Staple food prices increasing more rapidly than expected
KEY MESSAGES
Large areas of Greater Upper Nile (GUN) continue to experience Emergency (IPC Phase 4) acute food insecurity. Households in these areas are facing an increased risk of malnutrition and excess mortality. In Unity State, it is expected that a small population of households are in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5). Crisis (IPC Phase 3) acute food insecurity persists across larger areas of the country as many households face significant difficulty meeting their basic food needs.
Staple food prices have increased considerably as a result of local currency depreciation, below-average 2015 production, fuel shortages that have increased transportation costs, and continued conflict that has reduced market functioning. High prices continue to limit household food access, especially among market-dependent poor households in urban areas. In Juba, the price of sorghum in March was 400 percent above the five-year average.
Conflict is expected to reduce below 2015-levels with the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity. However, it is possible isolated security incidents and tensions will continue between government forces and armed groups not affiliated with parties to the peace agreement. Additionally, tensions arising from disagreement over cantonment areas in Greater Bahr el Ghazal and Greater Equatoria are likely to continue.