In 2025, South Sudan continued to face multiple, overlapping shocks and trends that worsened the humanitarian situation and increased the needs of vulnerable communities.
As of 3 February, around 280,000 people have been displaced as a result of the Jonglei conflict following renewed fighting and airstrikes since 29 December 2025, according to the RRC.
South Sudan continues to face severe humanitarian emergencies driven by climate shocks, relentless violence, multiple disease outbreaks and a struggling economy.
In November, an estimated 5.97 million people (42 per cent of the population) face Crisis or worse Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Phase 3+, including about 1.3 million in Emergency (IPC Phase 4).
An estimated 5.97 million people are currently in IPC Phase 3 or worse, including 28,000 in Phase 5 (Catastrophe). Projections indicate this could rise to 7.56 million during the 2026 lean season, with 3.26 million women and children acutely malnourished or at risk.
Since February 2025, 190,000 South Sudanese have sought refuge in countries neighboring South Sudan, including an estimated 45,000 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), 39,000 in Ethiopia, 75,000 in Sudan, and 30,000 in Uganda.
Escalating conflict, displacement, access constraints, economic instability, climate shocks, and disease outbreaks continued to worsen the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan throughout October.
• South Sudan is facing overlapping crises, including violence, protracted economic decline and climate shocks, which continue to fuel food insecurity and malnutrition.
The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) update for South Sudan reveals a critical situation: over half of the country’s population is projected to experience crisis or worse levels of hunger (IPC Phase 3 and above) between April and July 2026.
In September, the security situation in Darfur and Kordofan States remained highly volatile and unpredictable, marked by intensified military confrontations, drone strikes, aerial bombardments and increasing intercommunal tension, leading to widespread insecurity, civilian displacement and growing humanitarian needs.
A total of 164,000 South Sudanese have sought refuge in countries neighboring South Sudan, including an estimated 33,000 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), 35,000 in Ethiopia, 70,000 in Sudan, and 26,000 in Uganda. In addition, over 131,000 Sudanese refugees have returned from South Sudan in recent months.
In September, communities across South Sudan continued to face severe humanitarian challenges, including flooding, food insecurity, violence, displacement, and disease outbreaks. As of 30 September, over 639,000* people were affected by flooding in 26 counties across six states, with Jonglei and Unity worst hit.
Since the outbreak of armed conflict in Sudan on 15 April 2023, Africa Region faced a large-scale humanitarian crisis marked by one of the most significant displacement movements in recent years. Millions of people fled the violence, crossing into Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Uganda.
The sixth year of flooding in South Sudan combined with aid cuts is exacerbating one of the world’s worst hunger crises with newly arrived refugees fleeing conflict in Sudan resorting to foraging for food and eating leaves to survive, Save the Children said.
South Sudan is facing overlapping crises, including rising violence, an economic downturn, and climate-related disasters. The crises are fueling food insecurity and malnutrition. The ongoing conflict in Sudan has exacerbated the dire situation, forcing over 1.2 million people into South Sudan.
Since the start of the conflict, some 164,000 people have sought refuge in neighboring countries, including an estimated 33,000 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), 35,000 in Ethiopia, 70,000 in Sudan, and 26,000 in Uganda.
Between 17 and 27 July 2025, REACH conducted a mixed-methods assessment in Markath (Bilkey), Nukta (Dengjok), and Thokwath (Gakdong), targeting three population groups: returnees from Ethiopia and Sudan (arrived within the past 12 months), IDPs from Nasir and Ulang (arrived since March 2025), and the host community.
South Sudan continues to face a dire humanitarian crisis fueled by the convergence of armed conflict, mass displacement, climate-related shocks, food insecurity, recurrent disease outbreaks, and economic decline factors that together have devastated millions of lives.
August has brought much wetter conditions across the country, improving crop and pasture conditions but also increasing flood risk and leading to expansion of flood areas.
South Sudan faces an escalating food crisis, driven by ongoing conflict, frequent climate shocks and economic instability. These overlapping challenges have deepened food insecurity across the country, putting millions at risk and straining already limited resources.
