South Sudan November 2019

OPERATIONAL UPDATE

POPULATIONS OF CONCERN 297,947 1.46 million 228,160 Number of refugees in South Number of internally displaced Number of South Sudanese Sudan. 92% come from Sudan, persons (IDPs) in South Sudan, refugees who have returned in a 6% from the Democratic Republic 13% of which are staying inside self-organized manner (November of the Congo, 1% from Ethiopia, six UNMISS Protection of Civilians 2017– 2019) 2.2 million remain in and 1% from the Central African sites. neighboring countries. Republic.

FUNDING $152.2 million requested for the 2019 operation

32% unfunded 68% funded $48.7 M $103.5 M

A young Sudanese refugee poses for a photo at the International Volunteer Day commemoration at the Women and Girls Wellness Centre in Ajoung Thok, Unity, Ruweng State. © UNHCR/Hathaimat Purnananda

In this issue

 UNHCR and partners continued to provide emergency assistance to 150,000 refugees and 50,000 host community members affected by flooding in Maban County, Upper Nile. (Page 3-4)

 Refugees in camps and settlements across the country engaged in 16 Days of Activism Against Gender- Based Violence beginning on 25 November. (Page 7)

 43,730 refugees were reached with health education messages, such as Ebola and cholera prevention in November. (Page 9)  IDPs who humanitarians assisted to return home from displacement sites in Melut in May are thriving in Baliet County, Upper Nile, according to a periodic protection assessment UNHCR and partners conducted on 13-14 November. (Page 10)

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Operational Update > South Sudan > November 2019

Operational Context

IDPs settle in after returning to Baliet from a displacement site in Melut, Upper Nile. © UNHCR/Serhii Chumakov

Armed conflict in South Sudan has declined since the parties to the civil war signed a peace agreement in Key Updates September 2018; however, implementation of the deal  The parties to the peace is lagging and the political situation remains fragile. deal agreed to again delay Meanwhile, poor rule of law and easy access to arms the formation of a unified has resulted in an increase in inter- and intra- transitional government in November. Delaying the communal violence that continues to displace people. government’s formation — Still, the South Sudanese are hopeful and, despite UN- temporarily at least — will HCR’s non-return advisory for refugees, many dis- extend the period of relative stability the country has placed persons are showing interest in heading home. enjoyed since a ceasefire was declared in 2018. At the same time, insecurity in neighboring countries has pushed nearly 300,000 refugees into South Sudan.  A Joint Border Commission met in Addis Ababa, UNHCR South Sudan supports refugees in 21 camps Ethiopia on 23 November to and settlements across the country, and is heavily in- discuss disputed border volved in aiding IDPs through the country’s protection areas between Sudan and South Sudan. Settling the and camp management clusters. issue could potentially clear the way for demilitarization UNHCR is also working with South Sudan’s Relief and along the border Rehabilitation Commission and other partners to moni- tor spontaneously returning refugees’ protection needs, and advocate for the vulnerable among them to be included in existing aid mechanisms.

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Operational Update > South Sudan > November 2019

Refugee Response

November Highlights

UNHCR coordinates flood response KEY CHALLENGES

UNHCR and partners in Maban, Upper Maintaining the civilian character of asylum Nile, in November continued to provide When refugees first fled conflict in Sudan’s South Kordofan State in 2011, they settled in emergency support to 150,000 refugees Yida. Because of Yida’s proximity to the border and 50,000 host community members — just 20 km from Sudan — and the associated protection risks, South Sudan’s impacted by heavy flooding in October. government has been encouraging refugees to Initial Rapid Needs Assessments and relocate to Ajuong Thok and Pamir camps since 2016. In November, UNHCR assisted targeted sectoral assessments, including 167 individuals in making the move, bringing th total number relocated in 2019 to 8,888. Still, shelter and water and sanitation, were 46,195 refugees remained in Yida. completed. Meanwhile, efforts to rebuild damaged infrastructure and re-establish services that were interrupted by the flooding progressed. 298 new refugees arrived in  Food security and nutrition. In October 151,960 117,255 Bunj coordination with the World Food Jamjang Malakal Programme, emergency food support Bentiu was delivered to 150,125 refugees and Wau 68,320 host community members. WFP 2,029

launched the second phase of Bor 10,268 distributions targeting 150,137 refugees Yambio and 68,320 host community members Juba 16,445 on 27 November. Yei

 Emergency supplies. Core-relief items, such as plastic tarps, blanket, sleeping mat, mosquito nets, and cooking sets, Armed conflict Cantonment were distributed to 64,543 refugees in Ongoing fighting Soldiers are Gendrassa and Yusuf Batil refugee between government gathering camps, and 22,270 affected host forces and armed nearby Maban opposition groups that refugee camps community members. didn’t sign the 2018 in Liang, peace agreement Upper Nile.  Infrastructure repair. Repairs limits access to UNHCR is refugee settlements in monitoring for continued on the roads connecting the Central Equatoria. protection airstrip to Kaya refugee camp to facilitate the delivery of supplies. UNHCR, WFP and partner Action Africa Flooding Help International also assessed the Beginning in August, flooding in Maban has displaced thousands and hobbled humanitarian damage to the only overland road service delivery. Response is currently ongoing.

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Operational Update > South Sudan > November 2019

UNHCR staff distribute food to persons with specific needs in Doro Refugee Camp in Maban, Upper Nile. © UNHCR/Mary-Sanyu Osire

connecting Maban to Renk. Since the Bunj town, 27 of the 35 previously drilled flood, the area has only been able to boreholes are functioning. Eight are in receive supplies via air, which has need of rehabilitation. Shock chlorination hobbled livelihood activities and was conducted in three wells in exacerbated food insecurity. collaboration with ACTED, UNICEF and the local authorities, and two non-  Shelter. Over the reporting period, functioning hand pump wells were UNHCR, in partnership with Danish refurbished. Refugee Council assessed 5,626 transitional shelters in the areas most  Sanitation. An estimated 43% of affected by flooding across the four household latrines across the four camps. Of those, 1,482 transitional refugee camps and 53% of latrines at shelters were destroyed and in need of schools and health facilities have urgent reconstruction. Preparations are collapsed due to flooding. This has underway to build new shelters for 71 resulted in poor sanitation and hygiene persons with specific needs in the four conditions observed across the four refugee camps. refugee camps, including open defecation practices in the worst affected  Water. Approximately 95% of water parts of the camps. The construction of points in all four refugee camps are 210 shared household latrines started; operating normally and safe water where more than 60 pits excavation have access was restored or maintained to 19 been completed. litres per person per day, according to a detailed WASH assessment conducted in  Health. While all health and nutrition November. Within the host community in facilities are operational and accessible

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Operational Update > South Sudan > November 2019

to both refugees and host community members, KEY PROTECTION an assessment found one cold chain fridge has ACHIEVEMENTS been damaged, and most laboratory reagents are out of stock. Community sensitization campaigns are ongoing to raise awareness on the risks of drowning and water borne diseases SGBV PREVENTION in stagnant flood waters. 28 sexual– and gender-based  Education. UNHCR, in collaboration with the violence cases identified and Maban County Education Department, partner supported Lutheran World Federation, Save the Children 14,253 refugees reached International and Jesuit Refugee Services through advocacy activities to improve knowledge of SGBV resumed educational programming at all levels, prevention and response including early childhood development and accelerated learning services, for both refugees 232 extremely vulnerable refugees, including women and and host communities. girls at risk for SGBV, supported with food and non-food items Measles outbreak confirmed in Maban

A measles outbreak has been confirmed in Maban County, Upper Nile, just 15 km away from Doro ACCESS TO JUSTICE refugee camp. UNHCR has engaged measles emergency preparedness activities, including active 30 detention monitoring visits conducted case finding, hygiene promotion and community sensitization. UNHCR is also stepping up defaulter 8 traditional court sessions tracing and routine immunization activities. monitored Meanwhile, the World Food Programme confirmed 356 refugees reached plans to launch a reactive campaign by 5 December through educational campaign on housing, land and property rights targeting the three affected locations in the first phase and, possibly, a second phase targeting Doro refugee camp.

New Makpandu aggregation centre will increase profits for refugee farmers CHILD PROTECTION 71 at-risk children provided Star Trust Organization, a major WFP supplier in food or material assistance, such as clothing, blankets and Yambio, Western Equatoria, opened an aggregation mosquito nets centre near Makpandu refugee settlement in 95 people reached through November 2019. The aggregation centre will bring training or awareness campaigns refugee and host community farmers together to sell on child rights and protection principles their maize in bulk, enabling them to reach new market players and negotiate better prices for their 6,574 children participated in crops. The model has been shown to increase recreational activities in child friendly spaces productivity and income for smallholder farmers. The aggregation centre was opened following UNHCR advocacy with government authorities and

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Operational Update > South Sudan > November 2019

other stakeholders. Host community makes plans to allocate farm land to refugees in Mixed bench court to support 2020 peaceful coexistence in Yida The Agricultural Production Committee The Jau County Commissioner established a reviewed its 2020 plans to allocate additional mixed traditional bench court in Yida, Unity, farmland to refugees in Pamir refugee on 14 November that includes Camp, Unity, during its monthly meeting in representatives from both the refugee and November. In 2019 so far, the committee host communities. The new court, which will has allocated additional farmland to 1,552 adjudicate civil and low-level criminal cases, refugee farmers. The Agricultural Production includes two women. Previously, the bench Committee’s work has steadily improved court in Yida was overseen exclusively by relations between the refugee and host refugee men. The South Sudan’s communities since it was established in Commission for Refugee Affairs together 2016 following the death of a refugee over a with UNHCR and partner Humanitarian land dispute. UNHCR, the Commission for Development Consortium advocated for the Refugee Affairs and partner International change to strengthen dispute resolution Rescue Committee established the mechanisms and promote social cohesion committee; however, now it runs between communities. independently. The Agricultural Production Committee has not yet determined how UNHCR and partner Humanitarian many feddans will be distributed to refugees Development Consortium arranged for in 2020. judges from South Sudan’s High Court and County Court to orient the new court Thousands of refugee students sit for members, as well as Traditional Bench Court final examinations members from nearby Pamir refugee camp, on their jurisdiction in accordance with South In coordination with the National Ministry of Sudan’s 2009 Local Administration Act. General Education and Instruction, UNHCR About 35 people attended the orientation. and partners facilitated final examinations for primary schools in refugee camps and The new traditional bench court ruled on 12 settlements across the country. In Ajuong cases in November 2019. To increase Thok and Pamir refugee camps in Unity, efficiency and reduce the backlog of cases, 2,189 students sat for the exams, which will the new court increased hearing sessions determine whether or not they can progress from three to four days a week. Considering to secondary school. In the four camps in the financial capacity of refugees and local Maban County, Upper Nile, 1,095 students community, the court decided to reduce the (975 refugees/120 host community fees, compensations and fines: court fees members) sat – an 18% increase from 2018. were reduced from SSP 1,200 to SSP 800; In Yei town, Central Equatoria, 29 refugee fines for crimes of adultery were reduced children took the exam, including one who from SSP 70,000 to SSP 50,000; and was transported from Lasu refugee compensation to women and girls settlement 36 km away. impregnated outside of marriage were reduced from SSP 35,000 to SSP 30,000.

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Operational Update > South Sudan > November 2019

Refugee business women share tips To strengthen security in Ajoung Thok and inspiration at Yambio workshop and Pamir refugee camps, in Unity, UNHCR, Commission for Refugee Affairs Three refugee women from the Anika and partner Danish Refugee Council Women’s Association in Makpandu Refugee distributed torches, raincoats and settlement, Western Equatoria, traveled 45 gumboots to 470 Community Watch km to Yambio town to present a workshop Group members. The Community Watch on women’s empowerment and Groups are responsible for assisting the entrepreneurship for refugee women in the police patrolling the camps and reporting settlement. The Anika Women’s Association security incidents to the authorities to ensure has built a successful business selling honey camps are safe. locally, as well as in South Sudan’s capital city. The group, utilizing skills gained through On 14 November 2019, UNHCR handed UNHCR supported livelihood trainings, also over two steel ovens to women’s centres makes and sells lotion, bed sheets and in Doro and Yusif Batil refugee camps in clothing. Maban County, Upper Nile. The ovens will help 30 women undergoing bakery training Refugees in camps and settlements to launch businesses. The training classes across the country engaged in 16 Days of are implemented by UNHCR partner Danish Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Refugee Council. beginning on 25 November. This year’s theme for the annual campaign was “Join UNHCR, UMCOR and UNMISS Force Hands: Stand Against Rape”. In Ajuong protection conducted a protection Thok refugee camp, Unity, more than 5,000 monitoring mission to Lasu refugee people, including host community members, settlement, Eastern Equatoria, about 36 km turned out for a launch event. from Yei town. The security situation in the settlement remains calm despite ongoing UNHCR partner Danish Refugee Council clashes between government forces and the continued work on 257 shelters for National Salvation Front, which did not sign persons with specific needs in Ajoung Thok the 2018 peace agreement. However, and Pamir refugee camps in Unity. So far in ambushes on the road between Yei and 2019, 143 shelters have been completed out Lasu remains a risk. The community’s main of a target of 400. concern is access to medical care as UMCOR’s mobile clinic is unable to move to Action Africa Help International (AAH-I) Lasu every day. continued road work in November as part of plans to expand Pamir refugee camp to accommodate refugees relocating from Yida. So far, 4.8 km out of 8 km have been completed.

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Operational Update > South Sudan > November 2019

Ensuring Access to Basic Services

Enabling refugees to meet their basic needs is an integral part of protection as it decreases the risk for negative coping mechanisms. As such, UNHCR employs a multi- sector response, working with government and partners to ensure refugees are sheltered and fed, and have access to education, health care, and adequate water and sanitation services. Key sectoral highlights are listed below. ( UNHCR strives to strengthen inter-communal bonds, numbers include both refugees and host community members unless specified.) Sudanese refugee students at Werak Primary School in Yusuf Batil refugee camp in Maban, Upper Nile. © UNHCR/Mary-Sanyu Osire

ACCESS TO ENERGY

646 fuel efficient 15,602 tree 4,912 tree seedlings stoves produced by seedlings distributed for raised and sold in refugee- refugees planting run nurseries

EDUCATION

27,894 children 73,250 students 24,418 students enrolled in early enrolled in UNHCR- enrolled in UNHCR- childhood development supported primary schools supported secondary (30% programmes (20% are (30% are from the host are from the host from the host community) community) community)

60 percent of all 76 percent of enrolled 458 refugee teachers enrolled students students attended school benefitted from in-service attended classes in in October training in November November (Attendance rates are lower than usual owing to flooding)

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Operational Update > South Sudan > November 2019

FOOD SECURITY & NUTRITION

70,420 refugees 6,620 children aged 6 9,279 children aged 6- received food or cash for -23 months benefitted from 59 months screened for food during World Food programming to prevent or malnutrition Programme in Jamjang treat malnutrition camps 1,353 pregnant and 1,266 people breastfeeding women received counseling on benefitted from best practices in infant programming to prevent or and young child feeding treat malnutrition

HEALTH

54,891 people 591 babies were 471 patients living with consulted with healthcare delivered at UNHCR- HIV/AIDs received anti- professionals at UNHCR- supported obstetric and retroviral treatment supported facilities (20% newborn care facilities were from the host community) 153 patients received 201 pregnant women treatment for Tuberculosis received treatment to 1,065 new patients prevent the transmission were admitted for of HIV/AIDs from mother 43,730 refugees were inpatient care (30% were to child reached through health from the host community) education initiatives

SHELTER & NON-FOOD ITEMS

111,149 people 506 refugees families 7,474 women and girls received core relief items, received tents or shelter recieved feminine hygiene such as plastic sheet, materials, such as tents, materials blankets, sleeping mats, plastic sheeting, soap, buckets, mosquito corrugated metal roofing nets, and kitchen sets or other materials 1,051 people received soap, buckets or jerry cans

WATER & SANITATION

335 household and 19 average liters of safe 11,053 people were community latrines were water were provided per reached through hygiene constructed refugee per day in promotion campaigns November

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Operational Update > South Sudan > November 2019

IDP Response

November Highlights

Protection monitoring Return support

 IDPs who have returned home to Baliet UNHCR remains engaged in interagency County, Upper Nile are happy to be efforts to support IDPs to make informed reunited with family, and enjoying safety and voluntary decisions in the pursuit of and freedom of movement, according to durable solutions to displacement. Since a periodic protection assessment April 2016, protection partners have conducted on 13-14 November. UNHCR assisted 12,774 individuals to return home led the mission, which included or relocate within South Sudan. Assistance representatives from the Protection, is provided at IDPs request, following a WASH, Health, and Food Security and comprehensive process of interviews, Livelihood Clusters, to follow up, in counselling and protection assessments to particular, with a group of IDPs who ensure returns are safe and dignified humanitarians helped to return home throughout the journey, as well as in from displacement sites in Melut in May intended destinations. Highlights from 2019. In addition, to conducting semi- UNHCR’s solutions activities in November structured key informant interviews and included: observational safety audits, the team conducted six focus group discussions in  In November 2019, nineteen IDP Adong and Baliet towns with a total of families (63 individuals) approached the 111 participants. No major security UNHCR protection desks at different IDP incidents or housing, land or property sites and UNMISS Protection of Civilians issues were reported. Returnees said sites in Juba, Central Equatoria to conditions were conducive for livelihood request assistance relocating or activities. returning home. To date, 991 households comprising of 3,270  During a protection monitoring mission individuals have registered intentions to on 27-28 November, UNHCR return/relocate to different areas across established the presence of 500 IDP South Sudan. This information will feed families in Lirangu Payam, 24 km west of into the activity of the Central Equatoria Yambio in Western Equatoria. The IDPs, Solutions Working Group, which is co- who fled to Lirangu at the height of the led by UNHCR and UNDP. conflict in 2016 and 2017, have integrated peacefully into the host  The Central Equatoria Solutions Working community. Group supported 15 individuals who returned to Malakal County from the Juba PoC sites in November. Each IDP was transported to their respective residences, and provided cash

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Operational Update > South Sudan > November 2019

KEY PROTECTION ACHIEVEMENTS

1,208 IDPs were 50 people reached 243 IDP households reached through advocacy through training or aware- provided shelter materials, activities to improve ness campaigns on child such as family tents or knowledge of SGBV pre- rights and protection prin- plastic sheeting vention and response ciples 966 IDPs were provid- 508 extremely vulnera- 119 IDPs provided with ed non-food items, such as ble IDPs, including women information on services blankets, buckets, kitchen and girls at risk for SGBV, for persons with specific sets, mosquito nets, sleep- were provided food or ma- needs ing mats, solar lamps and terial support soap

assistance and supplies to help them Statelessness Prevention settle in. UNHCR conducted a two-day capacity  UNHCR’s protection desk verified the building training on statelessness prevention voluntary nature of return assistance for the Department of Nationality, Passport requests for seven IDP families at the and Immigration (DNPI) and other UNMISS Protection of Civilians site in government officials in Bor, Jonglei. Thirty Bor, Jonglei as part of a prerequisite officials participated. comprehensive protection assessment. The Bor Solutions Working Group is Meanwhile, UNHCR, in coordination with the currently following up. State Ministry of Health, assisted 406 IDPs living in the refugees to apply for an age  UNHCR assessed seven potential return assessment. The DNPI requires an age locations in Rubkona County to inform assessment to process a nationality identity IDP for them to make well-informed card. This included assisting the IDPs in decision. obtained passport-sized photos.

 UNHCR, from 11-21 November, interviewed 190 IDP households sheltering in and around the Episcopal Church compound in Mundri town, Western Equatoria. Nintey-three percent of those interviewed expressed a desire to return to their areas of origin, 4% said they wanted to remain in Mundri because their children are attending secondary school in town, and 3% said they were undecided. The IDPs come from the Kediba and Wandi.

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Operational Update > South Sudan > November 2019

Refugee Return Monitoring

November Highlights

 UNHCR, partner CARE International and the South Sudan’s Relief and Rehabilitation Commission traveled to Nabiapai and Gangura, Western 8,440 Equatoria, to assess the living conditions refugees returned to of recently returned refugees. Issues of South Sudan in a self- concern raised included access to health organized manner in care and education, and inadequate November 2019 clean water and sanitation facilities. The team relayed concerns to UNICEF and other partners for further assessment.

 UNHCR and partner CARE International launched refugee return monitoring activities at the border in James Diko, Gangura and Sakure in Western Equatoria.

 In Akobo East County, Jonglei, UNHCR trained two Relief Organization of South Sudan officials on spontaneous refugee return monitoring and eight payam enumerators on data collection and reporting.

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Operational Update > South Sudan > November 2019

Financial Update

2019 funding received for South Sudan Operation in USD

Total recorded contributions for the operation amount to US $103.5 million, for the financial year 2019 as of 30 November 2019. UNHCR is grateful for the critical support provided by donors who have contributed to this operation as well as those who have contributed to UNHCR programmes with un-earmarked and broadly earmarked funds.

Further information Eujin Byun, Public Information/Communications, [email protected], +211 92 240 5683 Elizabeth Stuart, External Relations/Reporting, [email protected], +211 92 000 1107

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