South Sudan - Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, September 2015

An estimated 3.9 million people (3.1 million in Crisis and 800,000 in Emergency) 0r 34% of the population are classified as severely food and nutrition insecure and are unable to meet their food needs in September. This is an 80% increase compared to the same period last year. Of extreme concern is the estimated 30,000 people in Unity State who are experiencing Catastrophe and are likely to deteriorate into famine in the absence of urgent and immediate humanitarian access. Although the August-September period typically marks the start of green harvests and reflects an improving situation from the peak-lean season, the long-term effects of the conflict coupled with high food prices, erratic rainfall patterns, depleted livelihood options and limited humanitarian access continue to put pressure on households’ food security affecting not only the Greater Upper Nile States, but also extending to traditionally stable states like Northern Bahr el-Ghazal, Lakes, Warrap and the Greater Equatoria States.