Nearly 8 Million South Sudanese Face Acute Hunger as Humanitarian Catastrophe Deepens
JUBA — Nearly eight million people in South Sudan are at risk of acute hunger as conflict, displacement, and economic collapse worsen an already dire humanitarian crisis, according to a United Nations-backed report published Tuesday.
The report, jointly issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), warns that 7.8 million people — equivalent to 56 percent of South Sudan’s population — will face high levels of acute food insecurity between April and July 2026.
Aid agencies described the situation as an “irreversible humanitarian catastrophe” unless the international community takes immediate action.
Children Bear the Brunt
The number of children aged between six months and five years suffering from acute malnutrition has risen by 100,000 over the past six months, reaching a total of 2.2 million. An estimated 700,000 children are at grave risk of dying, according to the report.
Many nutritional services across South Sudan have been damaged or closed due to ongoing fighting, driving up the number of people at risk of acute malnutrition. Meanwhile, supply shortages and inadequate funding have severely reduced access to life-saving treatment.
Conflict and Instability Fueling the Crisis
The humanitarian crisis in the world’s youngest country is being fuelled by a perfect storm of ethnic conflict, climate change, and the spillover of fighting from neighbouring Sudan. South Sudan’s worsening economic crisis has further compounded the situation, leaving it one of the poorest countries in the world.
In recent months, fears have grown that the nation could return to all-out civil war, more than seven years after a peace agreement in 2018 ostensibly ended fighting that led to the deaths of nearly 400,000 people. Heavy clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and opposition groups have intensified in recent months.
The tensions stem from a long-standing feud between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and suspended Vice President Riek Machar, who is currently on trial in Juba on charges of murder, treason, and crimes against humanity — charges he denies.
Aid Blocked by Political Impasse
In a related development, displaced people in a South Sudanese village have been denied lifesaving aid by the government, according to eyewitnesses and aid groups, as government and opposition officials blame each other for blocking access. The incident highlights the growing desperation on the ground and the politicization of humanitarian assistance in the conflict-affected nation.
Last week, a Cessna 208 Caravan operated by CityLink Aviation Ltd crashed about 20 kilometers southwest of Juba, killing all 14 passengers and the pilot — adding to the litany of tragedies affecting the country.
International Call to Action
The WFP, FAO, and UNICEF have jointly called on the international community to mobilize resources urgently to prevent mass starvation. “Time is running out to avoid an irreversible humanitarian catastrophe,” the agencies warned in a joint statement.
With 7.8 million people facing high acute food insecurity and more than 2.2 million children malnourished, the scale of the crisis in South Sudan demands an immediate and coordinated global response.
This is a breaking news story. Follow JubaGlobal for continued coverage of the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan and across Africa.
