South Sudan - Water Sanitation and Hygiene Nutrition and Livelihoods - Concern 2018

March 2018 - An estimated 7 million people across South Sudan are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection across the country as a result of armed conflict food insecurity malnutrition economic decline and disease. Approximately 1.9 million people are internally displaced within South Sudan and over 2.4 million South Sudanese have sought protection in neighbouring countries. An estimated 5.1 million people are currently severely food insecure with malnutrition rates over emergency thresholds. Outbreaks of communicable diseases have strained an already overwhelmed health system. Humanitarian access remains restricted in many conflict areas and large numbers of people are accessible only by air drops. With GAC’s support Concern is providing emergency water sanitation hygiene nutrition and livelihoods services for up to 91 438 displaced and conflict-affected people in Unity and Central Equatoria states. Project activities include: (1) Rehabilitating and protecting 17 boreholes equipped with hand pumps in Rubkona and Guit counties for up to 57 000 people; (2) Constructing 79 communal latrines 40 latrines for people with disabilities and 200 handwashing stations benefiting up to 33 377 people; (3) Delivering outpatient therapeutic programs targeted supplementary feeding programs and infant and young child feeding services for 16 323 children and 3 750 pregnant and lactating women; and (4) Training 540 mother-to-mother support group members in community gardening.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased access to safe drinking water safe sanitation and hygiene practices among conflict affected populations; (2) increased access to life saving nutrition treatment and prevention services for children under five and pregnant and lactating women; and (3) increased resilience through diversification of food and livelihoods opportunities. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.