South Sudan Food Security Updates July 2012 Food Security and Livelihoods Cluster
Overall Security Situation Security situation remained relatively calm in most parts of the country. However, displaced populations & refugees remain in camps in NBeG, Upper Nile, WBeG, Jonglei Talks between South Sudan and Sudan resumed in Addis Ababa on 5 th July through AU mediation addressing outstanding CPA issues including the establishment of a demilitarized zone along the common border to avoid conflicts. Others are disagreements over oilfields, transport payments and division of the national debt. The two heads of states met on 14 th July but no information about the outcome is available yet. The two countries have up to 2 nd August to settle their dispute as per the United Nations deadline In June over 70,000 Sudanese refugees entered South Sudan predominantly to Upper Nile and Unity states. In total over 406,000 refugees have returned since October 2010. In Abyei the security situation remains calm and people displaced in May 2011 are returning. About 10,000 people have returned to the area north of River Kiir mostly in second half of June.
Food security updates Flooding expected in July-August in flood prone areas thereby affecting agriculture and farm assets; disruption of road transportation hampering access to markets and delivery of agricultural and livestock veterinary supplies. Currently cluster partners are preparing contingency plans for the floods. The rain affected roads in combination with the nature of the soil (i.e. Black cotton), challenges the transportation of all items in large areas of South Sudan. This is likely to delay/disrupt the agricultural season with possible impacts on food security in near future. Livestock diseases such as pneumonia, tick-borne diseases, hoof rot in goats, external and internal parasites, and foot & mouth diseases are likely to increase due to wet conditions, all of which contribute to food insecurity.
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC SSP/3.5 Kg JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC SSP/3.5 Kg Market Prices Food commodity prices remain higher than the 5 year average & 2011 in border states. Flow of food commodities to border states is still affected by border closure since May 2011, the declaration of state of emergency in Sudan along the border area and inaccessibility through roads due to current rains. There is shortage of fuel which will increase transportation costs and hence commodity prices especially for markets in border states. These factors will affect food access through the market, which is the main food source in the lean season (May-August). 28 24 20 16 12 8 4 0 24 20 16 12 8 4 0 White Sorghum: Nominal Retail Prices in Bentiu 2007-2011 AVG 2011 2012 White Sorghum: Nominal Retail Prices in Aweil Town 2007-2011 AVG 2011 2012
Status of the Lean Season Lean season (May August) continues with border states likely to be more affected through price increases, reduced commodity supply and inaccessibility By early June, 1.6 million people were supported through food security and livelihoods support - food aid, agricultural tools, livestock veterinary services, fishing gear, and urban livelihoods support. However, building resilience through livelihood support has been challenged by delayed supplies of seeds and tools, inaccessibility, inadequate funding in some cases and increasing number of needy populations including returnees & refugees.
Expected Trends Population facing food insecurity crisis and emergency levels (phase 3 and 4) is likely to increase. Humanitarian response to be challenged by lack of fuel, increasing transportation cost, inaccessibility and funding. Inaccessibility to further constrain access to markets and impact on food security. Wet conditions will promote livestock diseases and pests, as much as vegetable parasites Agricultural season likely to be disrupted/delayed in northern areas (Upper Nile and parts of Jonglei) where deliveries of inputs have been constrained by accessibility. Food security & livelihood humanitarian response will be required to support refugees from Sudan, those returning to Abyei, as well as IDPs throughout the country.