South Sudan – Nutrition Services for Conflict-Affected People – Action Against Hunger 2017

As of March 2017, an estimated 7.5 million people across South Sudan are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection across the country as a result of armed conflict, inter-communal violence, economic crisis, disease outbreaks and climatic shocks. Approximately 1.85 million people are internally displaced within South Sudan and over 1.4 million South Sudanese have sought protection in neighbouring countries. The civil war, as well as erratic rainfall in some areas, have resulted in 4.6 million people projected to require food assistance, with malnutrition rates over emergency thresholds. Outbreaks of cholera, measles, and hepatitis E 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, Action Against Hunger Canada is providing nutrition services for up to 25,500 conflict-affected people in Gogrial West, Warrap State. Project activities include: (1) providing outpatient therapeutic treatment for over 12,300 malnourished children, and pregnant and lactating women; (2) organizing regular community-based home to home malnutrition screening, case identification and referrals for over 25,500 children and pregnant and lactating women; and (3) organizing sensitization sessions on nutrition, health, hygiene and sanitation to over 9,800 women and men caregivers of children under five and pregnant and lactating women.