WFP Warns of $280 Million Funding Gap as Food Aid Needs Grow in South Sudan

Credit: WFP

The World Food Programme says it faces a $280 million funding shortfall over the next six months in South Sudan, threatening food and nutrition assistance for hundreds of thousands of refugees and internally displaced people.

WFP said in its August 2026 country brief that about 400,000 refugees and displaced people could face interruptions in food assistance after September distributions if additional funding is not secured.

The agency said it is working with the U.N. refugee agency and the International Organization for Migration to engage the South Sudanese government and inform affected communities about the expected impact on assistance.

Despite the funding constraints, WFP assisted 2.36 million people in July, distributing 15,981 metric tons of food and providing $13.49 million through cash-based transfers. Those assisted included 1.8 million crisis-affected people and 338,602 schoolchildren.

The agency said South Sudan’s humanitarian situation remains fragile amid insecurity and political tensions as the country prepares for planned December elections.

WFP warned that the evolving political environment could increase operational risks, including restrictions on humanitarian access, insecurity, disruptions to supply chains and difficulties moving humanitarian personnel and supplies.

In Jonglei state, insecurity continued after South Sudanese government forces captured Lankien in Nyirol County on July 13. A clash in Motot, Uror County, on July 26 reportedly killed several government soldiers.

WFP said insecurity and political tensions along the Akobo-Nyirol-Uror border have continued to restrict humanitarian access.

WFP also warned that its nutrition program could face a pipeline break from October, requiring urgent funding to maintain assistance to vulnerable children and pregnant and breastfeeding women.

During the first half of 2026, the agency distributed 6,000 metric tons of specialized nutritious foods, reaching 91% of its target. The program admitted 222,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls and 341,000 children ages 6 to 59 months for treatment of moderate acute malnutrition.

WFP said it needs $14 million to procure 2,700 metric tons of specialized nutritious foods and sustain critical nutrition services.

In July, WFP provided school meals at 689 of 717 planned schools, reaching 338,602 of 373,843 targeted learners.

The program recorded strong coverage in Aweil, Renk, Juba, Kuajok, Bentiu and Rumbek. WFP said school meals help support enrollment, attendance and retention while improving nutrition and learning outcomes.

Insecurity continued to disrupt operations in some areas. Jonglei recorded the lowest beneficiary coverage at 72%, while food delivery reached only 14% of requirements. Five schools in Kapoeta also remained nonfunctional.

By July 31, WFP had received 75,082 metric tons of food commodities, meeting 90% of its annual distribution requirements.

However, insecurity in Upper Nile and Jonglei continued to delay deliveries to parts of Ulang, Nasir, Nyirol and Akobo West.

WFP said 77% of January-July food requirements had been delivered to cooperating partners, while food prepositioning reached 93%. Jonglei lean-season dispatches reached 85% of requirements.

The agency said rising fuel prices linked to the Middle East crisis increased its transport costs by 30%, adding further pressure to humanitarian logistics.

The U.N. Humanitarian Air Service transported 4,180 passengers and 63 metric tons of relief cargo in July while supporting 158 humanitarian organizations across the country.

The Logistics Cluster transported another 331 metric tons of humanitarian cargo to hard-to-reach areas in Jonglei, Upper Nile and Unity states, primarily by river.

WFP and its partners are expanding drought preparedness efforts in Eastern Equatoria state, where anticipatory action has been activated in Kapoeta North and Budi counties.

The initiative provides support before a humanitarian crisis worsens, including cash assistance intended to help households purchase food and other essential goods and avoid harmful coping strategies.

WFP said the program is aligned with South Sudan’s national disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation priorities.

The agency also trained 50 extension services officials on the HUSIKA platform to strengthen climate-risk monitoring, early warning and planning.

WFP said more than 17,700 people received $120,070 through physical cash distributions and mobile-money transfers under its Social Safety Nets program in July.

Meanwhile, construction of Malakal Port in Upper Nile was 32% complete. WFP said the project is expected to strengthen river transportation and humanitarian logistics capacity in the state.

The agency said its six-month net funding shortfall stands at $280 million, underscoring the financial pressure facing humanitarian operations in South Sudan.