UNICEF Restores Life-Saving Services in Conflict-Affected Jonglei Communities
UNICEF and its partners have restored access to essential health, nutrition and water, sanitation and hygiene services for conflict-affected communities in Wiechjol, Akobo County, and Waat, Nyirol County, in Jonglei State.
The assistance was delivered through Rapid Response Mechanism missions following months of disrupted humanitarian access caused by conflict, displacement and insecurity across northern Jonglei.
The missions delivered about 8.3 metric tons of critical supplies and provided nutrition screening, primary health care, household water-treatment support, hygiene promotion and referrals for children and pregnant and lactating women requiring further care.
UNICEF said the response provided a critical lifeline to communities that had been largely cut off from humanitarian assistance for several months.
The missions screened 1,666 children for acute malnutrition, provided 1,241 primary health care consultations and reached 2,075 people with hygiene-promotion messages. They also distributed soap to 3,250 households and buckets to 948 households.
Among those screened, 146 children were identified with severe acute malnutrition and 602 with moderate acute malnutrition. A total of 182 pregnant and lactating women were screened, with 58 identified as being at nutritional risk and referred for treatment.
The response also included 600 households receiving water purifiers, another 600 receiving water filters and 200 women and girls receiving dignity kits.
In the health sector, teams provided 1,241 primary health care consultations, including 250 consultations for children under 5, as well as 249 antenatal care consultations. Common conditions treated included malaria, respiratory tract infections, acute watery diarrhea and skin diseases.
UNICEF said communities in Akobo and Nyirol counties remain vulnerable after months of conflict and population displacement. Fighting and insecurity forced the suspension of humanitarian operations in several areas and led to the evacuation of humanitarian personnel, leaving many communities without regular access to essential services.
Health and nutrition facilities were looted, damaged or forced to close, further limiting access to routine health care and treatment for acute malnutrition. Movement restrictions and insecurity also delayed the delivery of humanitarian assistance and the restoration of services.
The humanitarian situation is compounded by severe food insecurity and malnutrition. A recent assessment in Akobo West recorded a global acute malnutrition prevalence of 22.3%, with widespread food shortages and heavy reliance on wild foods.
UNICEF said the Rapid Response Mechanism missions also helped identify priority needs and service gaps, providing information to guide follow-up assistance and the gradual restoration of essential services in hard-to-reach areas of northern Jonglei.
The response prioritized children under 5, pregnant and lactating women, displaced and returning households, and other vulnerable community members. Activities included nutrition screening and referrals, primary and antenatal health care, disease-prevention messaging, household water treatment and hygiene promotion.
