Large areas of Greater Upper Nile continue to face Emergency (IPC Phase 4)
Key Messages - Large areas of Unity, as well as northern Jonglei and Upper Nile, are in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) acute food insecurity, and it is expected that a relatively smaller population of households are experiencing an extreme lack of food in central Unity as they face Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5). Broader areas of Greater Upper Nile and Eastern Equatoria will continue to be in Crisis (IPC Phase 3). - Although trade routes are now more passable following the secession of the rains, conflict continues to prevent traders from transporting goods to many areas of the country. This is particularly evident along routes originating in Western Equatoria where intermittent clashes are ongoing. Currently, the only somewhat functioning trade route supplying Greater Bahr el Ghazal is the Juba-Terekeka-Yirol-Rumbek road. - Even after the devaluation of the South Sudanese Pound in December imports remain low. Traders’ ability to import essential commodities remain limited due in part to reduced availability of foreign exchange. As of the last week of January, the parallel market exchange rate increased to SSP 28 per USD. The Government’s order to reduce taxes on essential commodities (food and fuel) by 40 percent is expected to reduce transaction costs for many goods. - The official opening of the border between Sudan and South Sudan announced by the Government of Sudan could lead to increased access to cross border migration for labor. Before closure of the border, many people, predominantly from Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap, would migrate to Sudan between January and March for agriculture labor opportunities.