Joint Rapid Refugees and Food Security Situation Assessment in Gnangatom Woreda of South Omo, SNNPR
Joint Rapid Refugees and Food Security Situation Assessment in Gnangatom Woreda of South Omo, SNNPR
The objective of the assessment was to understand the needs of South Sudan refugees and the impact of the refugee burden and food security situation of the host community in Gnangatom. The mission is also intended to develop concise and practical recommendations to inform and strengthen responses to South Sudan refugees and at the same time to mitigate the negative impact of refugee burden on the host community.
The assessment methodology applied include meeting with experts and officials, document review, site visits to the refugee settlement areas, direct observation and group / individual interviews with refugees and stakeholders.
Since‐December 2016, more than 8, 000 South Sudanese have arrived in Gnangatom woreda with the number increasing daily (woreda administration record). Refugees are sited in four different places across the woreda with 73 percent are around Kanagaten town (woreda capital) and 26 percent in Kibish cluster, some 45 km to the south west of Kangaten. Most refugees are from Gnangatom and Topaso ethnics of Kopeta State in the eastern part of South Sudan. Refugees continue to arrive in the woreda walking for days through Kawkuta kebele entry point, citing fighting, forced recruitment of children to join combatant, drought, food insecurity, lack of access to humanitarian assistance and other basic services such as veterinary and health services as PUSH factor. Every day 10‐ 20 new refugees reported to have been arriving in the woreda.