Amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, renewed conflict and airstrikes in Jonglei State have forced over 100,000 people to flee, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The majority of those displaced are women, children, and older people. The insecurity has also led several humanitarian organizations to relocate their staff, disrupting essential activities.
In an update on Thursday, OCHA stated that fighting in several Jonglei State counties since the end of December has displaced families, forcing them to seek shelter in remote areas or neighboring states. According to authorities in Lakes State, over 11,000 people arrived from Jonglei as of Tuesday.
The humanitarian situation is further complicated by reports of looted or confiscated facilities and assets, which disrupt the provision of essential health services for thousands.
OCHA reports that several aid agencies in northern Jonglei State have relocated staff due to insecurity and instructions by parties to the conflict to evacuate the area. Although humanitarian organizations continue to operate, local staff report growing challenges, including restocking health facilities and sustaining other essential activities.
This latest wave of violence occurs 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 multifaceted emergency encompassing the impact of last year's flooding, food insecurity, and disease outbreaks.
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, are in need of humanitarian assistance. With people facing extreme hunger, starvation, and death, it 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.
Civilians are caught in relentless cycles of violence and neglect as the emergency intensifies due to the combination of extreme levels of acute food insecurity, climate shocks, disease outbreaks, mass displacement, and cross-border pressures from the crisis in Sudan.
The spillover effects of the ongoing war in the neighboring country 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 lack of funding and bureaucratic impediments, has further deepened vulnerabilities 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 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 also grappling with numerous public health crises, which are 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 was 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.