UN Women Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Anna Mutavati, issued a statement following a five‑day mission to South Sudan, highlighting the escalating violence, displacement, and food insecurity affecting women and girls. Since the start of 2026, nearly 60 percent of those displaced—over 223,000—are women and girls, with an average of 104 forced to flee every hour. Most displacements have occurred in Jonglei State, where women and girls have also been among those killed in massacres and targeted attacks.
The destruction and looting of health facilities have left many women without access to critical healthcare, forcing them to give birth without medical support in a country already facing one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates. Around 5 million women and girls require humanitarian assistance this year, including 2.5 million in need of gender‑based violence services. Reports indicate that women and girls are resorting to eating wild plants to survive, with malnutrition already on the rise.
The crisis is compounded by the arrival of 2.4 million Sudanese refugees and South Sudanese returnees, adding to the 2.6 million people already displaced within the country. UN Women is working through women‑led organizations to deliver life‑saving support, including shelter, healthcare, psychosocial and legal services, livelihoods, and protection. The organization is also advancing women’s participation in governance, peace, and security processes, stressing that women’s leadership is essential for sustainable peace.
Mutavati called for sustained and flexible funding for women‑led organizations, safe access to education for girls, and livelihood support for women‑headed households. She urged the adoption of South Sudan’s second National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security and full implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict, including the 35 percent quota for women’s representation in government.
Looking ahead to the 2026 elections, she emphasized the need for a credible, inclusive, and transparent electoral roadmap that guarantees women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation at every stage of the process.
