South Sudan, Maban county, Upper Nile State, February 2012

The humanitarian situation in South Sudan has deteriorated severely in recent months. The already fragile situation that existed at the time of independence from Sudan in July 2011 has been exacerbated by a range of factors including conflict and internal population displacement, the ongoing influx of refugees from Sudan, soaring food prices and poor harvests.
It is estimated that nearly 5 million out of a population of some 9 million South Sudanese will struggle to provide food for themselves this year – of these, more than a million are estimated to be severely food insecure. WFP is planning to provide food assistance to some 2.7 million people in 2012 and is preparing to scale up operations should the situation require.
In November 2011, when fighting broke out in Blue Nile State, Maban County become home to refugees from the Republic of Sudan. The fighting in Sudan’s Blue Nile State continues to force people to flee into South Sudan. Two settlements have been established by UNHCR in Upper Nile state – Doro and Jamam. Humanitarian assistance continues to the total estimated 80,000 refugees in Maban County. WFP is providing life-saving food assistance to all refugees in South Sudan.

Photos: WFP/Ahnna Gudmunds