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South Sudan

Presence country
South Sudan
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Food Security Outlook
February - September 2024
Widespread Emergency (IPC Phase 4) likely at the peak of the lean season
  • Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes are present in 17 counties in South Sudan as of the start of the post-harvest period in February, mostly in the Greater Bahr el Ghazal and Greater Upper Nile regions, driven by protracted negative impacts of intercommunal conflict and flooding, high returnee burden, poor economic conditions, deteriorating purchasing power, and intermittent conflict-related disruptions to trade and food assistance delivery. Areas in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) are expected to nearly double (to 34 counties) in the upcoming lean season between June and September 2024 amid expectations of continued high returnee burden, severe flooding under projected La Niña conditions, elevated tensions and rising violent conflict in the lead up to December 2024 elections, and likely disruptions to livelihoods, trade, and food assistance. Rubkona of Unity, Pibor of Greater Administrative Area (GPAA), Duk of Jonglei, and areas hosting high numbers of returnees including the northern counties will remain of highest concern throughout the projection period given the large proportion of population in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and expectations of households in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) in Pibor, Duk, Aweil East, and among returnees. 
  • The arrival of nearly 600,000 South Sudanese returnees and refugees from Sudan and 100,000 from Ethiopia by the end of February is worsening the severity of acute food insecurity in the northern and eastern counties of South Sudan. Most returnees are arriving with little to no assets and are heavily dependent on assistance and host households for food and income, which is contributing to atypically early depletion of food stocks and adoption of more severe coping strategies than normal. The arrival of displaced populations from Sudan are expected to continue at similar levels throughout the projection period given the likely continuation of conflict and anticipation of significantly below-average harvests. 
  • WFP continues to respond to the needs of returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and refugees, and has begun scaling-up the lean season response, with plans to reach approximately 3.0 million people per month at the peak of the lean season, representing approximately one-third of FEWS NET’s projected population in need. While additional funding has been secured, WFP and humanitarian partners continue to face major funding shortfalls that will limit their ability to respond to persistently high and rising needs. Given continued concern for food, disease, and nutrition conditions in transit and collection areas, as well as areas hosting high numbers of returnees, an urgent multisector response remains critical.
  • FEWS NET has determined that a risk of Famine (IPC Phase 5) exists in the upcoming lean season (between June and September 2024) in parts of north-central Unity and Upper Nile. This is driven by the increased likelihood of above-average rainfall under the forecasted La Niña conditions during the main rainy season and the potential for severe flooding in these persistently inundated parts of the Sudd wetlands. While it is not FEWS NET’s most likely scenario, if severe flooding occurs in conjunction with periods of intense conflict and impedes households’ mobility and access to humanitarian assistance for a prolonged period, particularly in areas with high burden of returnees unfamiliar with traditional coping mechanisms and already experiencing Critical levels of acute malnutrition, then Famine (IPC Phase 5) could occur. 
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View All South Sudan Analysis
Food Security
Key Message Update Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes will expand during the post-harvest period South Sudan January 2024
Food Security Outlook Update Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and worse outcomes persist during harvesting period South Sudan December 2023
Key Message Update Returnees, conflict, and floods sustain Emergency (IPC Phase 4) or worse outcomes South Sudan November 2023
Agroclimatology
No reports available.
Markets & Trade
Price Bulletin South Sudan Price Bulletin South Sudan February 2024
Price Bulletin South Sudan Price Bulletin South Sudan January 2024
Cross Border Trade Report East Africa Cross Border Trade East Africa January 2024
Alerts / Special Reports
No reports available.
Food Security
Key Message Update Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes will expand during the post-harvest period South Sudan January 2024
Food Security Outlook Update Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and worse outcomes persist during harvesting period South Sudan December 2023
Key Message Update Returnees, conflict, and floods sustain Emergency (IPC Phase 4) or worse outcomes South Sudan November 2023
Agroclimatology
No reports available.
Markets & Trade
Price Bulletin South Sudan Price Bulletin South Sudan February 2024
Price Bulletin South Sudan Price Bulletin South Sudan January 2024
Cross Border Trade Report East Africa Cross Border Trade East Africa January 2024
Alerts / Special Reports
No reports available.
Food Security Outlook Briefings Food Security Outlook Briefings
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South Sudan (June 2023 - January 2024)

 
Food Security Classification Data View all South Sudan classification data
South Sudan Acute Food Insecurity Classification (February 2024 - September 2024)

Current (February 2024) food security outcomes and forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (February 2024 - May 2024) and medium term (June 2024 - September 2024) periods.

South Sudan Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile February 2024 (.zip) (ZIP) South Sudan Acute Food Insecurity Classification February 2024 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Current Situation: February 2024 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: February 2024 - May 2024 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: June 2024 - September 2024 (.png) (PNG) Current Situation: February 2024 (.kml) (KML) Near Term Projection: February 2024 - May 2024 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: June 2024 - September 2024 (.kml) (KML)
South Sudan Acute Food Insecurity Classification (January 2024 - May 2024)

Forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (January 2024) and medium term (February 2024 - May 2024) periods.

South Sudan Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile January 2024 (.zip) (ZIP) South Sudan Acute Food Insecurity Classification January 2024 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Near Term Projection: January 2024 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: February 2024 - May 2024 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: January 2024 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: February 2024 - May 2024 (.kml) (KML)
South Sudan Acute Food Insecurity Classification (December 2023 - May 2024)

Forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (December 2023 - January 2024) and medium term (February 2024 - May 2024) periods.

South Sudan Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile December 2023 (.zip) (ZIP) South Sudan Acute Food Insecurity Classification December 2023 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Near Term Projection: December 2023 - January 2024 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: February 2024 - May 2024 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: December 2023 - January 2024 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: February 2024 - May 2024 (.kml) (KML)
Seasonal Calendar Seasonal Calendar
Description

The Seasonal Calendar shows the annual and cyclical patterns of key food and income sources in a country throughout the typical year.

South Sudan Seasonal Calendar
Production & Trade Flow Maps
FEWS NET captures the market networks for a product in a given country or region, including their catchments and trade flow patterns.
Maize, Season 1 Sorghum, Season 1 Sorghum, Season 2
Remote Sensing Imagery Remote Sensing Imagery
Description

USGS-provided data and imagery supports FEWS NET's monitoring efforts of weather and climate throughout the world.

View all remote sensing imagery
Livelihood Zone Resources Livelihood Zone Resources
South Sudan Livelihood Zone Descriptions, November 2018 South Sudan Livelihood Zones and Descriptions, August 2013 Southern Sudan Rural Baseline, September 2006 South Sudan Seasonal Monitoring Calendars, November 2009 South Sudan Livelihood Zone Map
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