The report presents results and findings of an Emergency Food Security and Livelihoods (EFSL) assessment. Findings informed program design and implementation approach.

1. Assessment Report: Ganyliel, Payinjar, Unity
State, South Sudan
16 June 2014
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Sector: Food Security and Livelihoods
Contact(s): George Bete, George.Bete@rescue.org
Data Collection: 26 May to 4June 2014
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report presents results and findings from the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) Emergency
Food Security and Livelihoods (EFSL) assessment, which was conducted in Ganyliel from the 26
th
of May
to the 4
th
of June 2014 in response to the influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from neighboring
areas, in particular: Mingkaman, Bentiu, Nyal and Rumbek. The assessment’s objective was to
understand the effect of the current conflict on the IDP and host communities’ food security and
livelihoods (FSL) situation and to identify needs and priorities for response.
A total of six IDP sites in Ganyliel were visited for the assessment, namely: Pachar, Pachak, Tiap,
Thornom, Panyijiar, and Pachienjok. The assessment team conducted nine focus group discussions
(FGDs) and eight key informant interviews (KIIs). Market information was gathered through interviews
with seven traders in the main local market of Greater Ganyliel. Direct observations, including transact
walks in the IDP and host community locations were critical in data triangulation. The tools used for data
collection are available as annexes to this report.
A Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) needs assessment for Unity State reported that prior to the
conflict, in Payinjar County food insecurity had risen throughout 2013 reporting the highest levels of
severe food insecurity in South Sudan.
1
With access and trade routes having been disrupted by
insecurity, it seems as if Ganyliel, a payam
2
in Payinjar County, Unity State is now under ‘siege’. During
this period in a normal year, the population in this area would survive on markets for food. However, with
trade greatly disrupted and supply chains broken by the conflict, families are suffering from dire food
insecurity. The assessment revealed that there is an urgent need to address the food and livelihoods
situation in Ganyliel. Most of the IDP and host community families were self-sustaining before the crisis,
but now they are living without livelihoods or income-generating opportunities, harvests and livestock
were devastated by flooding in the last two years, and current food supplies are severely limited by the
conflict, leaving these families with very little to eat, waiting helplessly for external assistance.
Although a new supply market in Duk has emerged for Ganyliel following disruptions of major trade by the
ongoing disaster, the flow of goods into Ganyliel is still distressed. Traders are facing challenges in
transporting commodities into Ganyliel. They are mainly focusing on staple food products, however not
1 FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission to South Sudan 20 February 2014:
http://www.wfp.org/foodsecurity/reports/CFSAM
2 In local administration hierarchy, a payam is almost equivalent to a district.

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with the variety and quantities of goods enough to promote a competitive market system. Consequently
this is pushing prices of these goods out of reach of the general community.
Therefore, program interventions that enhance access to food commodities should be given top priority.
As immediate interventions, humanitarian players should consider supporting and reviving markets in
Greater Ganyliel. This will promote availability and accessibility of food and non-food items for the
affected communities. Alternatively, ways to implement a general food distribution to the Ganyliel
community should be considered. In the longer term, assistance to communities in consideration to their
previous livelihoods is crucial to restore their livelihoods and recovery from the shock. Thus humanitarian
aid which promotes self-reliance to reduce the identified gap in own food production and in threats to
livelihoods should be considered.
INTRODUCTION AND JUSTIFICATION
Massive displacements have been happening throughout South Sudan due to fighting that erupted in
Juba on the 15
th
of December 2013. Much of the conflict has taken place in Upper Nile, Jonglei and Unity
states,
3
resulting in the loss of people’s lives, their assets and disastrous damage to their livelihoods.
Thousands of people living in these states have fled for their lives, leaving behind everything they own.
The payam of Ganyliel, located in Payinjar County in Unity State, is an area surrounded by swamps, and
so considered not easily accessed by armed groups. As a result, it has seen a significant influx of IDPs
from the surrounding areas of Mingkaman, Bentiu, Nyal, Rumbek, Panyijiar headquarters and even from
Juba. Ganyliel is a predominantly Nuer community which is currently under the control of Government
Opposing Forces who are in support of Riek Machar. Most of the Nuer people who were in Dinka areas
close to Panyijiar County including in places which are now Government controlled fled to Ganyliel for
their safety. According to the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, currently nearly 39,000 displaced
individuals are residing among an equally impoverished host community of approximately 37,000
individuals whose resources have been devastated by the current fighting and recent flooding.
At the time of carrying this assessment, the humanitarian situation in Ganyliel was at a critical stage: the
needs are massive, yet there is little humanitarian activity addressing immediate pressing food security
needs. Although the World Food Program (WFP) has been making airdrops, and the IRC & Medair
implementing nutrition support programs, targeting infants and children less than five years old, FSL gaps
still exist. The majority of the IDP and host community families are struggling to put food on their tables.
Key Informants reported that the situation in Ganyliel is not expected to improve in the foreseeable future.
IDPs report that fighting continues in the area, with unpredictable attacks. Since violent attacks are
generally based on tribal differences, many live in fear of ambushes. Participants in five of the FGDs
interviewed confirmed that many IDPs do not plan to return to their places of origin soon. This prolonged
stay of IDPs among an equally strained host community, with no functioning markets and overstretched
resources, increases the risk of more families going hungry, especially if immediate action is not taken to
address current conditions.
STATEMENT OF INTENT
The EFSL assessment intended to gather data on the well-being and food security situation of IDPs and
of the community hosting them. Information regarding issues affecting their food security situation and
their livelihoods was collected based on the following objectives:
3 Interim Report on Human Rights Crisis in South Sudan (February 2014)
http://unmiss.unmissions.org/Portals/unmiss/Documents/PR/Reports/HRD%20Interim%20Report%20on%20Crisis%202014-02-
21.pdf

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Objective(s)
a. Identify vulnerable groups in Ganyliel who are at risk of sliding into food insecurity;
b. Identify current livelihoods and income-generating opportunities for special groups in communities
that include IDPs, women, youth, children, physically disabled and the elderly;
c. Identify and delineate livelihoods groups within targeted geographical locations, and for each
group identify barriers and risks to livelihoods and food security;
d. Identify livelihood opportunities that can be supported to enhance food security and income-
earning opportunities of identified livelihoods groups;
e. Identify barriers to services, programs, and opportunities available to target populations;
f. Examine current IDP livelihood strategies, mechanisms, and skills or resource gaps related to
livelihoods, food security and income-earning opportunities; and
g. Identify the current coping mechanisms of vulnerable communities and seek ways of mitigating
harmful behaviors.
Core Questions
 What is the effect of the current conflict on the IDP and host communities’ FSL situation?
 Which groups of people and individuals are food insecure/secure as a result of the crisis?
 Which livelihoods activities/groups have been most affected by the crisis?
 What is the condition of markets in the affected areas?
 What are the FSL priority needs of the affected population?
METHODOLOGY
This was an EFSL assessment that collected information to gain an understanding of the extent to which
the current conflict in South Sudan poses risks to food security and or livelihoods. Results will be used to
draw conclusions and to come up with recommendations, which will be used to design FSL responses.
The assessment sought to identify groups within communities who have been, or are at risk of being,
affected by the current conflict. At the beginning of the assessment, desk review of sources reporting on
the Ganyliel situation was carried to gain an understanding of the current context. FGDs, each comprising
up to twelve people, were arranged, in each location visited. FGD participants were selected to be
representative of particular livelihood groups in each of the assessed areas. Semi-structured
questionnaires, proportional piling and guidance sheets were used to gather information during FGDs.
Key Informants (KIs) who were considered to have an in-depth knowledge of a community within a
selected location were identified and KIIs were arranged. KIs interviewed included local officials, County
Officials, South Sudan Relief & Rehabilitation Council (RRC) representatives, village heads,
representatives of other humanitarian organisations, veterinarians and fishermen groups. A checklist was
used to collect relevant data on the FSL situation in their locations.
Transact walks and direct observation were used to triangulate data collected, and to take note of the
livelihoods activities being practiced by communities. The assessment team also observed the condition
of people and livestock in the visited locations, interactions between people, access routes to markets
and the state of the market itself.
Limitations
Due to some areas being inaccessible because of weather conditions at the time of this assessment,
primary data could not be gathered from such localities. For example, the assessment team was unable

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to visit Tayar port, as planned, to assess the flow of goods from Duk to Ganyliel and to meet with the
fishermen groups leasing canoes to traders. Furthermore, information given by Ganyliel Traders
regarding the Duk supply market could have been better verified by interviewing Duk suppliers to gain an
understanding of the downstream supply chain. In some areas it was difficult to get participants who were
a true representation of a specific livelihood group since some of the FGDs were organized with little
advanced notice.
Ethical Considerations
Before entering into the communities to gather data, the assessment team started with an official meeting
with the County Commissioner. The team explained the purpose, objectives, target population and the
schedule of the assessment. A courtesy call to the Deputy Coordinator of the RRC was also made. Both
of these local officials provided input into the selection of areas that were assessed- based on their
understanding of the number IDP populations and of affected communities in those locations. The RRC
Coordinator also provided the team with the figures and data on the affected communities in Payinjar
County, both for host and IDP communities. In the communities, during data gathering, participatory
methods and tools were deployed to generate first hand information from local sources.
KEY FINDINGS
A. Livelihoods
i. Farming
According to the FGDs, both the host and IDP communities are predominantly Agro-pastoralists.
Proportional piling
4
for the main livelihoods practiced by the IDP population in their original places
revealed that 60% of their livelihoods came from agriculture, and 30% of the communities also keep
livestock. For both the IDP and host communities, the main staple crop is sorghum, which is cultivated
both in compounds and sometimes on land that is far from the dwellings. Both IDP and host communities
cultivate maize. During the primary growing season sorghum covers most of the cultivatable land, maize
usually takes nearly a quarter and groundnuts a small potion. However, maize is sometimes planted late
in the secondary planting season, which begins in August as indicated on the seasonal calendar below.
According to the FGDs, usually families prefer to consume maize first and store sorghum for the lean
season as it has a longer shelf life. However, when a family produces a surplus of maize, it can be stored
for the lean season as well. Sorghum is a staple food for most families and is consumed at almost every
meal, according to six out of the nine FGDs. Okra, simusimu, eggplant, kudhura, tomatoes and pumpkins
are normally planted during the rainy season and sometimes in vegetable gardens near swamps. All
these constitute family diets in normal years.
4
Proportional piling is an assessment tool that uses tangible items (i.e. seeds, rocks/pebbles) and allows FGD
participants to demonstrate degrees of importance or ratios of stock in different contexts to come up with estimate
percentages for the topic under discussion.

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Figure 1: Seasonal Calendar for Ganyliel- Panyijiar County
Activity May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr
Land preparation for farming
season
Planting; sorghum, millet- (1st
planting season)
Planting Maize & Millet
(secondary planting period)
Planting vegetables: Kudhura,
simusimu, okra, onions, tomato
Harvesting Sorghum
Harvesting Maize & Millet
Rainy Season
Dry Season
Lean/hunger period
High fishing Activities
Livestock milk availability
Five FGDs report that over the last year, as pressure on food mounted, many families ate their seeds.
Which means that this year most families in the host community did not cultivate land as they normally
would, and are only, cultivating small pieces of land after planting the few seeds they managed to save.
Both IDP and host community families are hoping to plant maize in the secondary farming season, which
normally begins in August (refer to the seasonal calendar in Figure 1, above), if they get humanitarian
assistance. The same number of FGDs confirmed that most IDPs are not engaged in farming activities
because they were forced to abandon their land and tools when they fled to Ganyliel. Though most IDP
families now settled in Ganyliel have access to land, they cannot farm because they have no access to
seeds or tools. A few male IDPs originally from Payinjar headquarters, a four-hour walk from Ganyliel, are
going back to prepare land, borrow a few seeds from extended family and plant maize. According to
some IDPs, especially those who came from areas such as Mingkaman, Bentiu, Nyal and Leer, they
might stay in Ganyliel for quite a while depending on the security situation in their places of origin.
ii. Livestock
According to five FGDs, about 30% of the IDP community depended on livestock before the crisis, and a
similar proportion of the host community also depended primarily on livestock. Even livestock keepers
practice farming as livestock are predominantly kept for milk, marriage, to pay ransoms, and for prestige.
Nevertheless, during lean periods, animals are a source of income and or barter to access food. Shoats
(goats & sheep) are sometimes slaughtered to provide meat for the family. All FGDs confirmed that
communities rarely slaughter cattle to consume at the family level unless for ceremonies or celebrations.
Four FGDs and some KIs reported that the number of host community livestock has declined over the
past two years because of floods, diseases, and or animal raids. Livestock diseases, especially Peste des
Petits Ruminants, Black Quarter, Hemorrhagic Septicemia and diarrhea are still common in Ganyliel and
have been contributing to the deaths of animals. Currently, due to the food insecurity crisis, families are
selling more animals than usual at low prices in order to buy food. This is contributing to further reduction
in livestock numbers at the household level. According to a wealth group ranking by six FGDs, the
number of cattle required to qualify as wealthy has decreased from 100 to 40. All the FGDs reported that
IDPs lost their livestock during their displacement.
iii. Fishing

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Fishing supplements many diets in Ganyliel, and is practiced in the Nile river, Munyudeng river and
swamps. From Ganyliel, it takes an average of three hours to walk to the nearest major rivers for fishing.
Proportional pilling revealed that between 15% and 20% of IDP and host communities fish as part of their
livelihood activities. Fishing is mainly done with nets and hooks. Although organized fishermen groups
already exist in the host communities, both FGDs and KIs indicate that fishing has been affected by a lack
of fishing tools. In all FGDs, the same plight was highlighted for the IDPs fish as part of their livelihoods in
their areas of origin.
iv. Current and future livelihoods activities
Data was collected from all the FGDs on what livelihoods activities are happening now and what activities
have the potential of getting started in the next two months. This analysis gave a good picture of
livelihoods now and what may be needed to start or scale up activities in the next two months. Table 1,
below, is a snapshot of the livelihood activities, due to start, re-start or continue within the next 2 months.
Table 1: Livelihood activities now and in the next 2 months
Livelihood
Activities
now & next 2
months
Gender When
usually
starts
Approx
% of HH
involved
Can it be
started
in the
next 2
months?
Assets required to start, re-start or
continue, the activities
Asset
type
Specifications Quantity
/ HH
1. Farming M and F May-July
Aug (maize
& millet)
80 % Yes Tools Jembe, panga, fork,
hoe, axe
1 of each
type
Seeds Maize, Millet, nuts 3kgs
2. Fishing M and F High
activity is
during rainy
season
20% Yes Fishing
tools
Nets
Hooks 20
3. Raising
Livestock
M and F Anytime 30% Yes Cattle,
goats,
sheep
Not assessed Not
assessed
4. Vegetable
Gardens
M and F Anytime
(high
activity is
during the
rainy
season)
40% Yes Seeds Kudhura, cabbage,
tomatoes,
Sukumawiki, carrots,
egg plant, onions
175 gm/
variety
Tools Jembe, panga, fork,
hoe
1 of each
type
5. Poultry F Anytime Not
assed
Yes Indigeno
us
Chicken
n/a n/a
v. Overall Analysis of the livelihoods situation in Ganyliel
Data collected during the assessment reflected that farming of both staple and vegetable crops has been
the livelihood activity most-affected by the crisis, and therefore requires immediate intervention from the
humanitarian community. Fishing also needs humanitarian intervention as those who engage in this
activity lack the necessary tools to continue their livelihoods. Whilst host communities still possess
livestock and are receiving animal health assistance from humanitarian actors such as Veterinaries Sans
Frontieres - Suisse, the IDP families may need a re-stocking program. Small ruminants, which are easily
disposable either through barter or sale in the market for food and income, could be distributed to
vulnerable communities. This would assist such families whose livelihood was mainly based on raising
livestock recover from the crisis. Seeds and tools, as detailed in the table above, could also be distributed
to families.

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B. Income and Expenditure
i. Income
Both the IDP and host communities’ sources of income have been greatly affected by the crisis.
According to KIs and FGDs, during normal years families earn income through collecting and selling
firewood, collecting and selling grass, waged employment, selling of livestock and remittances from
relatives. Many people are still collecting and selling grass and firewood, as well as wild fruits, waged
income and remittances have been affected as many people are out of employment due to the ongoing
violence. However, FGD participants revealed that due to escalating costs of leaving, the little money that
is earned from these activities is not sufficient to sustain families. Meanwhile, a new source of income has
also emerged for women. Traders are engaging women to carry bags of sorghum by head from the
Ganyliel port to the market for the paltry amount of 10 South Sudan Pounds (SSP), just enough to buy a
few grams of salt. Table 2, below, ranks the current sources of income for the assessed communities.
Table 2: Income earning Opportunities of the Panyijiar Community
# Activity Rank Income Realised/Comments
1 Selling livestock (host community) 1 Average price for cattle is SSP 450, goat is SSP 150,
2 Collecting and selling firewood 2 A small bundle is SSP 1
3 Collecting and selling grass 3 A small bundle is SSP 1
4 Transporting traders’ commodities on
foot
2 Carrying one 50kg bag of Sorghum for a distance of
approximately two miles at SSP 10. Amount not enough to
buy 3.5 kg of sorghum (enough for a single meal for a
family of five), which costs SSP 40 in local market.
One source of income for the host community is selling some of their animals. Many people have resorted
to selling more animals than usual in order to buy food, but they are unable to get good prices for their
animals because demand is so low. According to all FGDs interviewed, demand for livestock has
decreased as few traders are utilizing this opportunity to buy cattle at low prices in anticipation of selling
at a profit once the situation normalizes.
ii. Expenditure
The expenditure pattern for host communities is similar to IDP communities at their place of origin. In a
normal year, during this time of the year, the lean season, the most predominant expenditure is food,
followed by investing in livestock assets, and purchase of productive assets. Last year’s poor harvest,
displacements, lack of income-earning opportunities and escalation of market prices makes food to still
remain a top priority on their spending patterns for the past two years and now. Please refer to Table 3,
below, to have better understanding of the expenditure pattern of the communities.
Table 3: Households expenses for a Nuer community – Pre- and Post-Crisis Periods
# Expenses Rank
(Pre-
Crisis)
Rank
(Post
crisis)
Remarks
1 Food 1 1 Sorghum, cooking oil, sugar, salt, meat/fish,
wheat flour, onions
2 Human Health Care 4 2 Drugs
3 Invest in livestock assets 2 Cattle, goats, sheep,

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4 Animal Health care 5 Currently Veterinaries Sans Frontieres - Suisse is
carrying animal vaccination campaigns
5 Education 4
6 Purchase of productive assets 3 Seeds, Fishing and Farming tools
7 Re/Construction of Houses 4
C. Food Situation
According to the current food security phase classification by Famine Early Warning Systems Network
(FEWSNET) all of Panyijiar County, including Ganyliel payam, is in emergency phase (IPC 4). This
means that people are unable to meet basic survival needs even with extreme coping mechanisms, such
as selling all of their livestock.
5
KIs and FGDs that participated in this assessment mentioned food as an
urgent and the highest priority for all IDPs and host communities (refer to Table 3, above). Households’
food and livelihoods resources have been stretched to the limit, and families are relying mostly on wild
food sources such as water lilies and fruit from surrounding forests.
Table 4, below, details the food sources for an average household during this time of the year. It shows
comparisons for the pre- and post-crisis periods as revealed through proportional piling, along with the
impact of the conflict on the various food sources.
Table 4: IDP Food Sources and Food Gaps (Access and Availability Pre- & Post-Crisis)
# Sources Pre-
Crisis
(%)
Post-
Crisis
(%)
Comments
1 Purchases 20 5 Sources of income including sell of livestock (host
communities) at reasonable prices to buy food have been
greatly affected. Markets are not functioning,
2 Own Agric Production 30 0 For host communities: own food has been reduced to 5%
whilst for IDPs it is 0%. Own food for host communities
includes consumption of seeds and vegetables.
3 Own Livestock–Milk,
Meat
20 0 Post conflict for host families with animals its 10%. IDPs’
reliance on livestock is 0%.
4 Gifts/Charity/Neighbors 5 10 Community is sharing with other each other.
5 Labor (paid in
food/cash)
5 0 No more labor opportunities exist, head-porting sorghum for
traders is considered insignificant.
6 Relief/Food Aid 10 5 WFP air drops are currently not meeting needs.
7 Gathering wild fruits 10 20 Families are relying on the forest for wild vegetables, fruits and
on water lily roots.
Gap 60
Total Percentage 100% 100%
According to the data collected, most IDP households are facing a 60% gap in the food they can access
now compared to before the crisis, and a similar gap exists for host communities. Even before the crisis,
many host communities were facing a food deficit because of the poor 2013 harvest when crops were
damaged by floods. All FGDs confirmed that for IDPs the 2013 harvest, which was left in home storage
facilities when they fled, was either looted, burnt or abandoned during the conflict. These stressors have
resulted in a significant reduction in food consumed from own production. Purchasing power has also
5 FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission to South Sudan 20 February 2014:
http://www.wfp.org/foodsecurity/reports/CFSAM

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reduced significantly because of price increases and the fact communities’ lack of income-earning
opportunities. Without external assistance affected communities will not be able to cover their gap in
needs.
Access to Food
Currently, there is limited humanitarian activity to address access to food by communities in the
immediate term. The conflict and insecure transport routes prevented WFP, the major humanitarian actor
in Ganyliel food distributions, and market actors from being able to pre-position food stocks as usual to
cover the hunger gap in the lean season. The small airstrip in Ganyliel cannot accommodate large aircraft
to land with cargo. Therefore, WFP has been making airdrops of food. However, according to KIs and all
FGDs, since the crisis happened in December 2013, WFP has only managed to carry two airdrops, on
the 24
th
of March and the 22
nd
of May 2014. Each airdrop provided 7.5kg of sorghum, 700gm of lintel and
420gm of cooking oil per individual; food rations enough for only 15 days. All FGDs confirmed that
because families cannot access food, or even food assistance, they are largely depending on gathering
wild fruits and water lilies for basic survival. Consequently, malnutrition rates are soaring. A recent IRC
Nutritional Anthropometry and Mortality Survey in Ganyliel found that the Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM)
rate is 31.6%, and the Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) rate is 9.7%. These malnutrition rates are
significantly higher than the acceptable thresholds of 15% for GAM and 4% for SAM in South Sudan.
6
Fishing, which could have otherwise cushioned most families from severe hunger, is not possible
because the communities do not have the necessary fishing equipment. The forests have recently been a
major source of food for many families, However many KIs report that, with the rains coming, and the
influx of IDPs in the area, the wild fruits have been nearly exhausted.
Food Utilisation
The assessment also looked at family diets pre- and
post-crisis. According to six FGDs, diets have
changed (see Table 6, below) as have number of
meals consumed in a day. Currently, most people
are consuming a single light meal in the evening
mainly composed of wild vegetables, wild fruits and
sometimes sorghum. Some families have gone a full
day without eating anything, because they have no
access to food. In normal years, most families would
consume at least two meals a day, with light foods
such as groundnuts consumed in-between meals.
This difference between pre- and post-crisis
consumption illustrates how dire the food security
situation is in Ganyliel. Further deterioration in food
security is likely given the current reduction in
farming activity, the significantly reduced income
paired with high prices for staple foods, and families’
6 Nutritional Anthropometry and Mortality Surveys Panyijiar County; Unity State, Republic of South Sudan April 2014

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inability to reach markets.
7
Without urgent action, this deterioration, in combination with high existing
levels of malnutrition and mortality, suggests that famine (IPC Phase 5) is possible in Ganyliel in the
coming next few months
8
.
The table below details which food types were consumed in a 24-hour period before the conflict (typical
day) and after the conflict (now) by IDPs, to calculate the average Household Dietary Diversity Score
(HDDS); see the bottom row of the table for HDDS before and after the crisis.
Table 5: Household Dietary Diversity Score
Food Type Food Type consumed
in 1 day (24 hours)
Comments
Pre-Crisis Post-Crisis
(Now)
Cereals
 
Although sorghum is still consumed now, the quantity and
frequency has been greatly reduced. Pre-crisis, families
would consume maize, millet and sometimes wheat.
Roots and Tubers

In normal years, Irish potatoes and sweet potatoes would be
accessed from the markets or own production,
Pulses, Legumes and
Nuts  
Currently families are consuming lentils, only after WFP
distributions.
Vegetables (kudhura,
dhodho, simusimu)  
Currently families are gathering wild vegetables, mostly
kudhura, from the forest, whereas during normal years
tomatoes, simusimu, onions are part of their diets.
Fruits 
Meat / Poultry/Offal

Before crisis it was eaten around once a week and now it is
eaten more rarely.
Eggs 
Fish
 
In normal periods, families either would go fishing or buy
from the market. Frequency and quantity had reduced post-
conflict.
Milk and milk products

Host communities now consume milk less frequently. IDPs
do not have animals and rarely do they consume milk.
Oil / fat 
Sugar 
Wild fruits (including
water lilies)  
Seven FGDs confirmed that they never consumed water
lilies before the crisis.
Total HDDS Score 12 5
A look at the table above indicates that dietary diversity has deteriorated significantly since the crisis. IDP
consumption of cereals, roots and tubers, pulses, legumes & nuts, fruits, vegetables, meat & poultry,
eggs, fish, milk, oils, fats and sugar having been most affected. Host community food consumption
represents a similar reduction in HDDS.
i. Coping Mechanisms
The main shocks households are currently facing include limited supply and high cost of food, limited
access to income-earning opportunities, and a decrease in livestock prices (including terms of trade)
7 Famine Early Warning Systems Network (http://www.fews.net) May 2014 to September 2014:-
http://www.fews.net/%C3%A1frica-del-este/food-security-outlook/sun-2014-05-25-tue-2014-09-30
8 Famine Early Warning Systems Network (http://www.fews.net) May 2014 to September 2014:
http://www.fews.net/%C3%A1frica-del-este/food-security-outlook/sun-2014-05-25-tue-2014-09-30

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against rising food prices in the market. According to all FGDs currently families are resorting to the
following coping mechanisms:
- limiting the portion and/or size of meals consumed;
- missing meals, six of nine FGDs revealed that some families are going a full day without
eating;
- borrowing from neighbors and;
- selling more animals than usual.
D. Markets
In normal periods traders from Ganyliel purchase goods from Juba, Bor and Malakal. The market maps in
Figures 2 and 3 detail the supply routes for Ganyliel both pre- and post-crisis. These locations are
predominantly occupied by Dinka and are currently controlled by government forces. Confirmation by five
out of the seven traders interviewed, and some of the KIs, showed that Juba and Bor supplied nearly 70%
and 20% of commodities, respectively. The Nile river was utilized as an access route because of the poor
road network and other supply chain barriers to trade in Ganyliel. Since the crisis started, it is insecure for
the Nuer traders to do business in government-controlled areas, which has completely stopped trade with
the afore-mentioned areas, which previously served as a primary source for supplies for traders in
Ganyliel..
Duk market, although predominantly Dinka, has good relations with traders in Ganyliel, and has emerged
as a new supply market. Fishermen have started transporting goods, especially sorghum, from Duk using
traditional canoes. Traders hire a single canoe, which has the capacity to carry a maximum of fifteen 50kg
bags of sorghum from the fishermen. According to four of the interviewed traders, on average it usually
takes about two weeks to travel from Ganyliel to Duk and back for re-stocking. Table 6, below, presents
data collected and analyzed from all the traders to show the costs that are incurred in purchasing at least
ten bags of sorghum from Duk.
Table 6: Costs of transporting 10 bags of sorghum from Duk Supply Market to Ganyliel
9
More than three quarters of the FGDs indicated that from June of this year until the next harvest in
September, families will have to depend on the markets for food. Analyzed data reflected that purchases
tend to peak between May and September, the lean season. The current crisis in the whole of Unity State
has worsened access to supply markets as trade routes are now insecure, negatively impacting food
availability in Ganyliel. The Greater Ganyliel market has started showing signs of reviving. However, very
few goods are getting into the markets as traders are facing transport challenges. In Pachak, Pachar,
Pachienjok, and Payinjar, markets are completely non-functional, forcing consumers to depend solely on
Greater Ganyliel market. Consequently, the main commodity that remains available, sorghum is in high
demand. However most families are not able to purchase enough to feed their families because prices
9 USD 1= SSP 3.7
# Description Unit Quantity Unit
Cost
SSP
Total
Cost
SSP
1 Hiring Canoe (Tayar to Duk) round-trip 1 700 700
2 Bag of Sorghum 50 kg 10 450 4,500
3 Port Fees Fees n/a 100 100
4 Hiring Canoe (Tayar to Ganyliel) 50kg 10 25 250
5 Head Porters n/a 10 10 100
Total 5,650

12. From Harm To Home | Rescue.org
are now four times higher than they were at the beginning of the crisis in December 2013. A 50kg bag of
sorghum, which normally costs SSP 150, is now selling for SSP 560. The limited supply and variety of
food items available at reasonable prices, coupled with low purchasing power, are major obstacles to
market access by people, according to the communities assessed.
All FGDs and KIs interviewed confirmed that the terms of trade have also changed, putting desperate
livestock sellers at a great disadvantage. While livestock keepers are willing to sell their animals, the
prices of livestock have been greatly reduced as demand for livestock is low in the market. A cow that
may have sold for SSP 1,200 before the crisis is now selling at just SSP 450 on the market. This amount
is not even enough to purchase a bag of sorghum sufficient to feed a family of five people for one week.
Therefore, efforts by the humanitarian community to re-stabilize markets in Ganyliel are crucial to avoid
further deterioration in food insecurity status in this location. Table 7, below, gives details of the cost of
essential food items accessible and available in the Ganyliel market at the time of the assessment.
Table 7: Commodity prices in Ganyliel Markets
# Commodity Unit Price
Pre-Crisis
(SSP)
Current
Price
(SSP)
1 Sorghum 50Kg 150 560
2 Soap Bar 8 10
3 Goat Head 150 250
4 Cattle Head 1200 450
5 Chicken Live 10 30
6 Meat ( beef) 1 kg 15 25
7 Sugar 50kg 400 1250
8 Sugar 3.5 kg 20 50
9 Salt 100g 5 35
10 Cooking Oil (Oki) 20L 300 800
11 Cooking Oil (Oki) 200ml 2 5
12 Lintels 50kg 500 700
13 Bundle of firewood Bundle 1 1
14 Fresh Fish Small 10 15
15 Fresh Fish Medium 35 50
16 Fresh Fish Big 15 20
17 Fish (Dried) Strip 15 25
18 Aradep (wild fruit) Potion 1 2
According to five of the seven interviewed traders, the majority of traders would be able to restock
essential food and non-food items within 14 days. Most traders report having the capacity to double or
triple their stock of essential food items if there was reliable transport to purchase goods from the supply
market in Duk. Based on the information gathered, it can be concluded that local markets and shops do
not have the capacity to respond if cash transfers are given to affected households to buy essential food
items. Supply of commodities is still limited and there is still an absence of supply on variety of goods
because of limited transportation routes. Therefore, any support given to consumers should include a
parallel intervention that supports traders to increase their supply in order to meet expected increases in
demand. This would likely require the provision of reliable transport services to enable traders to re-stock.

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RECOMMENDATIONS
To address the existing gaps in current needs it is recommended that humanitarian actors implement a two-
phased approach to FSL programming. Phase I should focus on improving communities’ immediate access to
food. A parallel long-term recovery and stabilization program can be implemented to increase communities’
resilience to food and livelihoods situations. Alternatively, the recovery and development activities can be
implemented as a phase II program. Effective interventions could include the following activities:
a. Immediate/Short-Term Program: Improve Communities’ Access to Food
i. Support or revive local markets to benefit IDP and host communities in Ganyliel and the surrounding
areas. The humanitarian community should consider working with local traders, local officials and
other stakeholders to revive the supply chain and flow of goods into Ganyliel markets. Traders have
reported having the financial resources to increase their current stocks, transporting goods into
Ganyliel poses a challenge. The conflict has disrupted the usual supply routes for Ganyliel and,
because this area has poor road transport connections, the Nile river is now the only available option
used to transport goods and services from new supply markets. However, lack of proper water
transport facilities makes this new route difficult for the traders to fully stock their shops. Traders,
therefore, need assistance with transporting commodities into Ganyliel in order to meet demand. One
possible intervention would be providing access to a motorized boat with increased cargo capacity,
possibly in collaboration with fishermen, who are currently transporting traders and goods in their
canoes.. A motorised boat would both reduce the length of time per trip, and would increase the
amount of cargo per trip. This should increase the supply and diversity of goods in Ganyliel markets,
which should result in lower prices for basic commodities, thereby increasing communities’ access to
food.
ii. Stimulate demand for goods and services by providing cash grants and cash for work
opportunities to targeted groups of people within the community. Although a blanket food distribution
exercise is vital in Ganyliel at this stage, vulnerable groups of people in the community are bearing the
heaviest weight of this crisis. According to all FGDs, specific groups such as female-headed families,
the elderly, disabled-headed families, pregnant and lactating women, and child-headed families are
particularly vulnerable to food insecurity. Therefore, their access to the revived market for basic food
needs should be aided through a direct cash transfer grant. This way, their purchasing power will be
increased in order to access food and basic commodities in the market. Cash grants would increase
the market access of these vulnerable groups, thereby improving their ability to meet their food needs,
while simultaneously supporting reviving markets. Cash for work activities should specifically target
young people to help ensure they have positive opportunities so that they are less likely to join armed
groups. Participants in cash for work programs could be engaged in infrastructural work to create or
rehabilitate assets that will benefit the wider community.
iii. Provide immediate access to food by the affected communities through a blanket food
distribution program at least to the next harvest season whilst taking precautionary measures to avoid
doing harm to market revival responses. Analysis of data collected revealed that the wider community
in Ganyliel is food insecure; therefore a blanket food distribution should be considered. Since access
to Ganyliel by road is almost impossible humanitarian actors can opt to airlifting of food the same way
IRC and Medair are doing for medical and veterinary supplies or replicate and upscale WFP’s efforts in
carrying out air drops. However, caution should be exercised in implementing this activity since it may
disrupt the market which has started showing signs of life.

14. From Harm To Home | Rescue.org
b. Long-term Programming: Building Resilience by Supporting Food Production and Livelihoods Promotion
Activities
Humanitarian players can implement a recovery and stabilization program that produces long-lasting results.
Activities under this component can be designed to build communities’ capacity to produce their own food and
be resilient and self-sustainable. Below are activities that can be implemented to achieve this goal.
i. Procure and distribute vegetable and maize seeds to the affected communities who have access to
arable land for them to produce their own food and potentially surplus for the market. Many IDP and
host community members have access to land, but do not have seeds to plant or tools with which to
cultivate the land. The seeds provided should include numerous kinds of vegetable seeds to enhance
the variety of vegetables consumed at household level. While vegetables can be cultivated any time
during the year utilizing swamps during the dry season, cereals such as maize and millet can only be
planted by or before the month of August since they rely on rainfall. In order to promote good
horticultural and farming practices that utilize low-cost farming methods while realising high yields,
demonstration plots can be established at public institutions such as health and nutrition stabilization
centers. The products from these plots can be used to serve community members accessing the
centers. Lead farmers can be identified and trained to develop, manage and run similar demonstration
plots and nutrition gardens in the community.
ii. Design livestock support programs meant to assist livestock keepers to maintain existing
animal heads and to re-start livestock keeping activities. Animal health activities which support
livestock keepers, especially the host communities should continue. There is room to scale up
interventions from focusing on animal vaccines to include activities like de-worming and also to build
capacity of communities to run animal health campaigns through training of Community animal health
workers. A few IDP families who registered that they will permanently stay in Ganyliel may need a re-
stocking program. Shoats, which are easily disposable either through barter or sale in the market for
food and income, could be distributed to such people. This would assist such families whose livelihood
in original places was mainly based on raising livestock to recover from the crisis.
iii. Assist fishermen and fishermen groups to strengthen or re-start their livelihoods by providing
fishing tools such as; hooks, twines, spools and nets. Fishing supplements family diets and provides
income for individuals who practice it. This should be targeted at fishing groups which are already
existing, to host communities and to those IDPs whose previous livelihood was mainly dependant on
fishing .Associated training on fishing and preservation techniques can be considered as follow up
activities
iv. Advocate for peace and security and lobby on behalf of the affected communities for
authorities to publicly announce the willingness to implement the Addis Agreement (which has
promises for a cease-fire and to end war in South Sudan). This assurance from conflicting parties will
give enough security for the traders to move freely to bring goods from traditional supply routes and
from the nearby markets.

15. The market environment: institutions, rules,
norms & trends
The market chain:
market actors & their linkages
Key infrastructure, inputs
and market-support services
Juba
Tayar Port
(Transit Point)
Greater Ganyliel
Communities
Market-system Map: - Basic Commodities
Security
Reliable Transport!
Canoes
Boats (from Juba)
Road!
Ganyliel Traders
N= 141
Bor County– (Jonglei
State)
V= 20 %
WFP (Prepositioning
Facilities in Payinjar)
Good tribal
relations
Shambek Port (Lake
Sate)
V=5%
Payinjar Traders
N= 42
Malakal and Bentiu
Markets (Upper
Nile & Unity
States)
Leer (Adok Port-Unity)
V=5%
V=70%
Key
V= Volume
P= Price
N= Number
!= Critical Situation
Livestock, Agric Products
Criminal
Activity!
Figure 2: Pre-Crisis Market Supply Chain for Ganyliel

16. The market environment:
institutions, rules,
norms & trends
The market chain:
market actors & their linkages
Key infrastructure, inputs
and market-support services
Juba
Tayar Market
(Transit Point)
150 Bags-
sorghum /week
Greater Ganyliel &
IDP Communities
(Target Group)
Market-system Map: Basic Commodities
Head Porters (women)
Canoes!
Boats (from Juba)!
Fishermen
(Middlemen)
Ganyliel
N= 30
Panyijiar Traders
N= 0!
Bor County– (Jonglei
State) WFP
(Not Reliable-less
frequent)
Insecurity
!
Leer (Adok Port-Unity)
Shambek Port (Lake
Sate)
Duk County
(Jonglei State-
Dinka Bor)
Key
N = Number
V = Volume
! = Critical issue
100% = Total Reliance
= Partial disruption
= Complete disruption
Malakal and Bentiu
Markets (Upper Nile &
Unity States)
Criminal
Activity!
Livestock, Agric Products
V=100%
Good Tribal Relations-
Duk (Dinka) &
Ganyliel (Nuer)Port Fees!
V=30%
V=60%
V= 3%
V= 5%
Low Purchasing
power!
Skewed
terms of
trade!
Figure 3: Post-Crisis Market Supply Chain for Ganyliel

17. From Harm To Home | Rescue.org
Secondary Data Sources
1. Black et al. Maternal and Child Undernutrition 1: “Maternal and child undernutrition: global and regional
exposures and health consequences.” The Lancet, Volume 371, Issue 9608, Pages 243 - 260, 19 January
2008,
2. FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission to South Sudan 20 February 2014:
http://www.wfp.org/foodsecurity/reports/CFSAM
3. Interim Report on Human Rights Crisis in South Sudan (February 2014 )
http://unmiss.unmissions.org/Portals/unmiss/Documents/PR/Reports/HRD%20Interim%20Report%20on%20Crisis%20201
4-02-21.pdf,
4. Loaded Guns and Empty Stomach (A report on Food Security by Care International):-
reliefweb.int/report/.../loaded-guns-and-empty-stomachs-fixing-food...
5. IRC Nutritional Anthropometry and Mortality Surveys, Preliminary Report, Panyijiar County; Unity state
Republic of South Sudan, April 2014