Due to a series of attacks on a WFP river convoy and escalating violence impacting humanitarian organizations across South Sudan, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has suspended operations in Baliet County in Upper Nile State. Separately, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported that an airstrike attributed to government forces struck one of its hospitals in Jonglei State, while another facility was looted.
This violence against aid agencies occurs as South Sudan faces one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. In 2026, 10 million people, representing more than two-thirds of the country’s population, are in need of humanitarian assistance. With people facing extreme food shortages and starvation, South Sudan is one of the world’s top five hunger hotspots.
On Wednesday, WFP announced the suspension, citing attacks on a 12-boat convoy transporting over 1,500 metric tons of food and non-food items over the weekend. Armed youths repeatedly attacked the convoy and subsequently looted cargo in various locations within Baliet County. Despite assurances from local authorities regarding safe passage, no security intervention occurred during the looting.
"Attacks on humanitarians are never acceptable," WFP said in a statement. “We strongly urge all parties involved in the conflict to respect the critical role of humanitarian workers and to safeguard the facilities and resources that are indispensable for providing humanitarian assistance."
These incidents in Upper Nile follow the recent destruction of vital humanitarian infrastructure in Jonglei State. Armed conflict between government forces and opposition groups has damaged warehouses and health facilities in Akobo, Ayod, Nyirol, and Uror.
According to WFP officials, access constraints and brazen attacks are jeopardizing the organization's ability to provide assistance to over 4.2 million vulnerable South Sudanese women, men, and children, forcing them to pause plans to preposition 12,000 tons of food in Jonglei State ahead of the rainy season.
MSF reports airstrike on its hospital and looting
In a separate incident, MSF reported that its hospital in Lankien, Jonglei State, was hit by an airstrike attributed to South Sudanese government forces on Tuesday night. One staff member sustained minor injuries, and the hospital’s main warehouse was destroyed. At that same day, MSF's health facility in Pieri, also in Jonglei, was looted by unknown assailants.
"MSF shared the GPS coordinates of all our facilities with the government and other parties to the conflict before, and we received confirmation that they were aware of our locations," said Gul Badshah, MSF operations manager.
"The government of South Sudan armed forces are the only armed party with the capacity to perform aerial attacks in the country."
Following the attack, Lankien Hospital was evacuated, and patients were discharged. MSF staff from both Lankien and Pieri fled with the community, and their whereabouts remain unknown. The humanitarian organization previously served approximately 250,000 people in Lankien and Pieri.
These incidents follow restrictions that the South Sudanese government imposed in December on humanitarian access to opposition-held areas of Jonglei State, which hindered MSF’s ability to provide medical assistance. These restrictions can have particularly dangerous consequences for children, pregnant women, and people living with chronic or life-threatening conditions.
MSF has experienced eight targeted attacks since the start of 2025, which have led to the closure of two hospitals in Greater Upper Nile and the suspension of general healthcare activities in Jonglei, Upper Nile, and Central Equatoria states.
"Given the current context, we will make the necessary decisions to protect the safety of our staff and healthcare facilities in South Sudan," Badshah added.
"While we are aware of the enormous needs in the country, we find it unacceptable to be a target for attacks."
Humanitarian situation in South Sudan deteriorating rapidly
The humanitarian situation in Jonglei, Upper Nile, and other states continues to worsen, reaching levels not seen since 2017. This deterioration is occurring amid escalating conflict that forces people to flee their homes and shrinks access for aid workers. There has also been a surge in human rights violations, including the forced recruitment of children by armed forces.
Since March 2025, political instability and rising hostilities between armed groups have led to clashes in Upper Nile State, Jonglei State, and other parts of the country. These clashes have resulted in deaths, injuries, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure, forcing many displaced people suffering from disease and food insecurity to flee again.
The UN warns that women, girls, children, persons with disabilities, older persons, and other vulnerable groups face disproportionate threats, including heightened risks of violence, exploitation, and severe deprivation.
The fragile security environment, exacerbated by a lack of funding and bureaucratic impediments, has further deepened vulnerabilities and obstructed the delivery of life-saving aid. As the emergency intensifies, civilians are caught in relentless cycles of violence and neglect.
This latest upsurge of violence is occurring amid a complex humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, where more than 700,000 people were displaced by conflict and floods in 2025 alone. The country is facing a multidimensional emergency which also encompasses the impact of last year's flooding, disease outbreaks, and food insecurity.
According to the latest food security report, over half of South Sudan's population — approximately 7.56 million people — will experience crisis-level hunger or worse during the lean season from April to July 2026. In the coming months, tens of thousands will be at risk of famine.
Furthermore, more than 2.1 million children under the age of five are currently experiencing acute malnutrition and urgently need nutritional services and treatment. Additionally, an estimated 1.15 million pregnant and breastfeeding women in South Sudan are malnourished.
The spillover effects of the ongoing war in Sudan further complicate the crisis. Since April 2023, over 1.26 million refugees and returnees have fled the conflict in Sudan and sought refuge in South Sudan. Additionally, South Sudan is grappling with numerous public health crises, which are compounded by limited immunization coverage, disrupted services, and widespread displacement.
Funding shortfalls and access constraints are increasingly limiting the humanitarian response. Growing needs are far outpacing the resources and capacity of aid agencies. The 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) requests $1.5 billion to support 4.3 million of the most vulnerable people, $1 billion of which is classified as an urgent priority.