Situation Overview: Awerial, Yirol East and Yirol West Counties, Lakes, South Sudan July - September 2018

Introduction Map 1: Assessment coverage in Lakes State in Population Movement and returnees in the area.3, 4 July (A), August (B) and September 2018 (C) Eastern Lakes continued to be affected by inter- Displacement The returnees had originally left Lakes and A B communal violence and cattle raids, particularly Migration to Mingkaman and Yirol Town Jonglei States in 2013 at the onset of the civil in areas near county borders. Throughout the Rumbek North war, and fled to different regions within South Eastern Lakes remained characterized by inter- Sudan as well as across the border to Uganda, third quarter of 2018, most indicators remained C Cueibet Rumbek relatively low but stable, which suggests that Centre communal violence, cattle raids, unusually low where many stayed in refugee camps. Between Yirol East critical barriers to access to food and basic Rumbek rainfalls and high levels of food insecurity. Since 2016 and 2017, thousands of IDPs and East services persisted in the region. Furthermore, 2017 in particular, these challenges to the local refugees returned to Awerial County. Among food insecurity remained high, particularly in Yirol West population induced a migration flow in Eastern the key push and pull factors in the decision Wulu Yirol East and Yirol West Counties, as the lack Awerial Lakes towards Mingkaman. Throughout the to return were inadequate food assistance, of rain further added to the challenges in crop third quarter of 2018, migration towards the East as well as safety concerns in their location of 1 production between July and September 2018. has continued according to FGD participants. displacement, and the wish to be reunited with 0 - 4.9% 21 - 50% Though there exists a substantial population of families. The returnee population has reportedly To inform the response of humanitarian actors 5 5 - 10% 51 - 100% been largely integrated in the host community. working outside of formal displacement sites, internally displaced people (IDPs) in the region, 11 - 20% Assessed settlement REACH has been conducting an assessment most IDPs are concentrated in urbans areas, Pakam displacement such as Yirol Town and Mingkaman, due to of hard-to-reach areas in South Sudan since The large-scale displacement of the Pakam Yirol West Counties in Lakes State. All the the presence of food assistance and economic 2015, for which data on settlements across community from Rumbek North County to KIs were interviewed in Mingkaman. Findings opportunities. As such, the percentage of Greater Upper Nile, Greater Equatoria and Eastern Lakes continued to create challenges have been triangulated using 4 Focus Group assessed settlements reporting the presence of Greater Bahr el Ghazal region is collected on for IDPs, host communities and humanitarian Discussion (FGDs) conducted in Mingkaman, IDPs has remained very low in the third quarter a monthly basis. Data on Eastern Lakes has actors alike. Since their arrival in the areas been collected since June 2018. as well as with interviews with humanitarian (only 1% in September). actors, secondary data, and previous REACH around Pagarau and Nyang in Yirol East County Awerial returnees From July to September 2018, REACH assessments of hard-to-reach areas of Lakes in early May of 2018, thousands of IDPs have 6 interviewed 660 Key Informants (KIs) from State. An inter-agency assessment conducted in late been in need of humanitarian assistance. Local 332 settlements in Awerial, Yirol East and August determined the presence of thousands authorities and the humanitarian community This Situation Overview outlines displacement of returnees in Awerial County.2 The report have continued working towards establishing # of key informant interviews conducted: 660 and access to basic services in Eastern Lakes confirmed IOM DTM data from June 2018, continuous services to the displaced, as well from July to September 2018. The first section # of assessed settlements: 332 as well as reports from FGDs conducted by as the surrounding host community as their analyses displacement trends while the second # of counties covered: 3 (of 8) REACH in August and September 2017, which return to Rumbek North County has become evaluates access to food and basic services for 7 # of focus group discussions conducted: 4 had hinted at the presence of large pockets of increasingly unlikely. both displaced and non-displaced communities. : 1. FGDs in Mingkaman with participants from Eastern Lakes 6. DRC, Yirol East - Rapid Protection Assessment Factsheet, August 2018 2. Inter-agency Assessment, Returnees in Mingkaman, August 2018 7. INTERSOS, Protection Needs Assessment Report, September 2018 3. IOM DTM, Awerial County - Round Two, June 2018 4. FGDs with returnees in Mingkaman, August & September 2017 5. Inter-agency Assessment, Returnees in Mingkaman, August 2018 Map 2: Migration movements in Eastern Lakes, July-September 2018 the most frequently named primary protection METHODOLOGY concern for men and women in the assessed To provide an overview of the situation UNITY Migration towards Mingkaman settlements (see Figure 1). Over the course of in hard-to-reach areas of Lakes State, the third quarter, the percentage of assessed REACH uses primary data provided by settlements reporting such in Awerial County key informants who have recently arrived, gradually decreased: By September, inter- or receive regular information, from their communal violence was not reported to be the pre-displacement location or “Area of Yirol East main protection concern for men nor women Pagarau yang Knowledge”. Information for this overview e East in any of the assessed settlements in Awerial was collected from key informants in JONGLEI County. In the Yirols, however, the levels Mingkaman, Lakes State. remained roughly the same throughout the third After data collection was completed, all Yirol quarter (21% in Yirol East County and 25% in data was examined at the settlement level, Yirol West County in September). and settlements were assigned the modal Yirol West The frequent reports of cattle theft-related response. When no consensus could be Awerial incidents throughout the region were found for a settlement, that settlement underpinned by an 11% of assessed settlement was not included in reporting. Descriptive reporting cattle raids to be the main protection statistics and geospatial analysis were then concern for men in September, a rate evenly used to analyse the data. CENTRAL Mingkaman EUATORIA distributed among counties. The figure further The data analysis was disaggregated at underlines the risks associated with cattle- the county level when at least 5.0% of the keeping: a livelihood source which remained settlements of a county were assessed. high in Eastern Lakes due to the considerable From July to September 2018, this cultural and economic value of cows. threshold was attained for Awerial, Yirol Situation in Assessed quarter of 2018. East and Yirol West Counties. Settlements At the regional level, the proportion of assessed Figure 1: Most common primary protection Due to access constraints, which may Protection settlements with reported incidents of violence impact coverage each month, some concerns for men and women in assessed or looting was relatively constant over the third settlements, Eastern Lakes, September 2018 changes over time reported in this situation Eastern Lakes continued to be substantially quarter. At the county-level, however, incidents 17+11+9 overview might be due to variations in impacted by violence between communities. were less frequently reported from June to Inter-communal violence 17% coverage. The areas bordering Rumbek East and Panyijiar September in Awerial County (22% of assessed Cattle raiding 11% The conclusions drawn are indicative of Counties remained particularly tense. In the last settlements in September), while the levels 3 months alone, dozens of security incidents Intra-communal violence 9% likely trends in Awerial, Yirol East and remained relatively high in Yirol East (35%) 13+12+11 Yirol West Counties and may not capture were reported throughout the region, many and West Counties (42%) compared to South 8 Inter-communal violence 13% the humanitarian situation in some of the of which were related to cattle thefts. Inter- Sudan at large (17%). communal strife has been driving protection Domestic violence 12% settlements worst affected by episodes of Reflective of the nature of conflict in Eastern violence. concerns, which remained particularly high Harassment 11% in Yirol East and West Counties in the third Lakes, inter-communal violence remained

2 8. KI interviews in Mingkaman, July to September 2018; NGO Forum Security Reports, June to September 2018 Episodes of inter-communal violence and in the next section, remained a major driver of Figure 3: Percentage of assessed settlements Figure 4: Percentage of assessed settlements security incidents continued to affect people’s displacement in Eastern Lakes. reporting people skip meals for entire days, reporting that most people eat less than 2 meals Eastern Lakes, September 2018 per day, Eastern Lakes, Jun-Sep 2018 perceived safety. Only 21% of assessed Food security and livelihoods settlements in Eastern Lakes reported that Food security levels in Eastern Lakes did not 72% most people felt safe most of the time in July — 66% 59% 57% a figure that stayed stable over time throughout measurably improve in the third quarter of the third quarter (20% in September) and 2018. The insecurity in county-border areas, across counties. in combination with abnormally low rainfall 22+78+A49+51+A42+58+A kept negatively impacting food security in the Awerial Yirol East Yirol West 72Jun +66+59+57Jul Aug Sep The relatively high but stable figures of region. Due to the ongoing food distribution 22% 49% 42% protection-related indicators is indicative of in Mingkaman, food security appeared to be the nature of violence in the region. The inter- highest in Awerial County in the third quarter, communal strife is characterized by many the third quarter. Map 3: Percentage of assessed settlements based upon a variety of FSL indicators. smaller, but regularly occurring, episodes of Extreme coping strategies, such as skipping having received food assistance in the last 3 months, Eastern Lakes, September 2018 violence rather than a few isolated, large-scale Severe food insecurity in Yirol East and meals for entire days, were likewise much more fights. Fear of violence is a constant backdrop West Counties frequently reported in Yirol East County (49% of to everyday life, particulary in county border Most food security indicators have not markedly assessed settlements in September) and West Rumbek North areas. The low levels of perceived safety, changed since June. Adequate access to food (42%) than in Awerial County (22%). These Cueibet Rumbek coupled with the food security concerns outlined proportions are comparable to those of June. Centre was reported in 36% of assessed settlements Yirol East in September — only a slight improvement Rumbek Figure 2: Percentage of assessed settlements The challenges to food security, in combination East compared to the 24% in June. On the county- reporting adequate access to food, Eastern with the previously outlined protection concerns, Yirol West Lakes, June - September 2018 level, Yirol West County saw an increase from remained the main cause of migration towards Wulu Awerial 14% to 30% over the same period. The disparity Mingkaman, where food assistance continued between Awerial County (65% in September) to be provided. Moving to the displacement Awerial Yirol East Yirol West and Yirol East (25%) and West Counties (30%) camp in Mingkaman was a common coping 0% 61 - 80% persisted. strategy in the third quarter, as reported by 23% 1 - 20% 81 - 100% June 57% 17% 14% 21 - 40% Insufficient data Eating less than two meals per day, as well as of assessed settlements in September. 41 - 60% Assessed settlement including wild food in the meals, was commonly Ongoing food assistance in Mingkaman reported among the communities in the region, however, is down from 57% in June, which is July 37% 20% 27% continued to be the key driver of the disparities particularly in the Yirols. The percentage in food security levels across counties. likely linked to the temporary halt of the General of assessed settlements where eating less Throughout the third quarter, none of the Food Distribution (GFD) in Mingkaman in July August 45% 26% 30% than two meals per day is commonplace has assessed settlements in Yirol East and West and August. The momentary interruption in fallen across the region from June (72%) to Counties reportedly received food assistance in food aid was also reflected in reported levels September (57%). Including wild foods in the the last 3 months. In contrast, 32% of assessed of adequate access to food in Awerial County, September 65% 25% 30% main meals was reported by 74% of assessed settlements in Awerial County reported having which dropped from June to July, and rebounded settlements in July and remained stable during received food aid in September. This figure, from August to September (see Figure 2).

3 Figure 5: Reported primary reason for inadequate access to food in assessed settlements without Abnormal weather patterns had already been Figure 6: Tukuls as main shelter type of host adequate access to food, Eastern Lakes, September 2018 a primary reason for inadequate access to communities in assessed settlements, Eastern food earlier in the year. AoK data suggests Lakes, September 2018 Awerial 23% 15% 15% 15% 31% that the lack of rain has further impacted crop production and hence food security. By 98% of assessed Yirol 15% 33% 13% 8% 31% settlements reported tukuls East June, the lack of rain was reportedly the main reason for inadequate access to food in 14% as main shelter type Yirol 19% 28% 25% 11% 17% of assessed settlements in the region. During West 982+A the third quarter, the lack of rain substantially 9 10 reflected in the relatively low and decreasing rate Conflict-related Lack of rain Pests No consensus Other gained relevance relative to other barriers to food security, such as inter-communal violence. of reported shelter damage in the third quarter. By September, 28% of assessed settlements In Yirol East County, where a considerable Key drivers of food insecurity: Inter- the elevated protection concerns, residents of without adequate access to food reported the 17% of assessed settlements reported shelter communal violence and lack of rain those areas tended to be constrained in their lack of rain to be the primary reason for food damage in June, the percentage dropped to freedom of movement, which may have created A lack of rain was the most common reported insecurity, making it the most frequently named a mere 2% in September. In Awerial County, a barrier to cultivation activities and market barrier to adequate food followed by insecurity barrier to food security overall in the thrid conflict-related shelter damage, which had access. In an area such as Eastern Lakes, (see Figure 5). This highlights how inter- quarter. already been a rare occurrence in June, where the population to a large degree depends communal violence eroded resilience by remained the exception in the third quarter. on subsistence farming (61% of assessed Adding to the previously named challenges disrupting agriculture and market access, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) settlements in September), any impediment to making populations vulnerable to the shock of to crop production, pests (such as the fall crop production translates to low food security low rainfall. armyworm) have continued to contribute to WASH conditions in Eastern Lakes remained levels. inadequate food levels. In September, pests poor. Reported access to improved water Inter-communal violence presented a major were reported to be the key driver for food The long-term disruption to agriculture and sources continued to be low, which, combined impediment to food security in all three counties, insecurity in 18% of assessed settlements in market access caused by insecurity left with the widespread practice of open defecation, despite different levels in access to food. Eastern Lakes. populations vulnerable to further shocks, in further increased the risk of water-borne Among the assessed settlements in Eastern particular a lack of rainfall. According to WFP Shelter & NFIs Lakes without adequate access to food, 18% VAM data, rainfall levels continued to be Figure 7: Percentage of assessed settlements reported that conflict-related issues were the Shelter conditions in Eastern Lakes did not below long-term averages throughout the third without latrine usage, Eastern Lakes, main reason in September, which is a decrease markedly change from July to September. The quarter.11 The lack of rain created a serious September 2018 compared to June (29%). residents of Eastern Lakes predominantly lived challenge as many communities delayed in non-permanent structures. In September, The differences between the counties in planting of the crops in an effort to mitigate tukuls were reportedly the main shelter type in regard to conflict-related barriers to adequate the risk of seeds drying out. This subsequently almost all (98%) assessed settlements. access to food remained minimal (see Figure delayed the harvest in some communities. 5). However, it is likely that areas in proximity Additionally, in some areas crop yields were The ongoing inter-communal violence, which 81+19+A93+7+A77+23+A to county borders were to a larger degree severely diminished since the lack of rainwater was particularly rampant in border areas in Awerial Yirol East Yirol West affected by inter-communal violence. Due to led to substantial crop destruction. the Yirols towards Rumbek East County, was 81% 93% 77%

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. ‘Other’ is the aggregate of all other answer options in the questionnaire. 11. WFP-VAM, CHIRPS/UCSB diseases. Safety concerns related to water their preferred waterpoints because they feared Health Education fetching have decreased since June. for their safety was down to 26% in September Geographical disparities in access to healthcare Access to education services, as reported by from 45% in June. In Awerial County, this From July to September, access to protected across counties persisted, but slightly reduced 70% of assessessed settlements in September, decrease was even more pronounced as the water sources (e.g. borehole, water yard, tap in the third quarter. In September, 92% of remained stable in Eastern Lakes in the third percentage halved over the same reference stand) was stable in settlements assessed assessed settlements in Awerial County quarter of 2018. From June to July, there was period — from 54% in June to 27% in across Eastern Lakes — 70% of assessed reported access, 79% in Yirol East County an increase (from 58%), which may be due to September — which is consistent with the settlements reported access to improved and 84% in Yirol West County (up from 68% the end of school holidays in Eastern Lakes. general reduction in protection concerns in water sources in July, and 66% in August and in June). The lack of facilities remained the main barrier Awerial County discussed earlier. September. As in previous months, drinking to education in the region as reported by 70% According to the World Health Organization water was primarily acquired from boreholes, of assessed settlements without access in Map 4: Physical access to healthcare in (WHO), malaria trends have been exceeding but also from swamps, ponds and rivers. September. assessed settlements, Eastern Lakes, June expected levels this year in Eastern Lakes (and Open defecation remains widespread. In 2018 throughout South Sudan).12 Area of Knowledge Gender disparities in school attendance September, 81% of assessed settlements in Rumbek North (AoK) data supports this concern, as malaria persisted, though the gap narrowed slightly. Eastern Lakes reported no usage of latrines. continues to be the primary health concern AoK data indicates that school attendance Cueibet Rumbek In September, the percentage in Yirol East Centre in the region. The percentage of assessed in assessed settlements across all counties Yirol East County (93%) was among the highest reported Rumbek settlements reporting it to be the main health generally increased for girls, but remained in the country. By far the most widely reported East concern remained stable on the regional level the same for boys. The share of assessed Yirol West reason for not using latrines in Eastern Lakes (34% in September). In Yirol East County, the settlements, where education services were Wulu was the lack of facilities, as reported by 54% of Awerial rate dropped from June (50%) to September available and at least half of the girls were in assessed settlements in September. (26%). Cases of malaria and other waterborne school increased from 32% in June to 68% in diseases may reduce across the region in the July, and 51% in September. The same was the Open defecation represents a considerable 0% 61 - 80% coming months as the dry season approaches. case for boys in 93% of assessed settlements health risk, given that large parts of the 1 - 20% 81 - 100% 21 - 40% Insufficient data with access to education in June and 92% in population in Eastern Lakes reside near water In the third quarter, Eastern Lakes remained 41 - 60% Assessed settlement September. sources (such as rivers and swamps), which affected by livestock diseases to a relatively may be contaminated as a result. As the wet high degree when compared to other regions season is coming to an end in late October, Figure 8: Percentage of assessed settlements in the country. In 82% of assessed settlements, Figure 9: Primary reason reported for lack of school attendance for girls and boys many swamps and small rivers — common reporting that malaria was main health concern, livestock diseases were reported in September, Eastern Lakes, September 2018 in assessed settlements, Eastern Lakes, sources of drinking water — are expected to a figure that had remained stable in previous September 2018 dry out, which may lower the prevalence of months. Such high levels may be linked to waterborne diseases over the fourth quarter. the reported outbreak of rift valley fever (RVF)

earlier this year. Though the disease mostly 39+24+6 Safety concerns related to the gathering of affects animals, cows in particular, it may 35% Need to work 39% drinking water decreased in the third quarter. 39+61+A 27% School fees 24% 38+62+A26+74+A also spread to humans. However, from July to The proportion of assessed settlements Awerial Yirol East Yirol West 13% Lack of supplies 6%

September, no new human suspect cases were 13+27+35 reporting that people were not able to access 38% 26% 39% detected.13

12. WHO, Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) - Malaria Trends by 5 County, Week 37, September 2018 13. WHO, Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) - Epidemiological Update, Week 26-39, July-September 2018 Wherever education was available but not all improve as the crop harvest is expected to children attended school, the main reasons take place towards the end of the rainy season throughout the third quarter and across in October/November. However, given the counties were the need to work and the high disruption to agriculture from insecurity and low cost of school fees. The need to work outside rainfall, it is not certain whether the yields will be the home was increasingly given as the main sufficient to meet the severe food needs. reason for not attending school for both boys Besides the low levels of food security, Eastern and girls from June to September, which was Lakes remains plagued by poor WASH most likely linked to the annual crop harvest. conditions and high levels of malaria. As a Conclusion result of the outlined challenges, the migration towards Mingkaman and the dependance on The data collected from July to September food aid has continued throughout the third provides further evidence for the dynamics quarter of 2018. outlined in the Eastern Lakes AoK baseline report from June. Most indicators remained relatively constant over the third quarter of 2018, which is reflective of the stable but consistently tense context of the region. The level of inter-communal violence, which kept driving food insecurity in the region, has remained relatively constant. The border areas About REACH towards Rumbek East and Panyijiar Counties REACH facilitates the development were continuously tense while the data of information tools and products that suggests that violence in Awerial County slightly enhance the capacity of aid actors to make decreased since June. While in the second evidence-based decisions in emergency, quarter, conflict was the primary barrier to food recovery and development contexts. All security, the lack of rain gradually took over as REACH activities are conducted through the main reason for inadequate access to food inter-agency aid coordination mechanisms. in the third quarter. For more information, you can write Food insecurity remained particularly concerning to our in-country office: southsudan@ in Yirol East and West Counties as opposed to reach-initiative.org or to our global office: Awerial County, where ongoing food assistance [email protected]. resulted in lower levels of food insecurity. In Visit www.reach-initiative.org and the coming months, food security levels may follow us @REACH_info.

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