LUAKPINY/NASIR● living in tukuls in both July and August. The Insufficient data MAIWUT ● ●●● Shelter ● ULANG same was also reported for IDPs with the 0 - 2 ● In August the proportion of assessed ● In July, 60% of settlements assessed in Upper notable exception of Maiwut, in July, with 100% 26 - 0 settlements reporting open defecation to be Nile reported that shelters had been destroyed of IDP-hosting settlements reporting that IDPs 1 - 7 common practice was very high in the assessed 76 - 100 counties of the western bank of the Nile (80% were living in tents. This is reflective of IDPs that Map 4: Proportion of settlements reporting Figure 3: Proportion of assessed settlements fled from Mathiang, in Longochuk, and settled access to healthcare facilities, August 2017 in Manyo, 88% in Panyikang, 92% in Fashoda). reporting shelter damage in Upper Nile by in various areas of Maiwut County, mostly at the High rates of open defecation remain a cause county, July 2017 border with Ethiopia. evacuated following clashes in Mathiang. The for concern given the ongoing cholera outbreak proportion of assessed settlements reporting and proximity with the Nile which is a key point Health that healthcare services were available in of active cholera transmission.13 Humanitarian In July, access to healthcare services decreased Longochuk county indeed decreased to 25% partners are currently actively working on in Upper Nile, with the proportion of assessed from 73% in June and 75% of those settlements cholera prevention in Melut, Maban and Renk, settlements reporting healthcare services to be reporting a lack of access to healthcare services however no response appears to be ongoing in available decreasing to 29% after the rate had specified that the destruction of facilities by the western bank of the Nile.14 remained stable (between 50% and 60%) over conflict was the main explanation. Access to clean water in Upper Nile has the past four months. Access to healthcare facilties remained low remained stable from June to July, with 80% of This overall decrease at the state level can in August in the counties of the western bank assessed settlements reporting access in the partly be explained by the fact that the counties of the Nile, where only 25% of Panyikang latter month. However, assessed settlements most assessed by REACH in July were largely settlements reported access to healthcare in the western bank of the Nile reported access located in the south-eastern portion of Upper services, 31% of Fashoda settlements and 0% to safe drinking water in lower proportions, Nile from where humanitarian actors were of Manyo settlements. In Manyo, the two main which, coupled with the higher levels of

13. WHO. Cholera Response Updates. September 9th 2017. 5 14. Ibid. Destruction of facilities by conflict remained Conclusion Manyo County where NGO KIs familiar with the most frequently cited reason for the lack cultivation in the area estimated that up to 50%

● ●● Armed clashes affected service provision and ●● of education services in all assessed counties of crops may have been damaged. ● ● except Maiwut and Ulang in July, where most access to food in many areas of Upper Nile in In only a few months, South Sudan will be RENK settlements were reporting that facilities had the period of July and August. entering the dry season, when armed clashes MANYO never existed in the first place. However, in Displacement overview typically intensify. Yet, insecurity is already on ● August, once again reflective of intensification Following a respite in fighting along the the rise in Upper Nile and the eruption of various ● ● of conflict in the area, the proportion of assessed

● ● ● security incidents, mainly in the southeastern MELUT● western bank of the Nile around May and ● settlement reporting that the main reason for ● ● June, numerous insecurity related incidents counties but also in Maban, Fashoda and

● the lack of education services was destruction MABAN FASHODA ● Manyo suggest that vulnerable populations ● have taken place across Upper Nile State ●●● ● ● by conflict reached 67% in Maiwut. ● ● ● ●● ● may face increasing difficulties in accessing MALAKAL● and internal displacement within Upper Nile ● ● ● ● ● ● ● BALIET Manyo was the only county that reported the basic services. ●PANYIKANG certainly increased although no official figures ● ● ● ● ●

● LONGOCHUK absence of teachers or displaced teachers as were available as of the end of August. In the ● major reasons why education services were not south-eastern corner of the state, the period of ● ● LUAKPINY/NASIR● accessible, which substantiates reports that a Insufficient data MAIWUT relative stability seen over the past few months

● ●●● 0 - 2 ULANG ● large proportion of civilians have left Manyo. ● came to an end and fighting in July caused ● 26 - 0 further displacement along the Sobat river and 1 - 7 over the border into Ethiopia.15 76 - 100 ●●●●● ●

● Map 5: Proportion of settlements reporting Priority needs and targeting of response RENK access to safe drinking water, August 2017 MANYO In conflict-affected Longochuk and Maiwut open defecation in these counties, increases County, declines in perception of safety ● About REACH and food access as well as in access to vulnerabilty to cholera (see Map 5). In July, ● ● REACH facilitates the development ● ● ● nearly all (94%) of assessed settlements were MELUT● education and health services indicate ●

● of information tools and products that mainly drawing safe water from a borehole ● that humanitarian needs have increased. ● MABAN enhance the capacity of aid actors to make FASHODA ● ● ● ●●● However, conflict is still largely preventing and with the exception of 15% of assessed ●

● ● ● evidence-based decisions in emergency, ●● ● settlements in , all assessed MALAKAL● humanitarian actors from going back to the ● ● ● ● recovery and development contexts. All ● ● ● BALIET settlements using a borehole reported that the ●PANYIKANG area. ● ● ● ● ● REACH activities are conducted through borehole was located within a one hour walk. ● LONGOCHUK ● At the same time as levels of adequate access inter-agency aid coordination mechanisms.

● Education ● LUAKPINY/NASIR● to food have continued to decline as Upper Nile For more information, you can write Insufficient data MAIWUT

● ●●● ● entered the last portion of the lean season, 0 - 2 ULANG to our in-country office: southsudan@ Following improvements in levels of access ● ● livelihood trends indicate worrying signs. It is to education in some areas of Upper Nile in 26 - 0 reach-initiative.org or to our global office: 1 - 7 questionable whether some counties will be able June, the proportion of assessed settlements [email protected]. 76 - 100 to replenish depleted crop reserves following reporting that education services were Visit www.reach-initiative.org and Map 6: Proportion of settlements reporting the harvest season given damages reported available decreased from 39% to 16% in July. follow us @REACH_info. access to education facilities, August 2017 to crops by pests and conflict, for example in

15. OCHA. Flash Update. 7 July 2017. 6