Torn apart by an ongoing civil conflict almost since its independence in 2011, South Sudan, the youngest country in the world, has been dramatically affected by the continuing refugee crisis. With almost 300,000 refugees and 2.3 million internally displaced people forming part of the 12 million population, the authorities and international aid organizations are struggling to help people to survive. For the last decade, numerous assistance programs and aid funding have been funneled to the country and in this article discusses the major patterns of aid disbursements to address the South Sudan refugee crisis.
The origins of the South Sudan refugee crisis
In December 2013, just two years after South Sudan proclaimed its independence from Sudan, inter-communal fights between the Dinka and Nuer tribes caused one of the largest humanitarian challenges for this young nation. This conflict has led to the country becoming the epicenter of the third-largest refugee crisis in the world, after Afghanistan and Syria.
See also: World’s largest hunger crisis in South Sudan amidst a forgotten war
Before donor intervention, food distribution to refugee camps was insufficient, leading to some refugees selling non-food products to pay for something to eat. In early January 2014, water supplies to the refugee camps were insufficient and unsustainable as they relied on water being trucked to provide at least 20% of the supply. As of March 2014, food insecurity had become a serious concern because, although at least half a million had received food relief, the ongoing conflict and the rainy season hindered aid distribution to vulnerable populations.
Donor aid for South Sudan and its effects
Back in 2014 – 2015, most donors initiated aid interventions that focused on basic needs and essential services, cash transfers, and security. The provision of basic needs and essential services and funding was mainly undertaken by the World Food Programme (WFP), UNHCR, and USAID as well as the U.S. Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM):
- WFP food assistance reached at least 35%, 26%, and 23% of households in the Upper Nile, Jonglei, and Unity camps in South Sudan, securing the food consumption ratio as of April 2014.
- A minimum of 2,000 displaced households in Upper Nile state received non-food items and emergency shelter aid through the UNHCR program as of June 2014.
- The US$433.7 million channeled through USAID and PRM to WFP led to a 65% increase in food and nutrition aid, reaching approximately 600,000 vulnerable people in 2014.
- European Union aid amounting to €267 million supported agriculture, education, health, and the rule of law sectors in 2014.
- The Integrated Rapid Response Mechanism (IRRM) developed by WFP and UNICEF in 2014 aided in deploying 403 missions to access at least 1.4 million people with lifesaving food and nutrition rations in the country.
- USAID contributed US$17.5 million in 2014 to support lifesaving humanitarian assistance, particularly water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions in South Sudan.
- US$1.3 million WFP cash transfers to refugees in 2014 allowed them to buy grain at stable prices as international grains costs were falling.
Fig.1. South-Sudan Humanitarian Aid Fragmentation by Sector in FY2014/2015
Source: South Sudan Annual Aid Report 2014-2015
Donor assistance continued throughout the decade, with the patterns and aims shifting slightly towards long-term development goals. Education and the health sector become more evident among the financing trend, as well as the economic resilience of the population.
In 2023-2024, the development landscape can be defined by the following trends:
- The African Development Bank (AfDB), in collaboration with UNHCR, has provided around US$1.3 million in a grant for a three-year Entrepreneurship Support to Refugees and Host Communities in South Sudan program.
- UNICEF’s 2023 US$131.6 million donations from partners has supported at least 280 health institutions and 297 bomas with community health service delivery.
- Based on 2021FY, WFP has provided cash assistance of US$57.7 million annually to South Sudan refugees, enabling them to gain purchasing power thus increasing cost-efficiency and effectiveness.
- UNHCR 2023-2025 skills training programs in tailoring, ICT, bakery, handicrafts, and certified teacher training have benefited 483 individuals living in refugee camps.
- WFP distributed 17,786 tons of food and US$9.3 million in cash-based transfers to 2.2 million people, refugees and IDPs in South Sudan in June 2024.
- WFP has launched the IRRM, helping to reach 500,000 people per month in South Sudanese areas that are only accessible by air.
- UNHCR provided US$2.8 million in 2023 in cash interventions to 260,182 beneficiaries in South Sudan, assisting refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons.
Fig.2. South-Sudan Humanitarian Aid Expenditure by Sector in FY2023
Source: UNCHR Annual Results Report 2023 South Sudan
The patterns of the donor interventions in 2023 compared to those during pre-intervention and the initial intervention period of 2014-2015 signal shifts in donor funding activities.
Thus, in Fig.2., the education sector received a final budget of US$8.76 million in 2023, with 99.04% of the budget being implemented. Conversely, in Fig.1., the education sector had a fragmented strategy with smaller program values totaling US$6.47 million across 12 projects in 2014.
In 2023, US$8.79 million was spent (97% assimilation rate) on the economic empowerment of the refugees compared to the earlier focus on emergency relief.
In the health sector, 12 donors provided funding for 30 programs in 2014, totaling US$7.68 million, with 30% being short-term programs below US$1 million (Fig.1.). In comparison, in 2023, the health sector received US$25 million in aid.
Final word
As South Sudan continues to suffer from the ongoing civil conflict that has led to millions of internally displaced people and hundreds of thousands of refugees, the international donor community is looking for a way to shift aid funding from emergency relief to longer-term complex programs that aim to increase resilience.
