UNICEF South Sudan Humanitarian Situation Report No. 7 - 31 July 2025

Highlights

· Armed clashes displaced an estimated 355,000 people across the country between January and July 2025, disrupting livelihoods and increasing reliance on humanitarian aid.

· Cholera remains a major threat, with 87,087 cases and 1,513 deaths reported by July, with the majority of cases concentrated in Abyei, Rubkona, Mayendit, Magwi and Lafon counties.

· Meanwhile, malaria, measles, and acute watery diarrhea continue to strain the already fragile health system.

· Seasonal flooding has already affected nearly 122,000 people in Jonglei and Unity States, with forecasts indicating up to 1.6 million people could be impacted and 400,000 displaced in the coming months, as rising waters devastate livelihoods, cut off essential services, and heighten the risk of cholera outbreaks.

· The Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) appeal remains critically underfunded, with only 19 per cent of the required $278.2 million received as of July 31, 2025.

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SITUATION OVERVIEW ANDHUMANITARIAN NEEDS

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. The fragile security environment, compounded by seasonal flooding, restricted humanitarian access, and bureaucratic impediments, has further deepened vulnerabilities and obstructed the delivery of life‑saving assistance. As of July 2025, the humanitarian outlook remains alarming, with growing needs far outpacing the capacity of aid agencies to respond.

Conflict remains the main driver of humanitarian needs in South Sudan. Armed clashes between government forces, opposition groups, and inter-communal militias continue to trigger large-scale displacement across multiple states. Between January and July 2025, an estimated 355,000 people were newly displaced, with Upper Nile, Jonglei, Warrap, and Central Equatoria among the hardest-hit regions. In Central Equatoria, fighting in Kenyira (Yei County) and confrontations in Kajo-Keji and Morobo Counties forced thousands to flee. These repeated displacements disrupt livelihoods, increase reliance on aid, and expose communities to heightened risks of violence, hunger, and disease.Insecurity also undermines food production and hampers humanitarian access, leaving relief supplies delayed or unavailable in volatile areas.

An unprecedented convergence of conflict, disease outbreaks, climate shocks and economic instability has triggered a severe food security emergency. As of July, 7.7 million people were facing Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse levels of acute food insecurity. Of urgent concern are 83,000 people in Nasir and Ulang (Upper Nile) and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, who are enduring Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5)—the highest classification, marked by extreme hunger and hunger-related mortality. Nutrition screenings reveal alarming rates of acute malnutrition. In Nasir, the Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate stands at 25.4 per cent, while Ulang reports 23.4 per cent—both far above theper cent emergency threshold. Children under five, along with pregnant and breastfeeding women, are disproportionately affected, facing heightened risks of stunting, disease, and death. With the lean season intensifying and harvests disrupted by conflict and floods, malnutrition levels are expected to rise further without urgent, scaled-up interventions.

Seasonal flooding continues to devastate lives and livelihoods across South Sudan, with forecasts indicating that up to 1.6 million people could be affected and as many as 400,000 displaced in the coming months. By July, nearly 122,000 people had already been impacted in Bor South (Jonglei State),
Mayendit, and Panyijiar (Unity State). Rising floodwaters have swept through homes, farmlands, and critical infrastructure, cutting off communities from schools, health facilities, and markets.
Major roads and transport routes have become impassable, further isolating vulnerable populations during a peak humanitarian period. As the prolonged inundation persists, it not only undermines livelihoods and food production but also sharply increases the risk of waterborne diseases, particularly cholera, while severely constraining the delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance.

Cholera remains a major public health threat, with 87,087 cases and 1,513 deaths reported across counties in nine states and three administrative areas by July, reflecting a case fatality rate of 1.7 per cent, with the majority of cases concentrated in Abyei, Rubkona, Mayendit, Magwi and Lafon counties.
Nearly half of all cases (47 per cent) are among children aged 0–14, underscoring the disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups. The outbreak is driven by limited access to safe water, poor sanitation, and overcrowded displacement sites, and is further compounded by recurrent malaria, measles, and acute watery diarrhea outbreaks that are overwhelming the fragile health system. The situation is further worsened by new cholera hotspots in neighboring Sudan, as cross-border movements of refugees and returnees contributes introduce the disease particularly in border communities with fragile water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, heightening the risk of additional outbreaks and placing further strain on an already overstretched health system. As the rainy season intensifies amid ongoing violence, flooding, and funding shortfalls, the risk of further spread remains extremely high. Urgent action is required to strengthen disease surveillance, expand vaccination campaigns, and scale up WASH interventions to avert additional loss of life.

Humanitarian access remains severely constrained by insecurity and logistical barriers. In July alone, access incidents were reported, including attacks on aid workers, armed robberies, and seizure of humanitarian assets. Violence against staff has escalated, particularly in Juba (Central Equatoria), where some aid workers were abducted for ransom. In Jonglei and Central Equatoria, armed groups ambushed UN contractors, injuring staff and damaging infrastructure, including the Kandila Bridge. Heavy rains have made major roads impassable, and insecurity along river routes has disrupted supply chains. A Bor–Malakal river convoy carrying 4,000 metric tons of relief supplies was stalled for days at a checkpoint in New Fangak, delaying aid to 35,000 people. Bureaucratic impediments—including new administrative requirements, project delays, and disrupted activities—continue to affect operations in Upper Nile, Jonglei, and Unity. Combined with transport constraints and rising checkpoint fees, these challenges have slowed the delivery of essential supplies, leaving thousands of vulnerable people at risk and highlighting the urgent need for unimpeded humanitarian access.

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