Conflicts & flood-affected households in Bor receive cash assistance from ECHO project

A lactating mother receives her cash assistance in Bor town on June 8, 2022. Photo//Daniel Danis/Save the Children

Jonglei state, South Sudan: Some families affected by conflicts and floods in Bor town are receiving lifesaving cash assistance to meet critical basic needs and increase their resilience to future shocks.

 The ECHO Cash Project targets IDPs, Returnees, and Host communities in Bor South, Akobo West, Fangak, and Panyijar counties in Jonglei and Unity States.

 At least 90% (298,200) of the population in Bor South and 90% (198,920) of the population in Akobo West face acute food insecurity, according to IPC Phase 3 report.

 There are also cases of high malnutrition among children under 5, and among pregnant/lactating mothers. This is in addition to the effect of the macro-economic crisis characterized by poverty, high inflation, increased market prices for food, and unemployment.

 The Cash support fills gaps in ongoing humanitarian efforts on the ground to maximize impact. 2,000 households in Bor South and Akobo West are currently being supported with cash assistance.

 “This will help families address immediate food needs during the hunger period, contribute to the reduction of excess mortality and morbidity through access to better nutrition, and meet households' basic and income needs,” said Oluwatosin Osunnuyi, Cash Plus Project Manager, Programme Operations at Save the Children.

 The beneficiaries of the Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance include; pregnant and lactating women who are malnourished or have children under 5 years with severe acute cases of malnutrition duly referred from nutrition facilities OPD or IPD.

 They also include poor caregivers with children (6-59 months) who have undergone treatment for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) at the OTP sites and have been discharged as cured or identified and screened by the Nutrition staff.

 The cash assistance further supports women and girls at risk or survivors of GBV (identified or through referral pathways); elderly (+60 years) headed families, living alone and/or elderly living with orphans (below 18 years old); households headed by children (below 18 years old); households headed by a chronically ill person or any member suffering from chronic illness, and people with permanent disability (alone or living with a family).

 It also benefits families sheltering separated/unaccompanied children (below 18 years old) with poor food consumption scores, and households hosting separated and unaccompanied children.

Save the Children International – as the consortium lead – in partnership with Action Against Hunger and the International Rescue Committee provides cash-based emergency responses to address the critical humanitarian needs of flood and conflict-affected communities in South Sudan.

 “The population is displaced by floods and there is also loss of crops production due to floods – compounded by displacement caused by inter-communal violence and cattle raids. This has increased protection concerns related to armed attacks, abduction, family separation, GBV, early child marriage, conscription of child soldiers, and child labour,” Mr. Oluwatosin noted.

 The partners work earnestly to mitigate the impact of future disaster shocks and strengthen the coordination and effectiveness of the Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance project.

 Story by: Daniel Danis/Save the Children