The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that the humanitarian situation in South Sudan's Jonglei State is deteriorating rapidly due to escalating conflict. This conflict is forcing people to flee their homes and shrinking access for aid workers. Since the end of December, renewed clashes in Jonglei have displaced more than 250,000 people, according to local authorities.
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.
In an update on Tuesday, OCHA reported that families displaced from their homes are sheltering outdoors, under trees, and in makeshift structures, lacking food, health services, and protection. Most of these families rely on overstretched host communities for support.
As humanitarian needs continue to rise, aid operations are under increasing strain. According to OCHA, many health facilities have been looted or vandalized, resulting in 115,000 people losing access to basic healthcare.
Health authorities report that cholera cases are rapidly rising in Duk County, with 938 cases and 29 deaths reported as of Sunday, partly due to overcrowding in areas where displaced families are seeking shelter, as well as a lack of safe water, sanitation, and health (WASH) services.
On Sunday, government forces ordered all civilians, as well as personnel from UN agencies and other humanitarian organizations, to evacuate the counties of Nyirol, Uror, and Akobo within 48 hours, in anticipation of a military operation.
The UN humanitarian office warns that flight restrictions have cut off humanitarian air access, halting medical evacuations and delaying the delivery of life-saving assistance while some humanitarian organizations have relocated their staff.
The UN and its partners will scale up assistance in safer areas, whereas the South Sudanese authorities have reiterated their commitment to addressing bureaucratic impediments. The world body once again calls on all parties to the conflict "to facilitate unhindered access to all people in need at all times."
Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher has allocated US$10 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to swiftly assist nearly 180,000 displaced people in Jonglei State.
These funds will provide critical emergency assistance, including primary healthcare services, WASH support, shelter materials, essential non-food items, emergency food assistance through cash-based interventions, and prevention and response services for gender-based violence and violence against children.
“The people of Jonglei are facing severe hardship as violence uproots families and devastates communities. This CERF allocation is a vital lifeline that will help us reach those most in need,” said Anita Kiki Gbeho, Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, in a statement on Wednesday.
“We must act quickly to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable. Continued donor support is crucial to prevent further suffering and ensure lifesaving assistance reaches all affected people.”
According to the European Union's humanitarian office (ECHO), the humanitarian situation in Jonglei and other states is deteriorating rapidly, reaching levels not seen since 2017. This deterioration is occurring amid escalating conflict, restricted access, and an increase in human rights abuses, including the forced recruitment of children by armed forces.
This latest wave 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, encompassing the impact of last year's flooding, disease outbreaks, and food insecurity.
South Sudan currently 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, need humanitarian assistance. With people facing extreme hunger, starvation, and death, South Sudan is one of the world’s top five hunger hotspots.
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 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.
As the emergency intensifies due to the extreme levels of acute food insecurity, climate shocks, disease outbreaks, and mass displacement, civilians are caught in relentless cycles of violence and neglect. 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.
The fragile security environment, exacerbated by a lack of funding and bureaucratic impediments, has deepened vulnerabilities further and obstructed the delivery of life-saving aid.
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 destruction of civilian infrastructure, forcing many displaced people suffering from disease and food insecurity to flee again.
South Sudan is grappling with numerous public health crises compounded by limited immunization coverage, disrupted services, and widespread displacement. Meanwhile, inadequate access to basic necessities, such as food, clean water, and healthcare, contributes to the collapse of livelihoods.
Funding shortfalls and access constraints are increasingly limiting the humanitarian response, with growing needs far outpacing the resources and capacity of aid agencies. As of January 2026, only 44 percent of the 2025 South Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan had been funded. The 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) requests $1.5 billion to assist 4.3 million of the most vulnerable people, $1 billion of which is urgently prioritized.