South Sudan Protection Analysis Update

This South Sudan Protection Analysis Update places a thematic focus on protection risks facing persons with disabilities and older persons.

The most recent census reported that 5% of the population in South Sudan, or approximately 424,000 people, were living with a disability. However, the current number is likely to be much higher, possibly reaching 1.2 million people, or 16% of the population, according to the global estimate. Data in South Sudan also suggests a rapid increase in the number of older persons each year, mounting to 5.1% of total population with this percentage expected to continue to steadily increase.

People with disabilities and older people in South Sudan are often excluded and face multiple challenges in accessing essential services and protection. Decades of civil war have increased the number of older people and persons with disabilities who are being left behind as they are unable to flee due to chronic health conditions and mobility impairments. People who have managed to flee the violence are often faced with barriers accessing protection and health services. Therefore, older people with and without disabilities in South Sudan face higher risks and greater challenges in getting the necessary humanitarian assistance.

The protection risks requiring immediate attention in the period covered by this analysis are:

1. Discrimination and stigmatization, denial of resources, opportunities, services and/or humanitarian access 
2. Gender-based violence
3. Torture or inhuman, cruel, or degrading treatment.