Situation Overview: Ulang and Nasir Counties, Upper Nile State, South Sudan January – March 2018 Introduction Map 1: Assessment coverage in Ulang and Ulang and Nasir Counties are both located in Figure 1: Proportion of assessed settlements Nasir Counties in January (A), February (B) the northeastern maize and cattle livelihood reporting IDP presence in Ulang and Nasir The first quarter of 2018 was characterised March 2018 (C) zone.2 Instead of providing individual analysis, Counties by episodes of insecurity in Nasir County and A figures throughout this situation overview are 79% 0 - 4.4% 69% Jonglei state that led to displacement into thus presented for an aggregate of the two Ulang County.1 Ahead of the lean season, 4.5 - 10% 51% C counties. which is expected to start in May, access to 11 - 20% 21 - 50% food remained stable and relatively high from 51 - 100% Population Movement and January to March 2018. Furthermore, shelter Assessed settlement 51+Jan69+Feb79Mar Displacement and WASH conditions improved seasonally B while protection concerns worsened in line with In the first quarter of 2018, two displacement calm but perceptions of insecurity persisted the reported insecurity. movements towards Ulang County were across the area. The episodes of conflict reported, both of which created challenges for in Jonglei State and Nasir County and the To inform the response of humanitarian actors food security among the displaced population. consequential influx of IDPs are underlined working outside of formal displacement sites, Thousands of Internally Displaced Persons by the increase in the proportion of assessed REACH has been conducting an assessment (IDPs) fleeing from conflict in Jonglei State settlements reporting presence of IDPs, from of hard-to-reach areas in South Sudan since reached Ulang County in two waves in February 51% in January, to 69% in February and 79% 2015, for which data on settlements across and March 2018.3 Most of the IDPs from Jonglei in March. Greater Upper Nile, Greater Equatoria and settled in areas near the state border. Many Western Bahr el Ghazal region is collected on The displacement movements coincided with reportedly arrived without any assets, suffered a monthly basis. seasonal cattle migration in the areas of Ulang from hunger and lacked adequate shelter.4 and Nasir Counties. During the dry season from From January to March 2018, REACH In Nasir County, sudden escalation of violence January until April of each year, cattle keepers interviewed 267 Key Informants (KIs) from 75 previous REACH assessments of hard-to-reach led to the displacement of thousands of people from parts of Jonglei State, such as Nyirol, settlements in Nasir and Ulang Counties in areas of Upper Nile State. in February 2018.5 Many of these IDPs fled to move into Upper Nile State to let their cattle Upper Nile State. All the KIs were interviewed This Situation Overview outlines displacement neighbouring Ulang County.6 Signs of severe graze along the fertile grounds of the Sobat in Akobo, Jonglei State. Findings have been and access to basic services in Ulang and Nasir hunger were reported among the arriving river. According to FGD participants, it is likely triangulated using one Focus Group Discussion Counties from January to March 2018. The first IDPs.7 An unreported number of people also that the previously mentioned displacement (FGDs) conducted in Akobo, Jonglei State section analyses displacement trends in these fled across the border to Ethiopia, as recorded of conflict-affected communities occurred in with KIs that had been displaced from Ulang two counties, and the second section evaluates by UNHCR refugee inflow data from January to parallel with the seasonal cattle migration.9 As and Nasir Counties, as well as with interviews access to food and basic services for both March 2018.8 From late February onwards, the in previous years, associated with this seasonal with humanitarian actors, secondary data, and displaced and non-displaced communities. situation in Nasir County generally remained migration, securing free movement for cattle : 1. IRNA, Ulang County, February-March 2018. 5. IRNA, Bitutgok Camp, March 2018. 2. FEWSNET, South Sudan Livelihood Zones, 2017. 6. MEDAIR, Ulang County WASH Assessment report, March-April 2018. 3. IRNA, Ulang County, February-March 2018. 7. IRNA, Bitutgok Camp, March 2018. 4. Ibid. 8. UNHCR, Ethiopia Factsheet January-March 2018. and access to pastures and water also poses attributable to food distributions by humanitarian and Nasir Counties is seasonal it is possible METHODOLOGY the risk for future conflict with other pastoralist actors. In March, 47% of assessed settlements that the amount of fish has decreased with the To provide an overview of the situation in communities. reported that the main source of food was progression of the dry season, when less fish is largely inaccessible areas of Upper Nile humanitarian food distributions, similar to 39% seasonally available. State, REACH uses primary data provided Situation in Assessed in February and a slight increase compared From January to March, between 97%- by key informants who have recently arrived, Settlements to the 34% in January. This is also reflected 100% of assessed settlements in Ulang and or receive regular information, from their pre- in the 49% of assessed settlements in March Food security and livelihoods Nasir Counties reported that people in their displacement location or “Area of Knowledge”. reporting having received food assistance communities possessed cattle, either near the Information for this overview was collected Trends, particularly for food security and within the previous three months. The second settlement or at pasture. Between 52%-61% from key informants in Akobo, Jonglei State. livelihoods, were generally similar across most often reported source of food was fishing of assessed settlements were furthermore After data collection was completed, all Ulang and Nasir Counties as both are located and hunting, reported by 22% of assessed reporting currently engaging in keeping livestock data was examined at the settlement level, in the northeastern maize and cattle livelihood settlements in January and 18% in February, 10 as a livelihood activity. As between 97% and and settlements were assigned the modal zone. The proportion of assessed settlements but only 4% in March. Many settlements in 100% of assessed settlements had physical response. When no consensus could be reporting adequate access to food remained Ulang and Nasir Counties are situated along the access to their cattle, most communities had found for a settlement, that settlement consistently high across Ulang and Nasir Sobat river and traditionally, fishing has been access to livestock providing an important was not included in reporting. Descriptive Counties with 68%, 70% and 72% of assessed an important source of food for people in the additional food source and products such as statistics and geospatial analysis were then settlements reporting adequate access to food area. In March, the second most often reported used to analyse the data. milk. in January, February and March, respectively. food source was cultivation, reported by 21% The data analysis was disaggregated at These proportions are on the same level as of assessed settlements across Nasir and Comparatively fewer assessed settlements the county level when at least 4.5% of the in October to December 2017, and high if Ulang Counties. This is likely a reflection of the reported that members of the community settlements of a county were assessed each compared to the countrywide average of 42%, vegetable harvest season, which tradtionally were engaging in agriculture for sustenance. month. In January, February and March 48% and 40% in January, February and March takes place in the first quarter of the year. In January, this was reported in only 44% of 2018, this threshold was attained for both respectively. assessed settlements. The proportion remained Trends in most commonly reported food Ulang and Nasir Counties. similarly low in February at 39%. By March, These relatively high levels of reported adequate sources are also mirrored in the most commonly Due to access constraints, which may impact the share had increased to 53% reflecting the access to food among the settlements assessed cited livelihood activities. Fishing and hunting coverage each month, some changes over vegetable harvest as well as land preparation in Ulang and Nasir Counties are potentially remained a common livelihood source in time reported in this situation overview might for crops, which traditionally happen around 90%, 70% and 47% of assessed settlements be due to variations in coverage Figure 2: Proportion of assessed settlements that time of the year.11 Please note that REACH is in the process reporting adequate access to food from in January, February and March, respectively. of establishing sustained data collection in January to March 2018 These proportions indicate that there has Only 12% to 30% of assessed settlements Upper Nile State. As a result, the current been a decrease in assessed settlements in reported casual labour as a livelihood 70% 72% coverage is limited. The conclusions drawn 68% which members of the community were fishing activity among members of their community 48% are therefore indicative of likely trends in 42% 40% and/or hunting. This is also reflected in the from January to March. This relatively low Ulang and Nasir Counties and do possibly not above described reduction between January prevalence of assessed settlements in Ulang capture the humanitarian situation in some of and March in the proportion of assessed and Nasir Counties reporting casual labour is the settlements worst affected by episodes of 68+Jan70+72Feb Mar 42+Jan48+40Feb Mar likely linked to the low market access in those settlements reporting fishing as the most two economically isolated counties, which limits violence. Ulang and Nasir counties Countrywide average common food source. Since fishing in Ulang 2 9. According to FGD participants from Upper Nile interviewed by REACH in Akobo, April 2018.