SOUTH SUDAN

Key Facts

9.4 million need humanitarian assistance.

2.2 million internally displaced

Crisis hunger affects two-thirds of population

Healthcare reaches only 30% of people

1.4 million children malnourished

Current Situation

South Sudan’s people endure one of the world’s most overlooked catastrophes. The world’s youngest nation continues drowning—literally and figuratively. Unprecedented flooding has submerged entire communities for three consecutive years. Violence erupts regularly despite a fragile peace agreement. Nearly 7.1 million people face extreme hunger. Children are recruited into armed groups while women risk assault seeking water. The combined assault of conflict, climate disasters, and economic collapse has pushed 70% of South Sudanese into desperate need.

Underlying Causes

Unhealed Wounds of Conflict

South Sudan gained independence in 2011 only to plunge into civil war by 2013. Militias control vast areas, with weapons flooding communities. Governance structures remain weak, with corruption draining oil revenues away from development. Peace remains tentative, with crucial provisions unimplemented. n

Climate Catastrophe

Once-predictable seasonal floods have transformed into historic disasters. Over 835,000 people were displaced by flooding in 2021 alone. Three consecutive years of unprecedented inundation have destroyed crops and contaminated water sources. When waters recede, extreme drought often follows..

Economic Freefall

Inflation has reached 30% year-on-year, making basics unaffordable. The South Sudanese pound has collapsed, while oil production—providing 98% of government revenue—has declined. In rural areas, markets have disappeared entirely, leaving humanitarian aid as the only lifeline..

Humanitarian Challenges

Hunger at Catastrophic Levels

Famine conditions threaten multiple regions, with 7.1 million people facing crisis levels of hunger. In Unity State, some communities were officially in famine in 2023. Mothers feed children water lilies and wild leaves while skipping meals themselves. Conflict and flooding have left fertile land inaccessible.

Health System in Ruins

Only 1 in 3 South Sudanese can access basic healthcare. Just 44% of health facilities remain functional, many existing as empty buildings without staff or medicine. Maternal mortality stands at 1,150 per 100,000 births—among the highest globally.

Mass Displacement and Protection Crisis

After a decade of conflict, 2.2 million South Sudanese remain internally displaced, with another 2.3 million refugees in neighboring countries. Countless families have been displaced multiple times, fleeing violence only to be forced out again by flooding.

Violence Against Women and Girls

Studies indicate 65% of women and girls have experienced physical or sexual violence. Child marriage has increased dramatically, with families marrying daughters as young as 12 for economic survival. Women walking to collect water face assault daily.

Children Under Constant Threat

1.4 million children suffer acute malnutrition. More than 2.8 million are out of school—the highest proportion worldwide. An estimated 19,000 children have been recruited by armed groups. Psychological trauma affects an entire generation born into endless crisis.

Water and Sanitation Emergency

Despite vast wetlands, 60% of South Sudanese lack access to clean water. In displacement camps, up to 2,000 people may share a single water point. When floods come, water sources become contaminated, spreading cholera and other diseases.

Humanitarian Access Obstructed

In 2023 alone, 22 humanitarian workers were killed—the highest number globally. Armed groups routinely block aid convoys or demand “taxes” for passage. Impassable roads during rainy seasons isolate entire communities for months.