Akobo County
Encyclopedia
Location
The county is located in Jonglei StateJonglei
Jonglei is one of the 10 states of South Sudan. Jonglei is the largest state in the Republic of South Sudan, with approximately 122,479 km2, as well as the most populous according to the controversial 2008 census conducted during present-day South Sudan's second period of autonomy. Bor is the...
, in eastern South Sudan
South Sudan
South Sudan , officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN sub-region. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more...
, bordering the country of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. The county headqarters at Akobo are located approximately 450 kilometres (279.6 mi), by road, northeast of Juba, the capital and largest city in the country. The coordinates of Akobo County are:Latitude:7.8000; Longitude:33.0000.
Overview
The county is one of the eleven (11) counties that constitute Jonglei StateJonglei
Jonglei is one of the 10 states of South Sudan. Jonglei is the largest state in the Republic of South Sudan, with approximately 122,479 km2, as well as the most populous according to the controversial 2008 census conducted during present-day South Sudan's second period of autonomy. Bor is the...
. The county is prone to drought and the population is nomadic, sometimes migrating to other locations in search of water and pasture for their livestock. Due to the insecurity associated with military conflict between Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
and South Sudan
South Sudan
South Sudan , officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN sub-region. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more...
, some of the inhabitants of the county have sought refuge in neighboring Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. Some of those refugees are expected to return following the independence of South Sudan in July 2011.
In 2010, a nutrition survey of young children was carried out by Medair and Save the Children in Southern Sudan (SCiSS). The study found high rates of acute malnutrition and poor child health indicators. These poor indicators included: high percentage of diarrhoea cases among the population, low measles immunity and low levels of vitamin A among the population. The rates of Global Acute Malnutrition
Global Acute Malnutrition
Global Acute Malnutrition is a measurement of the nutritional status of a population that is often used in protracted refugee situations.Along with the Crude Mortality Rate, it is one of the basic indicators for assessing the severity of a humanitarian crisis.-Definition:To evaluate levels of GAM,...
were above the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
(WHO) crisis level but death rates were below WHO
Who
Who may refer to:* Who , an English-language pronoun* who , a Unix command* Who?, one of the Five Ws in journalism- Art and entertainment :* Who? , a 1958 novel by Algis Budrys...
emergency levels. The researchers concluded that may be the feeding programme started in 2009 was enough to prevent some deaths, or that the more vulnerable died during the civil strife of 2009.
Population
According to the 2008 South SudanSouth Sudan
South Sudan , officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN sub-region. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more...
ese census, the population of Akobo County was estimated at 136,210. Of these, 60,896 (44.7%) were female and 75,314 (55.3%) were male. The maim ethnic groups are Lou Nuer and Murle
Murle
The Murle are an ethnic group residing in Pibor County, Jonglei State, South Sudan as well as in Ethiopia. They have also been referred to in the literature as Beir by the Dinka or others who got information from them...
. The Ciro Anyuak make up about 3% of the county's population.