1. Executive Summary
The humanitarian situation in South Sudan remains critical with recurring internal conflicts, large numbers of returnees from Sudan and challenges such as poor harvests and soaring food and fuel prices. Up to 4.4 million people will remain in need of food and livelihoods support in 20141. More than two years after Independence, there are still many unresolved issues between Sudan and South Sudan concerning, for example, border demarcation issues, oil transit fees, and the fate of the contested area of Abyei, leading to an uncertain security situation. Internal conflicts such as inter-tribal fighting and cattle raiding have left 70,000 people internally displaced from January-July 2013.
South Sudan has a population estimated at 12 million people, with life expectancy of 42 years. More than half of the population is below 18 years old2. 50% per cent of the population lives below the poverty line and health indicators are amongst the worst in the world: child mortality is 105/1000, maternal mortality rate is 2,054/100,0003 and only 6.3 per cent of children under two years are fully immunized4. Continued instability and population movements compound already difficult living conditions for the majority of South Sudanese.