Refugees in South Sudan face severe hunger as funding runs short
More than 650,000 refugees and asylum-seekers in South Sudan are at risk of losing access to food, nutrition and other lifesaving assistance as humanitarian funding shortages deepen, the U.N. refugee agency and World Food Program warned Friday.
The agencies said funding constraints mean the final food and nutrition assistance for about 240,000 of the most vulnerable refugees is expected to be delivered in September unless additional funding is secured.
An interruption in assistance could increase hunger, malnutrition and the risk of exploitation and abuse, particularly among women and children. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees also warned that shortages could trigger further cross-border movements as refugees search for food and other essential services.
The warning comes as conflict in the region continues to drive people across borders. Up to 3,000 refugees and returnees are arriving in South Sudan from Sudan each week, adding pressure to an already overstretched humanitarian response.
“We are seeing the devastating impact of conflicts that force people from their homes collide with a severe shortage of resources that is now making the crisis worse,” said Adham Effendi, WFP deputy country director in South Sudan.
WFP faces an immediate $37 million funding gap for its refugee response and an overall shortfall of $258 million for the remainder of 2026. The shortage threatens food assistance for an estimated 4.2 million food-insecure people across South Sudan.
UNHCR, meanwhile, has secured only 28% of the $286 million it needs in 2026 to provide protection and assistance to nearly 4 million refugees, internally displaced people, returnees and vulnerable host communities.
The funding crisis comes as South Sudan faces severe food insecurity. More than 7.8 million people, or more than half the population, are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, while about 2.2 million children are acutely malnourished, according to the agencies.
WFP has already been forced to prioritize assistance for the most vulnerable refugee families, who are receiving only about half of a full food ration.
The anticipated reduction in assistance comes during the rainy season, when food becomes more difficult to access, market prices rise and flooding and damaged roads hamper humanitarian operations. Some refugee families are already eating fewer and smaller meals, borrowing money to buy food, selling belongings and cutting spending on health, education and shelter.
“Every week, thousands more refugees and returnees continue to arrive from Sudan with almost nothing, many exhausted, hungry and in urgent need of protection and assistance,” said Mesfin Degu, UNHCR deputy representative in South Sudan.
Degu said cuts to assistance could undermine progress made by refugees who have lived in South Sudan for years and are working toward greater self-reliance.
South Sudan has maintained its open-door policy for refugees despite its own humanitarian and development challenges. More than 1.4 million refugees and returnees have crossed into the country since the war in Sudan began in 2023.
UNHCR and WFP are appealing to the international community for immediate and flexible funding to prevent a suspension of lifesaving assistance and protect refugees and host communities affected by the regional crisis.
