Hunger hotspots in South Sudan at tipping point as food insecurity nears record levels
This is an update on food security and Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ operations in the affected regions.
Food Security Situation
- As the pre-harvest lean season begins in South Sudan, almost 7.7 million people face levels of hunger categorised as crisis, emergency, or catastrophic (IPC3+). This is close to record highs.
- Some 3.1 million of these people are in the conflict-hit Greater Upper Nile region in South Sudan¡¯s northeast.
- The northern part of Greater Upper Nile region (Upper Nile state) is the most impacted by the escalation of conflict; one million people there face high levels of hunger.
- More than 1.1 million people have fled to South Sudan since the beginning of the Sudan war, most arriving in Upper Nile. Almost half of those currently facing catastrophic (IPC5) levels of hunger in South Sudan are returnees from Sudan.
- Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ is aiming to bring food assistance to more than 450,000 people in Upper Nile state, prioritizing those facing emergency and catastrophic levels of hunger (IPC4 + 5), but active conflict is slowing progress.
- The United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), managed by Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ, continues to provide passenger and cargo flights to conflict-affected locations in Upper Nile. This vital airbridge is essential to ensure support continues to reach people in Upper Nile state.
- Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ has more than 9,000 metric tons of food ¨C enough to feed more than one million people for a month ¨C in the northern town of Malakal, with additional food in Bor and the capital Juba.
- Upper Nile state has also been heavily impacted by a cholera outbreak. The Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ-led Logistics Cluster has airlifted 35 metric tons of cholera and WASH supplies to conflict-affected locations with another three metric tons ready for transport.
- Another 148 metric tons of nutrition and shelter/protections supplies planned for river transport by the Logistics Cluster are currently in Malakal awaiting delivery when security allows.
- Insecurity has forced Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ to pause distributions in six counties in the region for the safety of our staff, partners and the people we serve. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ and partners have the food ready to deliver and distribute once conditions allow.
- Increased tensions and fighting along the rivers used by Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ as supply routes is hindering the transport of food assistance for Upper Nile state.
- The safety of staff, the people we support, and humanitarian supplies and assets, is paramount. We have no choice but to pause operations in areas where there is a risk to any of these.
- Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ has a US$396 million funding shortfall for the rest of 2025.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Response and Food Stocks
- Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ is aiming to bring food assistance to more than 450,000 people in Upper Nile state, prioritizing those facing emergency and catastrophic levels of hunger (IPC4 + 5), but active conflict is slowing progress.
- The United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), managed by Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ, continues to provide passenger and cargo flights to conflict-affected locations in Upper Nile. This vital airbridge is essential to ensure support continues to reach people in Upper Nile state.
- Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ has more than 9,000 metric tons of food ¨C enough to feed more than one million people for a month ¨C in the northern town of Malakal, with additional food in Bor and the capital Juba.
- Upper Nile state has also been heavily impacted by a cholera outbreak. The Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ-led Logistics Cluster has airlifted 35 metric tons of cholera and WASH supplies to conflict-affected locations with another three metric tons ready for transport.
- Another 148 metric tons of nutrition and shelter/protections supplies planned for river transport by the Logistics Cluster are currently in Malakal awaiting delivery when security allows.
Access challenges
- Insecurity has forced Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ to pause distributions in six counties in the region for the safety of our staff, partners and the people we serve. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ and partners have the food ready to deliver and distribute once conditions allow.
- Increased tensions and fighting along the rivers used by Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ as supply routes is hindering the transport of food assistance for Upper Nile state.
- The safety of staff, the people we support, and humanitarian supplies and assets, is paramount. We have no choice but to pause operations in areas where there is a risk to any of these.
Funding
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ has a US$396 million funding shortfall for the rest of 2025.
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The United Nations Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ is the world¡¯s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
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Topics
South Sudan Food securityContact
For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org):
Gemma Snowdon, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ/Juba, Mob. +211 92 543 0085
Annabel Symington, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ/ Rome, Mob. +39 342 1884921
Nina Valente, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ/ London, Mob. +44 (0)796 8008 474
Martin Rentsch, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ/Berlin, Mob +49 160 99 26 17 30
Shaza Moghraby, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ/New York, Mob. + 1 929 289 9867
Rene McGuffin, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ/ Washington Mob. +1 771 245 4268