Inter-Agency Rapid Needs Assessment
http://southsudan.humanitarianresponse.info/
IRNA Report: Nasir, Upper Nile State
28-29 March 2014
This IRNA Report is a product of Inter-Agency Assessment mission conducted and information compiled based on the
inputs provided by partners on the ground including; government authorities, affected communities/IDPs and agencies.
Situation overview
Upper Nile State has been the scene of violence in the ongoing conflict in South Sudan. Malakal, the state
capital, has changed hands a couple of times resulting in displacements. Various reports show that a significant
proportion of the predominant Nuer population has been reportedly displaced to Nasir and Ulang Counties.
Starting in January 2014, various reports of influx of IDPs have been received with unconfirmed initial
projections of 131,252 people reported by RRC. An RRC led registration from 15 to 20 January, 2014 reported
15,086 displaced in Ketbek, Guanye and Hi Kuanylual Thun in Nasir town. Indications show that the IDPs were
absorbed by the host households. Concerns have been running high that the reported high influx of IDPs could
potentially trigger disease outbreaks and severe malnutrition, amongst a host of humanitarian concerns.
Multiple sources confirm that most of the displaced persons in Malakal find their way to Nasir. A number of
motor boats fully loaded with people and properties have been reportedly seen docking in Nasir bay of the
Sobat River. Most of the attempts to access Nasir for assessments have not been successful, hence the recent
IRNA mission (28-29.03.2014) with the intention to get a more reliable and accurate understanding of the
humanitarian situation.
Most of the IDPs in Nasir seem to have moved from the POC area in Malakal when the opposition forces took
over the town in February 2014. The outward movements seem to have been triggered by sentiments of
insecurity, lack of food and basic services. From the interviews, the groups of women and children expressed
that they had experienced a relatively safe transport, in their movement from Malakal. The journey was still
tough since most of them were walking for a week, without water, shelter and food. Most of the IDPs in Nasir
are living with host families and seem well integrated into the local community. The most vulnerable are staying
in schools and other community buildings.
The assessment mission confirmed the presence of IDPs in Nasir although not the reported figures of 45,000.
Nasir town seemed very much normal and it was difficult to find the reported 45,000 IDPs. The IRNA mission
could not visit Mading and Kich Kun, two sites reportedly hosting IDPs. Both Mading and Kich Kun are cut off
from Nasir by a swampy area. The Nasir IRNA team estimates a maximum of 6000 IDPs. It was however
confirmed that most of the IDPs have used Nasir as a transit point to border areas and beyond. In spite of the
IDPs being properly integrated, Nasir remains a fragile humanitarian situation which can deteriorate rapidly
should there be no mitigative humanitarian action. There are clear humanitarian needs in Nasir although not as
acute as may have been previously anticipated or reported. Nasir County Commissioner and RRC reported a
total of 45,000 IDPs in Nasir town alone, the county has a total of 210,000 people according to the 2008 Census
figure. IDPs have been received since December 2013 following the outbreak of the conflict; most of the IDPs
have been coming from Malakal and Jonglei where they lost most of their belongings, assets and livelihood
mechanisms. Nasir generally seen as a safe haven by most of the IDPs, notably a number of IDPs have used
Nasir as a transit point to Ethiopia or border areas. Most of the Nasir inhabitants have been encouraged to host
the IDPs thus most of the displaced seem to have been well integrated. However, there are some pockets of
IDPs living in abandoned compounds and schools. Reports show that 5600 IDPs have been assisted with WFP
food. Amongst the priority needs are education, shelter, food, and medical support.
IRNA Report: Nasir, Upper Nile State, 28-29.03.2014
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Inter-Agency Rapid Needs Assessment
http://southsudan.humanitarianresponse.info/
Site overview
Location map
IRNA Report: Nasir, Upper Nile State, 28-29.03.2014
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Inter-Agency Rapid Needs Assessment
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Drivers of crisis and underlying factors
The continued clashes in Upper Nile State especially Malakal is the main factor driving the trend of displacements.
Malakal town, the state capital, has changed hands a couple of times resulting in displacements. Nasir and Ulang
were reportedly the main destinations for IDPs that left the Malakal POC when the opposition took control of
Malakal; indications are that these are the safe haven for the Nuer populations. Upper Nile already has a fragile
humanitarian context having seen some of the worst fighting during the long civil war. The southeastern areas of
Upper Nile state are generally flood plains and suffer seasonal floods that compound the food security situation and
general humanitarian vulnerability. The seasonal flooding weakens the coping mechanisms to disasters and the
recent conflict outbreak has worsened the already dire situation. The IDPs encountered were nearly all women,
children, and elderly people.
Scope of crisis and humanitarian profile:
Population of Nasir County: 210,000 (2008 census)
IDP population of Nasir town: 45,000 (RRC/County Commissioner Reports)
IDP Population In Nasir town; 6,000 (IRNA team estimates)
Key response priorities
Education:
Initiate emergency education support or resumption of learning activities.
Delivery of educational supplies, learning material and teachers salaries/incentives.
Repair of damaged educational facilities.
Training for teachers in emergency education, including psychosocial components
Health:
Support the County Hospital in Nasir town with additional staffing and medical supplies
Nutrition:
Routine nutrition screening for children (6-59 months) and pregnant and lactating women
Food Security and Livelihoods
Provision of food assistance to both IDPs and resident populations. Local coping capacities seem to be slowly
but surely succumbing to increasing population pressure.
There is urgent need to distribute fishing equipment to both the IDPs and residents; will increase access to
more fish for their consumption.
Initiate income generating activities as a wide section reports loss of salaries and usual livelihood strategies
due to conflict.
Provide host communities and IDPs (will be accessible to land) with agricultural inputs in readiness for the next
agricultural season
Protection/Child Protection/GBV:
Psychosocial support, non-formal education if displacement persists.
Components of psychosocial support should be included in the emergency education.
Teachers and health workers should be trained in psychological First Aid.
A short FTR registration mission to link with Malakal- and national registrations are recommended.
Distribute hygiene kits to females.
Protection, child protection and GBV mainstreaming into other sectors.
Integration of GBV prevention and response in education, health and livelihoods.
Shelter/NFI:
Distribution of full NFI kits prioritising IDPs in schools and abandoned compounds.
Verification/registration of the IDPs in all abandoned compounds and in schools
Prepositioning of supplies in town simultaneously with verification of the IDPs figures.
Distribution of emergency shelter kit (2 plastic sheets & rope) for the IDPs in schools and abandoned
compounds.
WASH
Borehole repairs and maintenance, as some people drinking from the river.
Provision of basic spares, rods, pipes and fast moving spares and strengthening NHDF/local pump mechanics
follow up mechanisms.
Distribution of buckets/collapsible jerry cans and soap. There is a concerning lack of water containers
IRNA Report: Nasir, Upper Nile State, 28-29.03.2014
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Inter-Agency Rapid Needs Assessment
http://southsudan.humanitarianresponse.info/
Need for hand washing sensitisation especially on the usage of soap/ash.
Promotion of household sanitation as there is widespread open defecation. There is a risk of diseases related
to open defecation observed. A sustainable community led approach to sanitation recommended.
In the long run, CLTS or PHAST recommended as developmental responses.
CCCM
Monitor populations flux (new displacements, movements to Ethiopia etc.) and better capture intentions of IDPs
reaching Nasir - possible Data Tracing Matrix (DTM) deployment.
CCCM partners could also undertake registration, given the IDPs in schools (which are collective centres) as
well as the DTM
Further assessment of the situation of IDPs settled in the schools (3 reported occupied, in addition to a number
of other communal buildings). This will give a better idea of their current living conditions and needs.
Humanitarian access
Physical access
Physical access to Nasir from Juba is primarily by air. It is possible to land both fixed wing aircrafts and helicopters
on the one runway in Nasir town. Reports show that if it rains heavily, it normally takes no less than 3 days dry
weather for the airstrip to be ready for fixed wing landings. The Sobat River is navigable from Gambella, Ethiopia.
Malakal and Juba have been traditionally reached from Nasir via Sobat River, Akobo and Pibor areas also
reachable when the river levels are high.
Access coordination
Humanitarian access to the area did not present significant challenges at the time of the IRNA mission. The team
members freely conducted the data collection without any reports of harassment. None of the team members
reported feeling threatened although there was a large presence of armed personnel. Sporadic gunshots could be
heard, reports indicate however that the frequency of gunshots have significantly gone down compared to trends
seen before. There is a WFP rub hall and a number of NGO compounds.
Key findings
Education:
Key findings
The estimated numbers of IDP children in Nasir are 7,653 boys and 4,981 girls.
The estimated numbers of host community children are 32,782 boys and 11,590 girls.
None of the schools are currently functioning in Nasir County.
A total of 8 schools are occupied in the town, but others in the Payams/ Bomas are not occupied by IDPs. All
those eight schools occupied by IDPs are looted including the County education office (computers, chairs,
tables all teaching and learning materials).
The number of teachers available to teach is approximately 126 male and 15 female.
The County Education office was attacked and looted during the fighting when the opposition took over the
County administration. All the schools are looted; no schoolbooks, furniture or other materials are left.
Teachers and the headmasters of the schools are still in Nasir, but the salaries have not been paid since the
conflict outbreak.
The County Commissioner expressed the need of reestablishing schools/ establishing emergency education,
both for the host community and for IDP children.
A national NGO present in Nasir, state they have the capacity to start emergency education with support from
UNICEF and the County administration.
If there an accommodation solution is found for the IDPs living at the schools, the schools need to be cleaned
up and require basic repairs, before they can open with emergency education programs.
According to local authorities the schools are in dire need of educational materials even to cover the needs of
their local populations of students.
Priorities for humanitarian response
IRNA Report: Nasir, Upper Nile State, 28-29.03.2014
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Inter-Agency Rapid Needs Assessment
http://southsudan.humanitarianresponse.info/
Initiate emergency education support and resumption of learning activities.
Delivery of educational supplies, learning material and teachers incentives/ salary.
Repair of damaged educational facilities.
Teacher Training on life-skills and psychosocial support.
Health
Key findings
The county hospital is staffed with 1 doctor and 12 medical assistants, relying upon supplies from UNKEA and
MSF. Staff is trained for moderate level inpatient surgery and care, but facilities and equipment supplies are
sufficient for minor outpatient care only.
The hospital at the moment has no inpatient facilities, lacking wards, beds and reliable electricity. Staff are not
receiving salaries at the moment, and living either on savings or community support.
The MSF hospital is fully operational and provides secondary treatment, inpatient care, SGBV treatment, and
has an ICU. The hospital provides outpatient therapeutic feeding and vaccination support, but at the moment
all outpatient work outside of Nasir town is suspended due to ongoing security incidents.
Overall, both hospitals reported that the situation was only marginally worse than last year, but no significant
changes in the health situation in Nasir town.
Arriving IDPs from Malakal have been some pressure on services, and some have been malnourished and
suffering from diarrheal diseases from the (sometimes) 5-day walk to Nasir. SAM rates are marginally higher.
Priorities for humanitarian response
Support to the County Hospital in Nasir town with additional staffing and medical supplies. The main health
needs identified were:
(1) salaries for health staff,
(2) inpatient wards at county hospital
(3) fully functioning operating theatre and
(4) a nutrition centre
Protection / Child Protection / GBV
Key findings
IDPs reported that some of the children had witnessed fighting and killings. Children from the age of 8-10 were
abducted when the villages were attacked. No unaccompanied, separated or missing children were reported at
the time of the IRNA. Mothers reported that their children were more clinging than before the crisis, but there
were no severe signs of traumatic stress reactions.
There was no evidence in Nasir of increased SGBV cases related to the crises, neither among the host or the
IDP communities. However given the general lack of reporting on sexual violence, it cannot be assumed that
GBV is not happening. Women and girls from the age of 13- 15 were reportedly raped in the villages around
Malakal before escaping to the POC, according to the women. There is a lack of hygiene supplies for women.
There was a presence of unaccompanied/separated children living in foster care and separated children living
in extended family groups. There was a possibility of increased drowning during the rainy season.
Priorities for humanitarian response
More in-depth assessment to be carried out to determine number of separated children and provide FTR
services.
Components of psychosocial support should be included in the emergency education.
Training for teachers and health workers in psychological first aid.
Distribute hygiene kits to females
Protection, child protection and GBV mainstreaming into other sectors.
Integration of GBV prevention and response in education, health and livelihoods.
IRNA Report: Nasir, Upper Nile State, 28-29.03.2014
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Inter-Agency Rapid Needs Assessment
http://southsudan.humanitarianresponse.info/
Food security and livelihoods
Key findings
Most households interviewed resorted to limiting portion sizes and reducing frequency of meals as a coping
mechanism.
The quantity and quality of food had decreased ever since the conflict erupted; this affects both IDPs and local
host communities. Some IDPs also reported skipping a day or two in a week without food.
Some of the IDP households also indicated that they also rely on in-kind support from the Nasir residents
although this was dwindling.
Priorities for humanitarian response
Provision of food assistance to both IDPs and resident populations. Local coping capacities seem to be slowly
but surely succumbing to increasing population pressure. This needs to be preceded with proper planning of
food distributions.
There is an urgent need to distribute fishing equipment to both the IDPs and host residents. In fact, this was
their priority need as it will allow them access more fish for their consumption.
Initiate income-generating activities as a wide section of the population reports loss of salaries and usual
livelihood strategies due to the conflict.
Provide host communities and IDPs (with access to land) with agricultural inputs in readiness for the next
agricultural season.
WASH
Key findings
Most of the IDPs came from Malakal town, they are essentially urban people. The populations have knowledge
of hand washing, but were found in need of soap. There is need for sensitisation of the use of ash for hand
washing purposes, as it is just as effective as soap.
IDPs borrow jerry cans from host families; usually 2-5 IDPs share one jerry can. Jerry can distribution
recommended as part of the NFI kit. There is a clear lack of water containers for people to wash their hands.
The collected water is prioritised for drinking; some are collecting from the river which takes about 10 minutes.
The IRNA team visited 7 boreholes, 2 were not functional and 5 were working. Most of the boreholes can
benefit from routine maintenance.
Some green/blue flies were noted; these flies normally feed on feacal matter. There are however not so many
as this is still the dry season; there are possibilities of the increase of these vectors during the rainy season.
A few houses were observed to have latrines in the household compounds. A lot of feaces were noted in the
general environment and widespread practice of open defecation. Schools, youth centres, government offices
have concrete latrine blocks. Many latrine stances were locked with a few open. There is general lack of visible
latrines.
CCCM
Key findings
Monitor populations flux (new displacements, movements to Ethiopia etc.) and better capture intentions of IDPs
reaching Nasir
–
with possible Displacement Tracing Matrix (DTM) deployment.
For the time being the IDP population seems well integrated with the host communities. If it is confirmed that
significant number of IDPs remain in Nasir, stronger CCCM support could be set up, including the
establishment of an IDP community center (if the majority of IDPs remain settled within host communities) to
enable IDPs to access information and services, if needed. This could also be a possibility for Ulang but based
on the visual sightings of IDPs on the ground (far fewer than the RRC reported), this is currently not a key
priority in the short term.
As a priority response, CCCM partners should assess the situation of IDPs settled in the schools (3 reported
occupied, in addition to a number of other communal buildings) as soon as possible, to have a better idea of
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Inter-Agency Rapid Needs Assessment
http://southsudan.humanitarianresponse.info/
their current living conditions and needs. Discussions to be made with the Education and Protection cluster on
those cases to ensure that IDPs are provided with adequate assistance and protection, while ensuring the set
up or resumption of education activities at the earliest.
Registration has been listed as a Shelter/NFI responsibility. This is fine for shelter/NFI needs but as stated
above, CCCM partners could also undertake registration, given the lDPs in schools (which are collective
centres) as well as the DTM.
Next steps
Based on the Humanitarian priorities identified, the following Cluster Responses are committed:
Cluster
Priority actions
Human and
material resources
required
Responsible
Entity
By when
Education
Initiate emergency education
support
or
resumption
of
learning activities.
Delivery of educational supplies
and learning material.
Repair of damaged educational
facilities.
Supporting
recreational
activities
-
Deployment of EiE teams
-School in the kits delivery
-Educational learning
material
-Educational teaching
material
Education
cluster/UNICEF
ASAP
FSL
Food assistance to both IDPs
and resident populations
Distribution of fishing gears
Income generating initiatives or
livelihoods
restorations
activities
Distribution
of
agricultural
inputs
-Food distribution teams
-Fishing gears
-Food prepo in Nasir, -Rub
hall repair and
rehabilitation
-emergency livelihoods
assessments/information
-seeds, agric inputs
FSL/WFP/Partners
ASAP
Health
Support
the
Nasir
County
Hospital with medical supplies
to provide primary health care
services.
-Medical supplies
-Drugs for common
morbidities
-Preposition nutrition
supplies (moderate &
acute)
Health
Cluster/IMA/World
Bank
ASAP
Nutrition
Conduct
routine
nutrition
screening for children (6-59
months) and pregnant and
lactating women
Run
moderate
&
acute
management of malnutrition
programmes
-nutrition screening
material
-nutrition supplements
-plumpy nut
-CSB+
ASAP
Protection
Psychosocial
support,
non-
formal
education
if
displacement persists.
PFA training of teachers and
health workers
Distribute
hygiene
kits
to
females
Regular protection monitoring
Protection
awareness
and
prevention initiatives
Integrate GBV prevention and
response in education, health,
FSL
-CP, GBV and protection
actors
-Rapid FTR forms
Child protection sub-
cluster,
GBV
Sub
Cluster and protection
cluster
ASAP
SHELTER /
NFI
Verification/Registration
Emergency
Shelter
Kit
distribution to the IDPs (in
schools
and
abandoned
compounds)
Full NFI kit distribution to IDPs in
schools
and
abandoned
compounds
-Plastic sheets, mosquito
nets, blankets, fishing gear,
soap, and rope as most
essentials.
IOM/ NFI cluster
partners
ASAP
CCCM
Monitor populations flux (new
displacements, movements to
DTM teams
Registration material
CCCM partners
ASAP
IRNA Report: Nasir, Upper Nile State, 28-29.03.2014
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Inter-Agency Rapid Needs Assessment
http://southsudan.humanitarianresponse.info/
Ethiopia etc.) and better capture
intentions of IDPs reaching Nasir
- possible Displacement Tracing
Matrix (DTM) deployment.
CCCM partners could also
undertake registration, given
the IDPs in schools (which are
collective centres) as well as the
DTM
Further assessment of the
situation of IDPs settled in the
schools (3 reported occupied, in
addition to a number of other
communal buildings). This will
give a better idea of their
current living conditions and
needs.
DTM Teams
WASH
Borehole repairs and
maintenance, some people
drinking from the river.
Provision of basic spares, rods,
pipes and fast moving spares
and strengthening NHDF/local
pump mechanics follow up
mechanisms.
Distribution of
Buckets/collapsible jerry cans,
and Soap. There is a concerning
lack of water containers
Need for hand washing
sensitisation especially on the
usage of soap/ash.
Promotion of proper sanitation.
-Borehole spare parts, rods,
pipes, fast moving spares
-trainings to the local pump
minders
-buckets, collapsible jerry
cans, soap
Medair/UNICEF/
WASH Cluster
ASAP
Assessment information
IRNA stands for
“Initial Rapid Needs Assessment”.
The IRNA was endorsed by the South Sudan Inter Cluster
Working Group (ICWG) and launched in November 2012, combined with training of humanitarian actors at Juba
and state level. The assessment to Nasir was carried out by the following individuals:
Cluster
Name
Position
Org.
email
phone
PROTECTION
Johan Eldebo
Senior
Humanitarian
Policy Advisor
World Vision
johan.eldebo@worldvision.org.u
k
0928059355 / +88
21621159396
WASH
Amalan
Arulanantham
ERT WASH
Manager
Medair
ertwatsan-
southsudan@medair.org
0956 827 073 /
+88
21652029656
NUTRITION
Wiyual Mun Yat
Nutrition Data Clerk
UNKEA
wiyualyat2013@gmail.com
EDUCATION
Yien Chan
Education
Coordinator
UNKEA
yienchan1980@gmail.com
/
ychan1980@yahoo.com
0914916124
CHILD
PROTECTION
Randi Saure
CP-SC Co-lead
CPSC/ Save the
Children
randi.saure@savethechildren.or
g
0920010246
COORDINATION /
TEAM LEADER
Takesure Mugari
Humanitarian
Affairs Officer
OCHA
mugari@un.org
0922453868
NFI/ES cluster was covered by Keat Bayak, NFI Team Leader, Upper Nile, Medair, in a separate assessment
in Nasir preceding the IRNA.
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