Highlights

Last minute funding rescued the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service from suspending all flights on 1 February

Humanitarian access in South Sudan deteriorated over the course of 2012, with a 48 per cent increase in access incidents compared to 2011

Aid agencies continued to respond to a Hepatitis E outbreak in refugee camps in Maban County, Upper Nile State.

Situation Overview

Last minute funding rescued the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) from grounding all flights on 1 February. Insufficient funding threatened to paralyze aid delivery to some 3.3 million people in need across the country. However, available funding will only sustain the air service for one month. The humanitarian community is gravely concerned that the lack of long term funding commitment will disrupt ongoing humanitarian operations.

Humanitarian access deteriorated over the course of 2012, with a 48 per cent increase in access incidents compared to 2011. The overall spike in access constraints is largely attributed to increased interference, hostilities and the physical environment.

Aid agencies continued to respond to a Hepatitis E outbreak in refugee camps in Maban County, Upper Nile State. According to the Ministry of Health, 4,870 suspected cases of Hepatitis E have been reported of which 107 people have died since July.