Examine individual changes

'{{Infobox famine | name = 2017 South Sudan famine | image = SouthSudan.jpg | caption = January 2017 map with phase classifications from "minimal" to "famine" | country = [[South Sudan]] | period = February 2017 – June 2017 | excess_mortality = | total_deaths = | observations = War, drought | relief = }} In the early months of 2017, parts of [[South Sudan]] experienced a [[famine]] following several years of instability in the country's food supply caused by war and [[drought]]. The famine, largely focused in the northern part of the country, affected an estimated five million people (nearly 50% of the South Sudanese population). In May 2017, the famine was officially undeclared<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/IPC_South_Sudan_AcuteFI_May2017_June-July2017.pdf|title=Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, The Republic of South Sudan|last=|first=|date=May 2017|website=Integrated Food Security Phase Classification|access-date=}}</ref> but international humanitarian agencies warned of continued severe food insecurity.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.un.org/en/audio/2017/06/629642|title=Hunger rising in South Sudan despite ebb in famine: UN agencies|date=2017-06-21|work=UN News|access-date=2018-09-30|language=en}}</ref> == Background == [[File:South Sudan Unity State - Detailed Transport Map Jan 2013.pdf|thumb|Transport map of [[Unity State]] (January 2013)]] [[File:Sudan Map Oelgas.png|thumb|Oil and gas concessions in Sudan, 2004. [[Block 5A, South Sudan|Block 5A]] lies in the central part of Unity State.]] {{see also|Ethnic violence in South Sudan|South Sudanese Civil War}} South Sudan suffered the [[1998 Sudan famine]] before its independence, but no famine had been formally declared anywhere in the world during the six years prior to 2017. There are currently warnings of imminent famine in [[Yemen]], [[Somalia]], and the northeastern part of [[Nigeria]], but the formal declaration requires that the following criteria be met:<ref name=BBC /> * 20% of households suffer extreme food shortages. * 30% of the population suffers extreme malnutrition. * At least 1 per each 5,000 inhabitants die per day. A February 20 update of the [[Integrated Food Security Phase Classification]] (IPC) found that 4.9 million South Sudan residents, 40% of the population, were in need of "urgent food, agriculture, and nutrition assistance". The report had surveyed 23 counties, of which 14 exceeded the emergency action threshold of 15% acute malnutrition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-detail-forms/ipcinfo-map-detail/en/c/471270/|title=Republic of South Sudan: Current and Projected (January–July 2017) Acute Food Insecurity Situation: 01/01/2017 – 31/07/2017: South Sudan|publisher=Integrated Food Security Phase Classification|date=20 February 2017}}</ref> The [[World Food Programme]] carried out relief operations throughout the war, mitigating the risk of famine in other areas including the [[Northern Bahr el Ghazal]] state.<ref name=SudanTribune /> [[Bahr el Ghazal (region of South Sudan)|Bahr el Ghazal]] had been the region most severely affected in the 1998 famine, when it was struck by a two-year drought, a ban on humanitarian airdrops, restrictions on movement of displaced persons, confiscation of cattle and destruction of food stores.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/1999/sudan/SUDAWEB2-01.htm|title=Bahr El Ghazal and the Famine of 1998|publisher=Human Rights Watch}}</ref> A 2016 UN report described the former [[Unity State]] as the site of continuous fighting throughout the civil war because it has "great economic and symbolic importance because of its vast oil resources and also as a predominantly Nuer state, in a conflict that has pitted the two dominant tribes, [[Dinka people|Dinkas]] and [[Nuer people|Nuers]], against each other".<ref name=OHCHR>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session31/Documents/A-HRC-31-CRP-6_en.doc|title=Assessment mission by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to improve human rights, accountability, reconciliation and capacity in South Sudan: detailed findings|publisher=UN Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General|date=3 March 2016}}</ref>{{refn|group=nb|An ethnic map of South Sudan by [[Mehrdad Izady]] may be viewed is available from [http://gulf2000.columbia.edu/images/maps/South_Sudan_Ethnic_lg.png Columbia University]. Unity State can be recognized on this map as a region with Nuer and Dinka inhabitants west of the White Nile or Mountain Nile ([[Bahr al Jabal (river)|Bahr al Jabal]] or Supiri River) but within the historical [[Greater Upper Nile]] province.}} Looting and burning in Unity State and displacement of its inhabitants in fighting over oil reserves also occurred in the [[Second Sudanese Civil War]] in the years leading up to the 1998 Sudan famine.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2003/sudan1103/|title=Sudan, Oil, and Human Rights|publisher=Human Rights Watch|date=September 2003}}</ref> It is estimated that in 1998, 12,000 people starved in the [[Block 5A, South Sudan|Block 5A]] area out of 240,000 total, with another 160,000 forcibly displaced.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2001197,00.html|title=Was a Swedish Firm Complicit in Sudan's War?|author=Lisa Abend|date=4 July 2010}}</ref> Instability is a major reason for the low oil production in South Sudan since 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/War-Torn-South-Sudan-To-Resume-Oil-Production-In-July.html|title=War-Torn South Sudan To Resume Oil Production In July|author=James Burgess|date=26 May 2016|publisher=Oilprice.com}}</ref> == Progression to famine == {{see also|Human rights in South Sudan}} In February 2015 the [[World Food Programme]] noted the potential for drought in South Sudan and other nearby countries due to the developing [[El Niño]] event. Their report found that South Sudan was "experiencing a very good start to the agricultural season" and suggested it might be an exception to a pessimistic regional prediction for July to September 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://documents.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/ena/wfp276236.pdf|title=El Niño: Implications and Scenarios for 2015|publisher=World Food Programme}}</ref> In June 2015 the [[Famine Early Warning Systems Network]] observed a spike in food prices and an increase in the number of households likely to face catastrophic famine. These were attributable in part to economic considerations including increasing transport costs, a decrease in the [[parallel exchange rate]] of the [[South Sudanese Pound]] from 6.1 to 11.5 per [[United States Dollar]], and the loss of government credit allowing import of food at the official exchange rate of 2.9 SSP per USD. At the time 8.8% of households surveyed in [[Ayod County|Ayod]] and 1.4% in [[Mayendit County|Mayendit]] had a household hunger score of 5 or 6, which was below the 20% threshold for regional famine.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/famine-watchdog-warns-some-people-likely-starve-southern-unity-state|title=Famine watchdog warns some people 'likely' to starve in southern Unity State|publisher=Radio Tamazuj|date=25 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fews.net/east-africa/south-sudan/alert/june-24-2015|title=Some households face Catastrophe as food aid delivery remains blocked and prices spike|date=24 June 2015|publisher=Famine Early Warning Systems Network}}</ref> By September 2015, [[Leer County]], the home of rebel leader [[Riek Machar]] and future epicentre of the famine, had been rendered devoid of cattle and nearly empty of civilians fleeing massacre and the burning of homes and fields; drought contributed in part by lowering crop yields and in part by reducing the length of a traditional pause in fighting for the rainy season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-34357358|title=South Sudan's men of dishonour|author=Alastair Leithead|date=28 September 2015|publisher=BBC}}</ref> In January 2016, a [[WHO]] report noted that "existing conditions may lead to famine" due to drought in the central and eastern part of the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.who.int/hac/crises/el-nino/who_el_nino_and_health_global_report_south_sudan_21jan2016.pdf|title=El Niño and health: SOUTH SUDAN overview|date=January 2016|publisher=World Health Organization}}</ref> In March 2016, the UN reported that the South Sudan Army was being paid not in money but with a "do what you can and take what you can" policy that allowed them to confiscate cattle and other possessions, and even to rape and murder civilian women as a form of salary.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-35780777|title=South Sudan: Women raped 'as reward for fighters'|date=11 March 2016|publisher=BBC}}</ref> The report described all sides but especially the South Sudan government SPLA forces and allied militia making targeted attacks on civilians based on ethnicity, systematically destroying towns and villages.<ref name=OHCHR /> It concluded that the pattern of abuses "suggests a deliberate strategy to deprive the civilians living in the area of any form of livelihood or material support."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=17207&LangID=E|title=South Sudan: UN report contains "searing" account of killings, rapes and destruction|date=11 March 2016|publisher=United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner}}</ref> By August 2016, South Sudan was gripped by an "almost entirely man-made" food crisis attributed more to blockage of food assistance than to drought. At the time nearly 25% of the country's population was in a state of disparity. Sudan is in urgent need of food assistance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dw.com/en/drought-and-war-spark-famine-across-horn-of-africa-and-south-sudan/a-19034165|title=Drought and war spark famine across Horn of Africa and South Sudan|date=2 August 2016|publisher=Deutsche Welle}}</ref> By June 2017, the food crisis had subsided and the UN considered the famine to be over, while still pointing out that 1.7 million people were facing the level of food insecurity just below famine.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-40352926 |title=South Sudan no longer in famine |accessdate=21 Jun 2017 |publisher=BBC News }}</ref> As of December 2017, there was an estimated 42% of the South Sudanese population facing severe security conditions, with most of the effected being young people and children.<ref name=D+C>{{cite news |title=Collateral Damage|url=https://www.dandc.eu/en/article/south-sudan-many-orphaned-children-have-care-their-younger-siblings|author=Parach Mach|work=D+C, development and cooperation |date=4 April 2018 |accessdate=6 May 2018}}</ref> ==Effects== On 20 February 2017, the [[United Nations]] declared a [[famine]] in parts of former [[Unity State]] of [[South Sudan]] and warned that it could spread rapidly without further action. The [[World Food Programme]] reported that 40% of the South Sudanese population (4.9 million people) needed food urgently,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/famine-hits-parts-south-sudan|title=Famine Hits Parts Of South Sudan|date=20 February 2017|publisher=World Food Programme}}</ref><ref name=BBC>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-39025927|title=South Sudan declares famine in Unity State|date=20 February 2017|publisher=BBC News}}</ref> and at least 100,000, according to the UN, were in imminent danger of death by starvation.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/02/21/516410076/in-south-sudan-people-are-dying-of-hunger-as-civil-war-continues | title=In South Sudan, People Are Dying Of Hunger As Civil War Continues | publisher=NPR | date=21 February 2017 | accessdate=22 February 2017}}</ref> International humanitarian advocates stated the famine was manmade<ref>{{cite news |last1=Clooney & Prendergast, |first1=George & John |title=South Sudan’s government-made famine |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2017/03/09/south-sudans-government-made-famine/ |accessdate=17 November 2018 |publisher=The Washington Post |date=9 March 2017}}</ref> and pointed to the country's ongoing conflict for creating the famine conditions. More than 3 million people had been displaced by ongoing violence across the country, forcing families to abandon agricultural land and livestock, leaving them with few food resources to survive with.<ref>{{cite news |last1=MacSorley |first1=Dominic |title=South Sudan famine results from failure of political will |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/south-sudan-famine-results-from-failure-of-political-will-1.3022458 |accessdate=17 November 2018 |publisher=The Irish Times |date=24 March 2017}}</ref> The worst fighting was in Unity State, where tens of thousands of people fled their homes due to a government offensive against opposition-held areas.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Quinn |first1=B. |title=Famine declared in South Sudan |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/feb/20/famine-declared-in-south-sudan |accessdate=18 November 2018 |publisher=The Guardian |date=20 February 2017}}</ref> A mass humanitarian effort focused on responding to the famine declaration. Still, there were significant challenges for agencies delivering food in famine affected areas. Fighting prevented civilians from reach food distribution sites.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last1=Foltyn |first1=S. |title='Last time I got food, armed men took everything': famine in South Sudan |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/mar/15/last-time-i-got-food-armed-men-took-everything-famine-in-south-sudan |publisher=The Guardian |date=15 March 2017}}</ref> In other cases, civilians reported that food they received was taken by soldiers involved in the fighting.<ref name=":0" /> UN officials said President [[Salva Kiir Mayardit]] was blocking food deliveries to some areas,<ref name="WHIO">{{cite web|url=http://www.whio.com/news/world/famine-declared-part-south-sudan-government-and/ZT9UT22sGQUWxH1w5rIjYJ/|title=Famine declared in part of South Sudan by government and UN|date=20 February 2017|publisher=WHIO|access-date=2017-02-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221105314/http://www.whio.com/news/world/famine-declared-part-south-sudan-government-and/ZT9UT22sGQUWxH1w5rIjYJ/|archive-date=2017-02-21|dead-url=yes|df=}}</ref> though Kiir said on 21 February that the government would allow "unimpeded access" to aid organizations.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/south-sudan-promises-unimpeded-aid-access-amid-famine/2017/02/21/994f8a02-f840-11e6-aa1e-5f735ee31334_story.html | title=South Sudan promises ‘unimpeded’ aid access amid famine | publisher=The Washington Post | date=21 February 2017 | accessdate=22 February 2017}}</ref> In addition, parts of South Sudan did not have rain in two years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/famine-gripping-somalia-and-south-sudan/8267896|title=Famine gripping Somalia and South Sudan|publisher=ABC News|date=20 February 2017}}</ref> According to [[United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization]] Representative Serge Tissot, "Our worst fears have been realised. Many families have exhausted every means they have to survive. The people are predominantly farmers and war has disrupted agriculture. They’ve lost their livestock, even their farming tools. For months there has been a total reliance on whatever plants they can find and fish they can catch."<ref name=SudanTribune>{{cite web|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article61699|title=Famine declared in parts of South Sudan|date=20 February 2017|publisher=Sudan Tribune}}</ref> The reports also warned that about 5.5 million people, half of South Sudan's population, were expected to suffer food shortages and insecurity by July 2017. According to Jeremy Hopkins, the South Sudan representative for the UN children's agency, more than 200,000 children were at risk of death from malnutrition in the country.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/World/2017/02/20/Famine-declared-in-part-of-South-Sudan-by-government-and-UN.html?ci=stream&lp=7&p=1|title=Famine declared in part of South Sudan by government and UN|newspaper=Johnson City Press|access-date=22 February 2017|language=en}}</ref> == Responses == ===Government of South Sudan=== Days after the declaration of famine, the government raised the price of a business visa from $100 to $10,000, mostly aimed at aid workers, citing a need to increase government revenue.<ref name=alaraby0317>{{cite news|url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2017/3/4/south-sudan-hikes-visa-cost-to-10-000-amid-famine|title= South Sudan hikes visa cost to $10,000 amid famine|publisher=Alaraby|date=5 March 2017|accessdate=6 March 2017}}</ref> U.N. officials said that President [[Salva Kiir Mayardit]] was blocking food deliveries to some areas.<ref name="WHIO"/>THEN THEY SUCKED ON MY BAAAAAAASLLLLLLLLLLLLLSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS ===United Nations=== In 2016 several UN agencies and other relief agencies intensified their efforts, setting a new record for post-independence South Sudan by reaching four million people with 265,000 metric tons of food assistance and $13.8 million in cash assistance.<ref name=SudanTribune /> According to the [[UN Children's Fund]] Deputy Executive Director and UN [[Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations#Assistant Secretary-General|Assistant Secretary General]] [[Justin Forsyth]], "Nobody should be dying of starvation in 2017. There is enough food in the world, we have enough capability in terms of the humanitarian community. In South Sudan, [[UNICEF]] has 620 feeding centres for severely malnourished children, so the places where children are dying are places we can't get to, or get to only occasionally. If there was access, we could save all of these children's lives."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-39039255|title=Why are there still famines?|publisher=BBC|date=21 February 2017}}</ref> Furthermore, UNICEF warned that more than 1 million children in South Sudan are subjected to malnutrition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/20/africa/south-sudan-famine/index.html|title=Famine declared in South Sudan|last=CNN|first=Farai Sevenzo and Bryony Jones|website=CNN|access-date=2017-03-07}}</ref> ===European Union=== On 21 February, the [[United Kingdom]] said that it would issue £100 million in aid to South Sudan in 2017, while the [[European Union]] said that it would send £69 million.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/feb/22/uk-and-eu-pledge-200m-aid-famine-south-sudan | title=UK and EU pledge £170m in aid to combat famine in South Sudan | publisher=The Guardian | date=22 February 2017 | accessdate=22 February 2017}}</ref> ===Canada=== In March 2017, [[Canada's|Canada]] government announced $37 million in funding for UN agencies and non-governmental humanitarian organizations working to address famine in South Sudan.<ref>{{cite web |last1=The Canadian Press |title=Canada to provide nearly $120 million in aid for famine-hit countries |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/3318391/canada-aid-famine-africa/ |website=Global News |publisher=Global}}</ref> In June 2017, the Canadian government $86 Million (CAD) in funding to assist in the response to South Sudan's famine and conflict.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Blanchfield |first1=M. |title=Canada contributes $86M more to assist South Sudan famine, civil war crisis |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/marie-claude-bibeau-south-sudan-famine-war-1.4167473 |agency=CBC |publisher=CBC News |date=19 June 2017}}</ref> ==See also== * [[2017 Somalian drought]] * [[Famine in Yemen]] * [[1998 Sudan famine]] * [[1993 Sudan famine]] ==Notes== {{reflist|group=nb}} == References == {{reflist|30em}} {{South Sudan topics}} [[Category:2017 in South Sudan]] [[Category:Disasters in South Sudan]] [[Category:Famines in Africa]] [[Category:2017 health disasters]] [[Category:South Sudanese Civil War]]'