South Sudan humanitarian crisis worsens as conflict, hunger and disease persist

Credit: Doctors Without Borders

South Sudan’s humanitarian crisis is deepening as conflict, food insecurity, disease outbreaks and climate shocks continue to drive displacement and increase needs across the country, the United Nations said in its latest humanitarian update.

More than 35,000 people affected by conflict in Akobo West Payam in Jonglei state urgently need humanitarian assistance, according to an assessment conducted Aug. 10. Basic services in several communities have largely collapsed since fighting began in December 2025.

Health services have been severely disrupted, with a health center in Wechjal looted and left without medicines, equipment and vaccines. Routine immunization has stopped, while malaria and acute watery diarrhea are among the main health concerns. Reports also indicate high levels of acute malnutrition and maternal deaths, with limited access to emergency obstetric care.

Humanitarian agencies have begun scaling up assistance in Akobo West and surrounding areas. Food distribution started Aug. 10 in Waat and Lankien in Nyirol County and in parts of Akobo West after local authorities provided assurances for humanitarian access.

The World Food Programme is registering affected households and distributing food, while humanitarian teams are providing health, nutrition, water and sanitation, protection and shelter assistance.

Food insecurity remains critical in several parts of the country. An assessment in Lafon County in Eastern Equatoria state found severe hunger, crop failures, depleted food stocks and increased reliance on negative coping strategies.

A nutrition survey in Guit County in Unity state found that 36.2% of children under 5 were suffering from global acute malnutrition, a level considered extremely critical.

More than 650,000 refugees and asylum-seekers in South Sudan are at risk of losing access to food and nutrition assistance because of critical funding shortages, the U.N. refugee agency and World Food Programme warned Aug. 14.

Without urgent funding, assistance for the most vulnerable 240,000 refugees could end in September. As many as 3,000 refugees and returnees continue to arrive from Sudan each week, adding pressure to already stretched humanitarian resources. More than 1.4 million refugees and returnees have crossed into South Sudan since war erupted in Sudan in April 2023.

Humanitarian access is also becoming increasingly difficult. The U.N. recorded 65 access incidents in July, up from 63 in June, with Upper Nile, Central Equatoria, Jonglei and Unity among the most affected areas.

Aid operations have been disrupted by insecurity, attacks on humanitarian convoys, abductions, looting of health facilities and movement restrictions.

On Aug. 7, armed groups attacked a humanitarian convoy traveling from Juba to Nagero County in Western Equatoria state. The two drivers were held at gunpoint, assaulted and robbed. One truck carrying relief supplies was burned along with its cargo, while a second truck was damaged and partially looted.

The supplies were intended for nearly 30,000 displaced people in Nagero.

Four humanitarian workers were abducted Aug. 11 along the Yei-Lasu Road in Central Equatoria while transporting Ebola prevention supplies to a border area. They were released Aug. 14 following negotiations involving the United Nations and other partners.

Violence has also triggered fresh displacement. More than 18,000 people were displaced after fighting in Longochuk County in Upper Nile state on Aug. 9, while at least 60 people were killed and dozens injured in intercommunal clashes in Tonj North County in Warrap state, according to local authorities.

The violence has taken a heavy toll on health services. Since the end of 2025, 55 health facilities across South Sudan have been destroyed, damaged or looted, potentially affecting access to health care for an estimated 1.85 million people, particularly in Jonglei state.

Cholera remains a major public health emergency. A total of 110,574 cases and 1,721 deaths have been reported since the outbreak began in September 2024.

Between July 31 and Aug. 5, 210 new cases and one death were reported across six counties. Unity state accounted for 93% of reported cases over the previous four weeks, while Upper Nile accounted for 6%.

South Sudan is also dealing with polio and measles outbreaks. Two new polio cases were confirmed between Aug. 3 and Aug. 9 in Pibor County and a site in Juba, prompting health partners to consider expanding a planned subnational vaccination campaign into a nationwide campaign.

Fifteen new measles outbreaks were also confirmed during the same period.

South Sudan has reported no Ebola cases, but health authorities remain on alert because of ongoing transmission in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo and cross-border population movements.

More than 100 frontline health workers have been trained in infection prevention and control, while screening points have been established in Yambio and along the Ezo-DRC border. A mobile laboratory has also been deployed to Nimule.

Climate shocks are adding to the pressure. The government’s 2026 floods and drought preparedness plan estimates that 840,000 people could require flood preparedness and response assistance and 1.7 million could be affected by drought.

The plan also includes $215 million in government-led investments for 2026-27 to strengthen long-term flood and drought resilience.

The scale of the crisis was already evident in July, when more than 10 million people in South Sudan were estimated to need humanitarian assistance. The country had 2.5 million internally displaced people, including 433,000 newly displaced between January and July, while 7.8 million people faced acute food insecurity between April and July.

Humanitarian agencies have begun preparations for the 2027 Humanitarian Programme Cycle, with officials and aid organizations meeting in Juba on Aug. 13-14 to review the 2026 response and identify priorities for next year.