Hunger and cholera staging a brutal humanitarian crisis in South Sudan

South Sudan is facing a deepening humanitarian crisis as hunger and cholera cases make things difficult for civilians in several parts of the country. UN agencies have called for more international support to ease the suffering.

Experts have raised serious concerns over hunger, malnutrition and disease outbreaks in the youngest nation on the planet. The food situation in South Sudan has reached critical levels. More than half of the population is already facing ‘crisis-level’ hunger.

The situation has been further exacerbated by the fact that the UN food agency currently has no funds to preposition supplies for next year, as it faces challenges accessing those in need due to seasonal road closures and prohibited costs linked to airlifting aid.

Continued influx of refugees from neighbouring Sudan

Several factors are responsible for compounding the hunger crisis in South Sudan, such as high food prices, economic instability, ongoing fighting and a continued influx of refugees from neighbouring Sudan – as the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary RSF fight.

Besides the food crisis, South Sudan is also struggling to contain a Cholera outbreak in Renk county, a key entry point for refugees and returnees fleeing Sudan. By late October, health authorities had already reported 50 suspected Cholera cases.

Children under five are especially vulnerable to the deepening crisis in South Sudan. They are facing high levels of malnutrition and limited access to basic services. Floods have destroyed crops and displaced entire communities, leaving them dependent on aid.