A/HRC/40/CRP.1 Figure 2: Annual budget by sector as disbursed Extremely high levels of inflation continue to make food and basic commodities ever more expensive and unattainable for the average citizen. Inflation between July 2017 and July 2018 was estimated to be 123 percent.187 In the two and a half years since the move from a fixed exchange rate arrangement to a managed float, in January 2016 and July 2018, the SSP has depreciated by 790 percent.188 Despite the arrears owed to civil servants and inflation cutting into the ability of ordinary citizens to feed and support themselves, in July 2018, the Government reportedly gave 400 Members of Parliament USD $40,000 each to allow them to purchase vehicles, amounting to a total expenditure of USD $16 million.189 This occurred just two weeks after MPs voted for the extension of the President’s mandate until 2021. A more detailed discussion of the relationship between the economy, the conflict and the human rights situation can be found in the thematic sections below. B. Humanitarian Situation While the signing of the new peace agreement may have brought hope to the South Sudanese, it has not brought immediate relief in terms of the dire humanitarian situation. The Human Development Index (HDI), which measures three basic dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, access to knowledge and a decent standard of living, ranked South Sudan at 187 out of 189 countries in 2017. 190 Between 2010 and 2017, South Sudan’s HDI score decreased from 0.413 to 0.388. 1. Starvation and Food Insecurity South Sudan continues to face extreme levels of food insecurity with almost 60 percent of its population severely food insecure. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system, during the lean season of July and August 2018 it was estimated at 6.1 million people in South Sudan faced Crisis (Phase 3) or worse acute food insecurity including 47,000 people who were in Catastrophe/Famine (Phase 5) situations and 1.7 million people in Emergency (Phase 4) situations. While the situation was expected to improve somewhat during the post-harvest season between October and December, it was nonetheless predicted that 4.4 million people (43 percent of the population) would still face Crisis situations or worse, including 26,000 who would still be facing 187 United Nations Security Council, Report of the Secretary-General on South Sudan (covering the period from 4 June to 1 September 2018), S/2018/831, 11 September 2018. 188 World Bank, South Sudan Economic Update, July 2018. 189 Eye Radio, “Citizens outraged as MPs get $40,000 car loan”, 27 July 2018; BBC, “South Sudan spends $16m on cars for MPs”, 26 July 2018. 190 UNDP, Human Development Indices and Indicators: 2018 Statistical Update: South Sudan. 31