South Sudan on Brink of Hunger Crisis as 7.8 Million Face Acute Food Insecurity, UN Agencies Warn

A rapidly worsening hunger crisis in South Sudan is pushing the country toward one of the most severe humanitarian emergencies in the world, with 7.8 million people—more than half the population—now facing acute food insecurity, according to a joint warning issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP), and UNICEF.

The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis paints a stark picture: between April and July 2026, an estimated 56 percent of South Sudan’s population will experience Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse levels of hunger—placing the country among the most food-insecure globally.

Sharp rise in catastrophic hunger levels

Of particular concern is the dramatic surge in the number of people facing Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5)—the highest and most life-threatening classification of food insecurity.

• 73,300 people are currently in Catastrophe conditions, a 160 percent increase from previous estimates

• 2.5 million people are in Emergency (IPC Phase 4)

• 5.3 million people are in Crisis (IPC Phase 3)

These figures reflect a rapidly deteriorating situation, with entire communities on the brink of famine-like conditions.

Humanitarian agencies have also warned of a credible risk of famine in at least four counties across Upper Nile and Jonglei states, where conflict and access constraints are preventing aid from reaching those most in need.

Conflict, displacement and climate shocks driving crisis

The crisis is being fuelled by a complex convergence of factors:

• Escalating armed conflict disrupting livelihoods and markets

• Mass displacement, including nearly 300,000 people uprooted in Jonglei alone

• Severe economic decline and rising food prices

• Climate shocks, particularly flooding, damaging crops and limiting agricultural production

• Restricted humanitarian access to conflict-affected areas

These overlapping pressures have sharply reduced food availability while simultaneously weakening families’ ability to afford what little food remains accessible.

Malnutrition crisis deepens, children most at risk

The hunger emergency is being compounded by a worsening nutrition crisis, particularly among children and mothers.

• 2.2 million children under five are suffering from acute malnutrition

• 700,000 children are projected to face severe acute malnutrition, the deadliest form

• 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women are also acutely malnourished

Health systems, already fragile, are under increasing strain. Many facilities have been damaged or forced to close due to conflict, limiting access to treatment. At the same time, shortages of supplies and funding are reducing the reach of life-saving interventions.

Disease outbreaks—including cholera, malaria, and measles—are further exacerbating the situation, particularly among malnourished children with weakened immune systems.

Humanitarian response under pressure

Despite ongoing efforts to scale up assistance, aid delivery remains uneven. Some areas remain completely inaccessible due to insecurity, leaving vulnerable populations without support.

Humanitarian agencies warn they are now in a “race against time” to pre-position supplies ahead of the rainy season, which is expected to further cut off remote communities.

“Conflict is hitting women and children the hardest,” said WFP’s Director of Emergencies Ross Smith, highlighting the growing challenges in reaching affected populations.

UNICEF has also issued a stark warning about the consequences of delayed action.

“Every day of delayed humanitarian access is a day a child’s life hangs in the balance,” said UNICEF’s Director of Emergencies Lucia Elmi.

Urgent global action needed

FAO, WFP, and UNICEF are calling for immediate, large-scale international intervention to prevent the crisis from spiralling into full-scale famine.

Priority actions include:

• Scaling up food assistance programmes

• Expanding nutrition treatment services

• Ensuring access to clean water and sanitation

• Restoring and supporting health services

• Guaranteeing safe and unrestricted humanitarian access

The agencies have also urged all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and allow aid to reach affected communities without delay.

Without swift and sustained action, they warn, South Sudan risks an irreversible humanitarian catastrophe, with millions more slipping deeper into hunger and preventable deaths rising sharply.

A fragile system under threat

Even as South Sudan has made modest progress in strengthening local agricultural production in recent years, these gains remain highly vulnerable to the very forces now driving the crisis—conflict, climate shocks, and economic instability.

Experts stress that protecting livelihoods and restoring food systems will be critical not only for immediate survival but for long-term recovery.

As the crisis intensifies, the message from humanitarian agencies is clear: the window to act is rapidly closing.