Understanding the humanitarian cluster system
A beginner-friendly guide to how humanitarian coordination works.
Humanitarian & Resilience
South Sudan faces layered humanitarian challenges — conflict, displacement, food insecurity, and climate shocks. This section explains the crisis landscape while highlighting how communities adapt, survive, and rebuild.
Protection
Displacement
Food insecurity
Crisis response
Resilience
Humanitarian needs
Millions require food, shelter, protection, and basic services annually.
NeedsDisplacement
Conflict and flooding continue to displace households within and across borders.
DisplacementClimate shocks
Flooding, drought, and seasonal extremes shape livelihoods and humanitarian trends.
ClimateThe humanitarian landscape
South Sudan’s humanitarian situation reflects a combination of conflict, cyclical flooding, weak infrastructure, and limited public services. Millions rely on aid to meet basic needs.
Key drivers of needs
- Localised conflict and insecurity.
- Regular flooding disrupting homes, crops, and markets.
- Food insecurity driven by climate, prices, and access.
- Weak basic services and infrastructure.
Who responds?
- Humanitarian agencies and NGOs.
- Faith-based organisations.
- Community networks and youth volunteers.
- Government and local authorities.
Displacement & protection
Conflict, cattle raiding, localised violence, and severe flooding continue to displace communities. Protection needs are often highest in hard-to-reach or contested areas.
Internal displacement
Many displaced people live with host communities, in settlement sites, or move seasonally depending on safety and access.
IDPsCross-border movement
Border areas see flows of people fleeing violence or returning after displacement.
Cross-borderProtection concerns
Vulnerabilities include family separation, gender-based violence, and lack of safe spaces.
ProtectionServices & referrals
Case management, psychosocial support, and legal aid are essential for protection.
ServicesHost communities
Communities often share limited resources, highlighting the importance of supporting both IDPs and hosts.
HostsLocal solutions
Community protection committees and youth groups address conflict, early warning, and mediation.
CommunityFood insecurity & livelihoods
Large portions of the population face seasonal or chronic food insecurity, influenced by production, markets, climate, and access constraints.
Why food insecurity persists
- Floods destroying crops and grazing land.
- Limited tools, seeds, and extension services.
- Insecurity affecting market access.
- High prices for food and fuel.
Livelihood resilience
- Fishing, gathering, and small-scale farming help households cope.
- Communities diversify income sources seasonally.
- Humanitarian livelihoods programs support training and inputs.
Climate shocks & environmental resilience
Seasonal flooding affects vast areas, while drought impacts pastoralists and towns. Climate change worsens the frequency and intensity of these events.
- Long-term flooding in the Sudd region affects mobility and agriculture.
- Drought affects water points and grazing lands for pastoralists.
- Changing rainfall patterns disrupt planting seasons.
- Communities adapt through migration, savings groups, and diversified livelihoods.
Future versions can include flood maps, climate models, and rainfall projections.
Humanitarian response mechanisms
Humanitarian actors coordinate through clusters, local authorities, and community structures to deliver assistance across sectors.
Food assistance
Targeted food distributions, vouchers, and cash support.
FoodHealth services
Mobile clinics, vaccinations, maternal care, and emergency response.
HealthWater & sanitation
Water point rehabilitation, water trucking, and hygiene promotion.
WASHProtection
Case management, safe spaces, legal support, and gender-based violence response.
ProtectionNutrition
Treatment of malnutrition through OTP/SC programs and prevention screenings.
NutritionEducation in emergencies
Temporary learning spaces, school supplies, and accelerated learning for displaced children.
EducationCommunity resilience & recovery
Even amidst crises, communities consistently demonstrate resilience through self-organisation, adaptation, and local leadership.
- Youth-led peacebuilding and local mediation groups.
- Women’s groups organising savings and lending circles.
- Traditional coping strategies such as fishing and livestock mobility.
- Community early warning and preparedness committees.
- Reconstruction of shelters and access routes after floods.
This section will later include profiles of resilience initiatives and local heroes.
Suggested reading & insights
You may later replace these with curated reports or your own briefs.
Coping and adaptation in flood-affected areas
How households adapt food, water, and movement strategies during prolonged floods.
Protection in displacement settings
Understanding protection principles in humanitarian operations.