South Sudan on the Brink: 7.8 Million Face Acute Hunger as UN Warns of Looming Famine
UN agencies warn 7.8 million South Sudanese face acute hunger with 73,300 already in catastrophic conditions. Famine risk grows in Upper Nile and Jonglei as conflict, economic decline, and climate shocks converge.
JUBA, South Sudan — The United Nations has issued an urgent and dire warning: 7.8 million people — approximately 56 percent of South Sudan’s population — are projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity between April and July 2026, with a credible risk of famine in parts of Upper Nile and Jonglei states.
The warning, released jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and UNICEF, paints a catastrophic picture of a nation in the grip of escalating conflict, mass displacement, economic decline, and climate shocks.
Catastrophic Hunger Levels
According to the UN agencies, 73,300 people are already experiencing catastrophic — or IPC Phase 5 — hunger conditions, the most extreme level of food insecurity. An additional 2.5 million people are in Emergency conditions, while 5.3 million are classified in Crisis. These numbers represent a sharp deterioration from previous months.
“The situation in South Sudan is rapidly spiraling out of control,” the agencies stated. “Without immediate and sustained large-scale intervention, the country faces an irreversible humanitarian catastrophe.”
Children Bearing the Brunt
The crisis is taking its most devastating toll on the country’s youngest citizens. Some 2.2 million children aged six months to five years are currently acutely malnourished — an increase of 100,000 in just six months. An estimated 700,000 children are projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition, the deadliest form of undernutrition.
The situation for mothers is equally alarming. Approximately 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women are acutely malnourished, increasing health risks for both mothers and their infants.
Multiple Drivers of Crisis
The UN agencies identified several interlocking factors driving the hunger crisis:
- Conflict and displacement: Ongoing violence has forced hundreds of thousands from their homes, cutting communities off from their livelihoods and humanitarian assistance. In Jonglei state, large-scale displacement has left entire populations beyond the reach of aid workers.
- Economic decline: Soaring inflation and rising food prices have eroded household purchasing power across the country.
- Climate shocks: Severe flooding has destroyed crops and livestock, further undermining already fragile food production.
- Weak agricultural output: Poor harvests have limited food availability, particularly in rural areas.
- Disease outbreaks: Cholera, malaria, and measles are compounding the crisis, further weakening already vulnerable populations.
Famine Risk in Upper Nile and Jonglei
The agencies specifically warned of a credible risk of famine in parts of Upper Nile and Jonglei states if conflict continues and humanitarian access remains restricted. Health and nutrition services in these areas have been severely damaged, and supply shortages are acute.
Global Context
The crisis in South Sudan unfolds against a backdrop of extraordinary global instability. The ongoing US-Israel war with Iran has sent oil prices soaring past $111 per barrel — an 82% increase this year — driving up food and transportation costs worldwide. The United Arab Emirates’ shock announcement on Tuesday that it will leave OPEC effective May 1 has further roiled global energy markets.
Meanwhile, this week King Charles III made history by becoming only the second British monarch to address a joint meeting of the US Congress, days after a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner resulted in attempted assassination charges against a 26-year-old suspect.
Call for Urgent Action
FAO, WFP, and UNICEF are calling on the international community to step up with sustained funding for food aid, nutrition services, healthcare, clean water, and sanitation. They are also demanding safe and unhindered humanitarian access and stronger protections for civilians.
“The world cannot look away,” the agencies pleaded. “The people of South Sudan need action — now.”
