Situation Overview: Greater Bahr el Ghazal, South October - December 2018

Figure 1: Proportion of assessed settlements Introduction. # of key informant interviews53+33+13 conducted: 1,117 an up to date understanding of current WBeG 597 humanitarian conditions and displacement reporting IDPs present in settlements, WBeG, GTA and NBeG, December 2018 Ongoing insecurity in Western Bahr el Ghazal 373 dynamics in settlements across WBeG State, 1 NBeG (WBeG) State and Greater Tonj Area (GTA) NBeG State, GTA and Gogrial East County, GTA+GE2 147 and environmental shocks in Northern Bahr State, REACH interviewed KIs who # of assessed settlements covered: 864 el Ghazal (NBeG) State and GTA continued 43+40+17+ were new arrivals in either IDP sites or 373 to drive food insecurity and limited access WBeG settlements from the area of knowledge or KIs to resources for settlements in the Greater NBeG 348 who were in contact with an individual from Bahr el Ghazal (GBeG) region from October GTA+GE 143 the assessed settlement within the last month. to December 2018. Despite the arrival of the seasonal harvest, minimal crop yields in State; Aweil North, East, South, Centre and To triangulate the findings, REACH conducted some areas due to conflict and erratic rainfall West counties in NBeG State; and Gogrial 4 Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL) focus resulted in low reported access to food in East and Tonj North, South and East counties group discussions (FGDs) and 2 Participatory assessed settlements in the GBeG region and in Warrap State. This is the first quarter Cattle Migration mapping FGDs. Additionally, restricted access to services. REACH collected data on Gogrial East County, 5 key informants from humanitarian Warrap State. In the absence of a baseline for organisations were also consulted during REACH has been assessing hard-to-reach Gogrial East County, only data reflecting key the quarter. The findings were supplemented areas in WBeG since April 2017, NBeG since concerns, such as food security and livelihoods with secondary data sources and past displacement and population movement March 2018, GTA since January 2018 and (FSL), displacement and water, sanitation and REACH assessments of hard-to-reach areas. and the second section addresses access Gogrial East County since November 2018. hygiene (WASH), are reported in this overview. to food and basic services for both internally The data was collected through key informant This situation overview evaluates changes displaced persons (IDPs) and local populations interviews (KIIs) carried out on a daily basis In the fourth quarter of 2018, REACH in humanitarian needs and displacement in assessed settlements in the GBeG region. with key informants (KIs) from settlements in interviewed 1,117 KIs across 864 settlements dynamics across the GBeG region from October Jur River, Wau, and Raja counties in WBeG in 12 counties in the GBeG region. To ensure to December 2018. The first section analyses Population Movement and Map 1: REACH assessment coverage of the GBeG region, October (A), November (B) and December 2018 (C) Displacement

A B C Renewed conflict and insecurity triggered forced displacement and unseasonal population

Aweil Aweil Aweil Aweil Aweil Aweil North East North East North East movement in WBeG State, GTA and Gogrial Twic Twic Twic Aweil Aweil Aweil Raja Raja West Raja West Gogrial West Gogrial East County between October and December Aweil Gogrial Aweil Aweil West South West West Aweil South Aweil Aweil South Gogrial Gogrial Gogrial Centre Tonj Centre Tonj Centre Tonj 2018, while water stress in parts of WBeG and East East East North North North

0 - 4.9% Tonj Tonj Tonj NBeG states caused population movement East East 5 - 10% East to riverine areas. Flooding in NBeG State 11 - 20% Jur Jur Jur : Wau River Wau Wau River River 21 - 50% Tonj Tonj Tonj South 51 - 100% South South Assessed settlement

1. Greater Tonj Area (GTA) includes Tonj North County, Tonj East County and Tonj 2. Gogrial East County South County and GTA also resulted in minor displacement IDP presence in their community in Wau County with September (47%). METHODOLOGY and early labour migration in select counties. reported that the most recent IDPs had arrived Returns in WBeG State To provide an overview of the situation in hard-to- in the last 3 months, and 62% reported they had The proportion of assessed settlements in reach areas of Western Bahr el Ghazal (WBeG) arrived since July 2018, just after the conflict By the end of the fourth quarter, Wau, Jur WBeG State and GTA reporting the presence State, (NBeG) State, and began. See the REACH July-September 2018 River and Raja counties began to see the of IDPs remained consistent between the third 3 the Greater Tonj area and Gogrial East County in Situation Overview for more information on return of some IDPs. In December, 78% of and fourth quarter, while NBeG saw a decrease Warrap State, REACH used primary data provided displacement in the Greater Baggari area. assessed settlements in WBeG State reported by key informants who have recently arrived, or in the proportion of assessed settlements that former IDPs had returned after being Populations reportedly remained displaced in receive regular information, from a location or “Area reporting IDPs living in the community, from displaced in another area of . Wau County in December; 60% of assessed of Knowledge” (AoK). 47% in October to 34% in December (Figure 1). Congruently, IDPs reportedly made up a settlements reported that half or less than half of Information for this report was collected from key smaller proportion of the host communities Displacement in the Greater Baggari area, the original population remains in the settlement informants in the Wau PoC site, the five collective in assessed settlements in Wau County in Wau County, WBeG State and the proportion of assessed settlements centres in Wau town, Aweil town, and through remote December, also suggesting some IDPs have In early October 2018, renewed insecurity that reported the presence of IDPs in their phone calling to key informants in Warrap State in likely started returning to their settlements. in the Greater Baggari area triggered forced community in December (55%) was consistent October, November and December 2018. In September, 38% of assessed settlements displacement to Wau town and settlements In-depth interviews were conducted with selected reported that IDPs made up half or more of the around Wau town. The insecurity in the Greater participants using a standardised survey tool community, which slightly decreased to 27% in Baggari area has been ongoing since June 2018, comprising questions on displacement trends, December 2018 in Wau County. causing displacement primarily to remote areas population needs, and access to basic services. south and southwest of Wau town. In December, Timsaha After data collection was completed, all data was 38% of assessed settlements that reported an examined at the settlement level, and settlements Malual were assigned the modal response. When KIs Aweil North WESTERN BAHR Go-Machar Aweil Map 2: Displacement and population movement in Warawar Aoc Mayen reporting on the same settlement reported differing E GHAA STATE Abun Greater Bahr el Ghazal, October-December 2018 Nyamlel East answers for an indicator and there was no consensus Wanyjo Wunro Turalei Aweil West Mayom Totin WARRAP across the majority of KIs, then the responses were Aweil 42 Raja Gossinga Aroyo STATE deleted to maintain data quality and reported as no Ale Mango Displacement due to lack of access MaleAlel Gogrial iet-

17 Minamba + consensus (NC). When KIs reported not knowing Raja NhomTonj North to resources Boro Medina Aweil Centre Dolo Aop 15 + an answer or preferring not to answer, this was also Mangayat Bar Mayen uajo Displacement due to insecurity NORTHERN BAHR unyaer Mashara Chandioy reported as NC. Data was analysed using descriptive E GHAA STATE 14

+ Warrap Sopo Marial-ou statistics and geospatial analysis. Displacement due to water stress Romich To assure the comparability of findings, trends over horr Ghana Besellia Tonj Main road uru abulu Wau Wunlit Deim ubier Masna East time are only reported for quarters in which 70% or Flooding Mboro State line Ago Thiet Faragullah Bagarri uarjina more of the same payams were assessed during Wadhalel County line Gedi data collection. Water stressed area Tonj Mapel State capital (lack access of water) Wau Data reflects findings from October to December for Bazia urRiver WBeG State and Greater Tonj Area. For NBeG State County capital Swamp (toich) Tonj findings from October and December are reported Settlement South and for Gogrial East County only December.

3. Humanitarian Coordination Forum meeting minutes, December 2018 5. DTM, monthly displacement population figures 4. This is specifically the head-counted population. The registered IDP population is 2 35,496 individuals Map 3: Proportion of assessed settlements months, while 44% of households (HHs) Excessive rainfall and the flooding of Episodic cattle raids and insecurity in Tonj North reporting the presence of returnees in the intend to remain there.6 However, areas of rivers in north-western NBeG State and East counties, primarily near the toich along settlement (A); Proportion of assessed return are reportedly still not entirely suited and GTA reportedly caused population the border with Unity State caused unseasonal settlements reporting returnee arrival in the last for population return; 74% of respondents movement during the fourth quarter. population movement and minor displacement 3 months (B), December 2018 that own houses or land reported their west primarily to Warrap town, Akop and 7 The proportion of assessed settlements A property was destroyed during conflict. Theit in December 2018. KIs from Warrap reporting that flooding had caused HHs to State reported that such insecurity is likely to Water stress migration in WBeG and leave their home in NBeG State more than escalate in the following dry season months. NBeG states tripled from 15% in August to 53% in October and more than doubled in GTA from 24% in In Tonj South in December, a cattle raid in Water stress in the Greater Baggari area of August to 58% in October. In NBeG State, neighbouring Cueibet County, Lakes State Wau County, WBeG State as well as in Aweil 0% there was 34% more rainfall (by millimetre) in involving cattle keepers from Tonj South resulted East County, NBeG State reportedly caused 1 - 20% mid-August than the 20-year-average and in in the unseasonal return of cattle keepers and 21 - 40% population movement towards riverine areas 41 - 60% GTA, rainfall exceeded the 20-year-average displacement of some HHs along to border with in December 2018 (dry season).8 Broken 61 - 80% by 40% in early September,12 causing flooding Cueibet County north-west to Tonj town (Map 2).14 81 - 100% boreholes and the far distance to natural and consequent displacement from shelters, Insufficient data water sources in the dry season reportedly In Gogrial East County, insecurity in Mangok Assessed settlement most prevalently reported by assessed drove secondary displacement of IDPs in the drove displacement southeast to Liet-Nhom, the B settlements in Tonj South (86%), Aweil East Greater Baggari area. IDPs moved east from capital of Gogrial East County (Map 2). Given (66%), and Aweil North (58%) counties. the rural areas southwest of Wau town where repeated waves of displacement in Gogrial they were previously displaced by conflict to In Aweil North County, flooding caused East County in 2017 as well as in years prior, the banks of River Jur to access water (See severe damage to the 2018 cultivation, the new episodes of displacement reportedly Map 2).9 causing both working-age males and entire further exhaust host community resources HHs to travel north to Sudan in search of and increase vulnerability, which could prevent In the highlands of Aweil East County, NBeG casual labour opportunities and access displaced HHs from cultivating in 2019.15 State, the northern portion of the county, to food given the lost harvest.13 For more there is reportedly a seasonal inaccessibility information, see the Food Security and Situation in Assessed of water for HHs from December to May.10 A Livelihoods section of this Situation Overview. Settlements The number of IDPs in the Protection of Civilian KI from a humanitarian organisation in Aweil Displacement in GTA and Gogrial East Adjacent Area (PoCAA) site and IDP collective town reported that some HHs seasonally Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL) migrate from the highland areas to the Akuem County, Warrap State centres also continued to decrease in size in Adequate access to food remained low in the Kou, Ajaac and Wardit areas of the river the fourth quarter, with 15,272 individuals Escalation in cattle raids and insecurity in GTA GBeG region during the fourth quarter, with between December and May, due to the dried head-counted in the PoCAA in December.4,5 in December 2018 drove population movement reported adequate access to food in assessed up groundwater (Map 2). In December 2018, Following the signing of the revitalised peace in the area. Cattle raids seasonally become settlements remaining consistently low region- there were also reportedly dysfunctional agreement, International Organisation for more frequent in December in GTA due to the wide. October to December is the harvest boreholes which further decreased access to Migration’s (IOM) Displacement Tracking seasonal cattle migration from home settlements and post-harvest period in the GBeG region; water, driving water stress migration.11 Matrix (DTM) carried out an IDP Intentions to toichs (swamps) for cattle grazing during however, despite the expected seasonal access survey, finding that 40% of HHs in the PoC Displacement due to flooding in NBeG the dry season, at which point cattle keepers to crop yields, food security did not improve. In site intend to leave the PoC in the next 3 State and GTA from multiple counties and states congregate. NBeG State and GTA, environmental shocks

6., 7. International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Wau PoCAA Intention-Perception 11. Reported during a coordination meeting with humanitarian partners in NBeG State 3 Survey, December 2018 12. World Food Programme Vulnerability Assessment Mapping, Dataviz, Rainfall, 8., 9. Reported by a humanitarian organisation that did a recent assessment in area December 2018 10. Reported by a KI from the region 13. REACH, Aweil North County FSL Brief, December 2018 Map 4: Proportion of assessed settlements County reported crops for sustenance as a main market reliance in Raja County, where 55% Figure 3. Reported main source of food in reporting inadequate access to food, December livelihood activity in October, a considerable of assessed settlements reported relying on assessed settlements in the GBeG region, 2018 decrease from the 42% reported in September, purchasing their food as their main food source. December 2018 likely driven by the insecurity and poor harvest. To cope with major food gaps, assessed In Raja County, only 3% of assessed settlements settlements in WBeG State increasingly relied reported having adequate access to food in on consumption-based coping strategies in the December, the lowest reported in the state. fourth quarter, with over half (58%) of assessed FGD participants from Raja County reported settlements reporting people were skipping 0% that the insecurity in both 2016 and 2017 caused entire days of eating in December (Figure 2). This 1 - 20% 21 - 40% many rural HHs to move from conflict-affected is concerning given it is the post-harvest period 41 - 60% areas to Raja town, where they no longer had when food stores should be at their greatest. 61 - 80% 81 - 100% access to land, preventing full cultivation. In Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Insufficient data December, 29% of assessed settlements in Assessed settlement Raja County that reported they did not have Heavy rains, flooding and pest infestations in reportedly limited access to food, while in adequate access to food reported that people August and September resulted in minimal crop yields in 2018 in NBeG State, causing WBeG State, insecurity and land access issues could not access enough food due to the lack inadequate access to food state-wide during reportedly restricted access to enough food. of access to land for cultivation. Consequently, * most HHs reportedly exhausted their harvests the fourth quarter. Reported adequate access Western Bahr el Ghazal State October, the proportion of assessed settlements within 2 months, driving some families to move to food in assessed settlements in NBeG State was the lowest in the region in December. in NBeG State reporting having adequate Ongoing insecurity in WBeG State continued to Wau town, NBeG State or Sudan in search access to food expectedly increased from 5% in to negatively impact access to food in of food.16 The limited harvest caused high Following the harvest in September and August to 20% in October (Figure 4). However, the fourth quarter; only 27% of assessed Figure 2: Proportion of assessed settlements reporting consumption-based coping mechanisms by December, the proportion of assessed settlements reported having adequate in WBeG State, 2018 settlements reporting having adequate access access to food in December state-wide. to food dropped back down to 7%. This is likely Clashes in October during the harvest season in indicative of the early exhaustion of crop yields the Greater Baggari area of Wau County limited due to the series of environmental shocks during harvest yields, increased perceived insecurity the harvest season. While 44% of assessed and restricted population movement, decreasing settlements reported cultivation was most access to food. Consequently, by December, people’s primary source of food in October 20% of assessed settlements that reported not during the harvest, this decreased to 30% by having enough food in Wau County reported the December. In its place, purchasing food became reason for having inadequate access to food was the most common food source (Figure 3). because their crops were destroyed by fighting Likely due to the decrease supply and increased and 29% reported it was due to it being unsafe demand for food, market prices continued to to travel to cultivation land. While agriculture is rise, reported by 93% of assessed settlements traditionally the key livelihood source in WBeG in December, reducing HH purchasing power State, only 11% of assessed settlements in Wau and consequently restricting access to food

14. Reported by a KI from Tonj South County * “Other” can include food sources such as livestock, bartering, fishing and humanitarian 15. Reported by a KI from a humanitarian organisation working in the region food assistance 4 16. Reported by FGD participants from Raja County, WBeG State Figure 4: Proportion of assessed settlements HHs in assessed settlements reportedly assessed settlements in December. Figure 6: Primary reported consumption-based reporting adequate access to food in NBeG State relied heavily on consuming wild foods in coping mechanisms in the GBeG region, 14 The use of livelihood coping strategies in Aweil by county, August, October, December 2018 December. Seventy-four percent (74%) December 2018 North County was particularly high. In December, of assessed settlements reported people WBeG GTA NBeG there was excessive and early reliance on consume wild foods as part of their main livelihood coping strategies due to the poor Eating less expensive food 73% 51% 84% meals, with 48% of assessed settlements harvest from flooding. Such coping mechanisms reporting that wild foods comprised half or Limiting meal size 82% 38% 83% included collecting firewood, reported by 71% of more of main meals for most people in the assessed settlements, and cutting grass, which community. While wild food consumption Reducing number of meals 58% 62% 73% over-taxed natural resources and flooded the remains high in the state, a decreasing market. This caused the value of firewood to proportion of assessed settlements Skipping days of eating 58% 41% 30% decrease considerably and reduced purchasing reported that people are consuming wild 20 foods that make them sick, dropping from power in a county where 38% of assessed settlements in GTA (72%) and Gogrial East 53% in October to 36% in December, likely settlements reported most people buy their food. in assessed settlements. Over half (51%) of County (58%) reported that people were still due to the type of seasonally available wild Greater Tonj area and Gogrial East County, assessed settlements reported that the cereal relying on crop yields as their primary food foods and the access to crop yields in some Warrap State price increases had a large impact on the ability source at the end of the fourth quarter, indicating settlements. for most people to access enough food. With Reported adequate access to food remained harvests have not yet exhausted in the area. the growing unrest in Sudan, market prices are NBeG State is predominantly agro- consistent in GTA between the third and fourth Additionally, the ongoing humanitarian food 18,19 projected to continue to rise, given that some pastoral; access to livelihoods quarters, with 59% of assessed settlements assistance (HFA) in GTA likely contributes to trade routes have reportedly been obstructed reportedly decreased during the fourth reporting adequate access in December. the higher reported access to enough food; quarter. In December 34% of assessed causing a decrease in supply to the markets, In Gogrial East County 33% of assessed 44% of assessed settlements in Tonj South settlements reported that most people which will likely continue to negatively impact settlements reported having adequate access and 33% in Tonj East reported accessing in the settlement own cattle, while 70% 20 adequate access to food.17 to food in December. The majority of assessed HFA in the last three months in December. reported livestock as a primary livelihood Map 5: Proportion of assessed settlements Figure 5: Primary reported livelihood activities However, erratic rainfall and environmental activity and 60% reported having access reporting hunger as severe or the worst it could in the GBeG region, December 2018 shocks during the cultivation and harvest to land for cultivation, while 78% reported be, December 2018 WBeG NBeG GTA cultivation as their main livelihood activity. seasons negatively impacted harvest sizes in the area. Over a third (38%) of assessed Casual labour 92% 16% 97% Only 4% of assessed settlements reported that most people have access to enough settlements in GTA that reported having inadequate access to food reported that the Crops for cash 19% 0% 44% tools and seeds for cultivation in NBeG State in December, which is concerning lack of rains had hindered access to enough given that land preparation will begin in the food, while 19% reported the short growing Crops for sustenance 50% 78% 62% 0% coming months for the 2019 cultivation. 1 - 20% season due to the late rains caused the lack The reported lack of seeds and tools for 21 - 40% of adequate access to food in communities in Remittances 7% 10% 38% 41 - 60% upcoming cultivation is further exacerbated 61 - 80% GTA. In Gogrial East County, 63% of assessed by HHs consuming seeds to cope with food 81 - 100% settlements that reported they lack access to Livestock 6% 70% 90% Insufficient data consumption gaps, reported by 76% of Assessed settlement enough food reported environmental-based

18. In NBeG State, August is pre-harvest season, October is harvest season and 5 December is post-harvest season 19. FEWSNET, Livelihoods Zone Map and Descriptions for South Sudan (Updated), 17. REACH, Aweil North County FSL Brief, December 2018 August 2018 Figure 7: Most commonly reported protection concerns for men and women in the GBeG region, December 2018

44+14+11 Greater Tonj area Western Bahr el Ghazal Northern45+16+11 Bahr el Ghazal 28+26+21 Looting 44% 22% Domestic violence None 45% 36% Domestic violence Inter-communal violence 28% 31% Looting Harassment 14% 12% Looting Looting 16% 32% None None 26% 23% None Intra-communal violence 13% 10% Family separation Family separation 11% 17% Sexual violence Looting 21% 15% Domestic violence

15+17+26 17+32+36 15+23+31 factors (flooding, lack of rain or a short growing Protection Reported incidents of looting increased episodes of conflict in GTA and Wau County, between the third and fourth quarters in WBeG State through the fourth quarter. season) as the main barrier to accessing Inter-communal conflict in GTA, insecurity NBeG State, reported by 23% of assessed enough food while a quarter (25%) reported in WBeG State and looting in NBeG State Excess rainfall and flooding of local rivers settlements state-wide in August and 39% that crops were destroyed during conflict. caused protection concerns in the GBeG caused shelter damage in NBeG State and GTA, of assessed settlements in December. Perceived insecurity due to inter-communal region from October to December 2018. where 54% and 58% of assessed settlements The increase in reported looting could be conflict in Gogrial East County interrupted reported having to leave their shelters due to With the resurgence of insecurity in the Greater cultivation in both 2017 and 2018, and driven by the acute food insecurity in the flooding, respectively. By the end of the quarter, 21 Baggari area in October, the proportion continues to negatively impact access to food. state causing individuals to turn to more shelter conditions in these areas reportedly of assessed settlements in Wau County extreme measures to fill resource gaps. improved with the onset of the dry season.22 To cope with the food consumption gaps in reporting that an incident of conflict in the December, assessed settlements in GTA last month had killed a civilian increased from Sexual and gender-based violence continued Episodes of inter-communal conflict in GTA primarily reported people were reducing 7% in September to 21% in October, peaking to be a major protection concern for women and the ongoing insecurity in Wau County also the number of meals they consume per at 30% in November 2018. The insecurity and girls (18 years or below) in the GBeG damaged and destroyed shelters during the day (62%). The proportion of assessed is likely also linked with the high reported region in the fourth quarter. Early marriage fourth quarter. In October, 29% of assessed settlements that reported consuming only looting; 95% of assessed settlements in Wau was a primary protection concern for girls settlements in Tonj South County reported one meal per day increased from 69% County reported there had been incidents of in NBeG State, primarily in Aweil South and that shelters had been partially or entirely in October to 81% in December 2018. looting where most or all of items were stolen Aweil East counties, reported by 63% and destroyed because of fighting. In November, Assessed settlements also reported relying from one or more HHs in October, the highest 41% of assessed settlements, respectively, 50% of assessed settlements in Tonj East on purchasing less expensive food (51%) and reported in the GBeG region all quarter. in December. Meanwhile, domestic violence County and 20% in Wau County also reported restricting portion sizes (38%) in December. was reported as the primary safety concern conflict-based shelter damage and destruction. Episodes of inter-communal violence in Tonj for girls by assessed settlements in Aweil While livestock is one of the most common East County caused a high perceived lack of North (29%), Tonj South (22%), Raja Continued insecurity, displacement and livelihood activities in GTA, reported by 92% safety in communities and was reportedly the (21%), and Jur River (20%) counties and environmental shocks reportedly limited of assessed settlements in December, 50% of primary protection concern for men and boys for women by assessed settlements in IDPs’ access to essential NFIs in the GBeG assessed settlements in Tonj East County and in the fourth quarter. No assessed settlements Aweil South (63%) and Aweil Centre (44%). region during the fourth quarter. Following 42% in Tonj North County reported relying on reported that most people felt safe most of the flooding, 48% and 36% of assessed Shelter and Non-Food Items (NFIs) selling livestock early as a livelihood coping the time in December. The insecurity also settlements in NBeG State and GTA that mechanism. This is typically considered an resulted in reported incidents of conflict Shelter conditions were poor in the GBeG reported hosting IDPs, respectively, reported extreme coping mechanisms and is particularly that caused a civilian death, reported by Region in October 2018 following heavy that IDPs primarily needed plastic sheets concerning given there is a high reliance 50% of assessed settlements in Tonj East rains and flooding in August and September in December. Cooking pots, mosquito on livestock as a livelihood activity in GTA. County in December, the highest in GTA. in GTA and NBeG State, as well as periodic nets and soap were among the other most

20. December is the first month of data collected in Gogrial East County 6 21. REACH, Aweil North County FSL Brief, December 2018

22. Reported in a coordination meeting in NBeG State and by a KI from Tonj East commonly reported NFI needs reported in increased proportion of assessed settlements Figure 9: Primary reported health concerns in in Jur River County reported that no individuals assessed settlements with IDPs in the region. in NBeG State reported that perceived the GBeG region, December 2018 use a latrine. Compounding this, hand washing insecurity prevented access to preferred water WBeG NBeG GTA practices were reportedly poor in December with Health and Water, Sanitation and sources, doubling from 20% in October to 67% and 63% of assessed settlements in Jur Malaria 22% 31% 18% Hygiene (WASH) 45% in December 2018. The lack of perceived River County and Aweil South County respectively security following inter-communal conflicts reported they only use water to wash their hands. Access to clean water was limited in WBeG Diarrhoea 7% 12% 18% and NBeG states during the fourth quarter of in Tonj East and Tonj North counties also Access to health care services reportedly prevented access to preferred water points, 2018, with only 34% and 30% of assessed Typhoid 13% 10% 8% decreased during the quarter in NBeG State. settlements in WBeG and NBeG states, reported by 67% and 38% of assessed Given the poor sanitation in combination with the settlements respectively in December 2018. respectively, reporting access to a functioning Malnutrition 4% 14% 18% limited access to health care services, the threat borehole in the settlement in December The restricted access to clean drinking of waterborne diseases is particularly concerning (Figure 8). Consequently, unprotected water in assessed settlements. The proportion of water is concerning given the onset of the seasonal inaccessibility of water in Aweil sources were heavily relied on as primary assessed settlements reporting access to health dry season when some water sources start East County, NBeG State, where 34% of water sources in assessed settlements. services dropped from 71% in October to 53% to become unavailable in the region. Thirty- assessed settlements reported their preferred Wells were the most commonly reported five percent (35%) of assessed settlements in December and in December nearly a quarter water points were only seasonally available, sources of water, reported by 38% and 30% in WBeG State reported water sources were (24%) of assessed settlements state-wide the highest reported in NBeG State in of assessed settlements in NBeG and WBeG seasonal, which was notably high in Jur River reported it took individuals half a day or more to December. This lack of access to water has states in December, respectively. Rivers County where nearly half (49%) of assessed reach health facilities by foot. Health care access driven seasonal water stress migration from was reportedly lowest in assessed settlements in (20%) in NBeG State and ponds (11%) in settlements reported their preferred water the highland areas to the lowland riverine Aweil East, Aweil West and Aweil North counties WBeG State were also frequently reported as sources were only seasonally available. areas in the south in December (Map 2). in December, where 57%, 50% and 46% of main water sources in assessed settlements. As discussed in the Population Displacement assessed settlements reported there were no The proportion of assessed settlements In addition to the limited infrastructure, an section of this Situation Overview, there is functioning health care services accessible by reporting that livestock and other animals were foot from the settlement, respectively. The lack Figure 8: Boreholes and water sources in assessed settlements in the GBeG Region, either sharing water sources with humans of access to health care facilities state-wide December 2018 or being kept near shared water-sources was primarily reported to be due to a lack of increased in GTA from 55% in October to 77% in nearby health facilities, reported by 73% of December 2018. Using the same water source assessed settlements that reported health care as livestock is a major sanitation concern and facilities were not accessible in December. can lead to water-borne diseases and have negative impacts on community health care. The continued conflict and displacement in WBeG State during the fourth quarter led to Sanitation concerns were particularly acute in restricted access to health care facilities in Wau NBeG State and Jur River County, WBeG State County. The proportion of assessed settlements during the fourth quarter. Open defecation reporting that the main barrier to accessing continued to be a commonly reported practice; health care services was a lack of health in December, 92% of assessed settlements in care workers doubled from 13% to 26% from NBeG State and 98% of assessed settlements October to December, which is likely attributable

7 to the displacement of health facility staff. Figure 10: Proportion of assessed settlements humanitarian organisations have reported County, WBeG State also resulted in limited reporting availability of education services in the that schools remained closed in the Greater access to health care facilities, clean water Malnutrition was a commonly reported GBeG Region, December 2018 primary health issue in the GBeG region in 69+75+97 Baggari area in the fourth quarter due to and education services through the quarter. Western Bahr el Ghazal 69% the continued insecurity and displacement. December, which is concerning given that While following the annual harvest period Northern Bahr el Ghazal 75% it was the post-harvest season when HHs Conclusion settlements would normally expect to see sizable Greater Tonj area 97% would typically still have access to crop yields increases in access to food and services, the Renewed insecurity in October and and there are continually high levels of food crops yielded in the 2018 cultivation seemingly and for boys nearly halved from 64% to 34%. the lasting impacts of environmental insecurity region-wide. Malnutrition was had minimal positive impact on reported With October being peak harvest season for shocks from September contributed to most commonly reported as the main health access to food in assessed settlements in problem in assessed settlements in Tonj East sorghum and other key crops in the GBeG region, continued limited adequate access to the fourth quarter. With the series of shocks (30%), Aweil South (25%), Aweil East (20%) youth participation in agriculture work was a main food and resources in areas of the GBeG affecting cultivation through the GBeG region, and Tonj North (17%) counties. In GTA, 18% of reported barrier to school attendance for boys. region during the fourth quarter of 2018. yields are likely to exhaust more rapidly than assessed settlements perceived that hunger Of the assessed settlements reporting that not Population movement and forced displacement in a normal year, suggesting the continued or malnutrition was the primary cause of death all boys attended school in October, 71% in Jur during the quarter due to insecurity, inter- deterioration of access to food, decrease in for people in the settlement in December. River, 41% in Raja, 43% in Tonj South and 38% communal conflict, flooding and water access to basic services and the early onset in Aweil South counties reported the reason was Education stress resulted in high reported presence of the lean season in 2019 in the GBeG region. due to the boys needing to work outside the home. Availability of education services reportedly of IDPs in assessed settlements as well as remained consistent in assessed settlements in School fees remained the primary reported barrier restricted access to services and essential WBeG State and GTA and decreased in NBeG for female school attendance region-wide in resources, including food, WASH, health care State during the fourth quarter. The proportion WBeG State, NBeG State and GTA in December and education in some areas of NBeG and of assessed settlements reporting access to 2018. However, gender-specific barriers, such as WBeG states, GTA and Gogrial East County. eduction services in NBeG State decreased menstruation, early marriage and early pregnancy Environmental shocks disrupted 2018 About REACH from 86% in October to 75% in December, were commonly reported factors preventing girls cultivation in areas of NBeG State and REACH facilitates the development with the most notable decrease reported in from attending school in assessed settlements GTA, limiting crop yields and restricting of information tools and products that assessed settlements in Aweil East County in Aweil Centre (38%), Aweil North (32%), access to food. Consequently, assessed enhance the capacity of aid actors to make from 83% to 61%. A humanitarian organisation and Aweil East (26%) counties in NBeG State settlements reported relying on coping evidence-based decisions in emergency, in NBeG State reported that the seasonal and Jur River County (26%) in WBeG State. mechanisms, such as limiting meal sizes, recovery and development contexts. All REACH activities are conducted water stress migration and dysfunctional purchasing less expensive food and reducing In Wau County, the ongoing conflict in the fourth through inter-agency aid coordination the number of times HHs eat per day. boreholes in the Aweil East County drove some quarter resulted in an increase in assessed mechanisms. schools to close, which may account for the settlements reporting insecurity as the primary The inter-communal conflict in GTA For more information, you can write decrease in reported availability of education cause for the lack of education services, reported drove down perceived safety in assessed to our in-country office: southsudan@ services as well as low student attendance by 40% of assessed settlements in November. settlements during the fourth quarter, as well reach-initiative.org or to our global office: 23 in December. The proportion of assessed Subsequently, in December, 62% of assessed as reportedly causing shelter destruction and [email protected]. settlements in Aweil East County reporting that settlements that reported education services inhibited access to preferred water points Visit www.reach-initiative.org and half or more girls attended school decreased were unavailable in the last month reported in the area. Episodes of insecurity in Wau follow us @REACH_info. from 38% in October to 18% in December that it was due to teachers having fled. KIs from

23. Reported in the Inter-Cluster Working Group Meeting in NBeG 8