7.8 Million Face Acute Hunger in South Sudan as UN Agencies Warn of Catastrophe
JUBA, South Sudan — The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP), and UNICEF have issued a joint alarm warning that 7.8 million people — roughly 56 percent of South Sudan’s population — are projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity between April and July 2026, representing a rapid and deeply troubling deterioration of the humanitarian situation.
Alarming Malnutrition Figures
The crisis is hitting children the hardest. UN agencies report that 2.2 million children aged six months to five years are currently acutely malnourished — an increase of 100,000 in just six months. Of these, 700,000 children are projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition, the deadliest form of undernutrition. Additionally, 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women are acutely malnourished, elevating risks for mothers and infants alike.
Catastrophe-Level Hunger Emerging
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis projects 73,300 people facing Catastrophe-level hunger (IPC Phase 5), alongside 2.5 million in Emergency (Phase 4) and 5.3 million in Crisis (Phase 3) conditions. Agencies warn there is a credible risk of famine in parts of Upper Nile and Jonglei states if conflict continues and humanitarian access remains restricted.
Root Causes
The hunger crisis is driven by multiple compounding factors: escalating conflict and mass displacement, economic collapse, climate shocks including severe flooding, weak agricultural production, and the devastating spillover effects from the war in neighboring Sudan. In regions like Jonglei, large-scale displacement has cut entire communities off from humanitarian assistance.
Health Systems Under Strain
Humanitarian conditions are further deteriorating due to damaged health and nutrition services, critical supply shortages, funding gaps, and disease outbreaks including cholera, malaria, and measles. Many nutrition treatment centers have been damaged or closed due to ongoing fighting.
Urgent Call for Action
FAO, WFP, and UNICEF are urgently calling on the international community to scale up funding for food assistance, nutrition programs, healthcare, clean water, and sanitation services. They emphasize the need for safe and unhindered humanitarian access and stronger civilian protection, warning that without immediate large-scale intervention, South Sudan faces an irreversible humanitarian catastrophe.
This crisis unfolds as South Sudan also grapples with the aftermath of a deadly plane crash near Juba on April 27 that killed all 14 people onboard, and ongoing political tensions between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar that threaten the fragile peace agreement.
— JubaGlobal News
