Humanitarian Action for Children 2021
Executive summary
The people of South Sudan entered 2021 having been hit hard the previous year by the triple shock of intensified
conflict and sub-national violence, a second consecutive year of major flooding, and the impacts of COVID-19
measures. Around 8.3 million people in South Sudan were estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance
in 2021. These included 8 million South Sudanese women, men, girls and boys and 310,000 refugees and
asylum seekers. This is an 800,000 increase in absolute numbers from the 7.5 million people in need in 2020.1
During 2021, recurring floods, droughts and other extreme weather events fueled by climate change, a
deepening economic crisis, and sub-national and politically motivated conflicts led to the highest levels of food
insecurity and malnutrition since the country attained independence in 2011². The COVID-19 pandemic has
severely affected the economy, including due to the sharp decline of international oil prices, resulting in
worsening existing vulnerabilities and long-term implications for economic growth and development. South
Sudan also relies heavily upon a cross-border supply chain which has been hampered by COVID-19 measures.³
Critical social services, such as primary health care and education, faced significant challenges. The United
Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) appeal was revised in June 2021 to
reflect growing needs (Table 1). The revised HAC noted that food security analysis estimated that the lean
season (to July 2021) is the worst ever in terms of severity, with 108,000 at the brink of suffering from famine.4
Table 1: South Sudan HAC revisions 2021
In need of humanitarian
assistance
To be reached
Funding requirements
HAC 2021 (December 2020)
7.5 million people, including 4.1 million
children
5.1 million people, including 3.7 million
children
US$197.8 million
HAC 2021 Revision 1 (June
2021)
8.3 million people, including 4.5
million children
5.1 million people, including 3.7
million children
US$180.1 million
The revised HAC reported that an estimated 1.4 million children under 5 years are acutely malnourished,
including 313,391 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Over 5 million people needed
essential healthcare services; 5.9 million people lacked access to safe water; and 3.4 million children needed
education support5.
UNICEF was at the forefront of providing a multisectoral response to multiple humanitarian crises in 2021. As
of 31 December 2021, UNICEF had received US$65.4 million against the US$180.1 million requested in the
revised 2021 HAC appeal. These funds allowed UNICEF to deliver assistance to over 5 million people, including
1.5 million children.
UNICEF reached 241,108 children under five (131,249 girls) with SAM treatment, an increase of 20 per cent
over 2020. More than one million pregnant women and children received long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINS)
to protect against malaria; more than three times the target of 300,000. A measles mass vaccination campaign
reached 483,550 high risk children aged between 6 months and 15 years in the affected eight counties,
exceeding the 450,000 target. UNICEF prepositioned and distributed life-saving hygiene, sanitation, water
treatment, and water point repair materials reaching 750,633 emergency-affected people.
In 2021, 2,736 children (1,344 girls) were registered on the Child Protection Information Management System
(CPIMS) and reached with case management services. A total of 898 unaccompanied and separated children
(336 girls) were supported with family tracing and reunification (FTR), with 150 children (63 girls) reunited with
their families.
1 OCHA, South Sudan Humanitarian Needs Overview 2021, January 2021
https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/south_sudan_2021_hu
manitarian_needs_overview_print.pdf
2 UNICEF, Humanitarian Action for Children 2021, 2021 Revision 1 (June 2021) https://reliefweb.int/report/south-
sudan/humanitarian-action-children-2021-south-sudan-2021-revision-1-june-2021
3 OCHA, South Sudan Humanitarian Needs Overview 2022 https://reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/south-sudan-
humanitarian-needs-overview-2022-february-2022
4 UNICEF, Humanitarian Action for Children 2021, 2021 Revision 1 (June 2021)
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