The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP), and UNICEF have warned of a rapidly deepening hunger crisis in South Sudan, where 7.8 million people—around 56 percent of the population—are projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity between April and July 2026. This places South Sudan among the countries with the highest levels of food insecurity globally.
Within this population, 73,300 people are experiencing Catastrophe levels of hunger, the most severe classification, marking a sharp increase compared to previous estimates. In addition, 2.5 million people are in Emergency conditions and 5.3 million are in Crisis, highlighting the widespread severity of the situation.
The crisis is being driven by multiple overlapping factors, including escalating conflict, mass displacement, economic decline, flooding, climate shocks, and weak agricultural production. These conditions are severely reducing food availability and access, while rising prices, disrupted markets, and low household purchasing power are further worsening hunger levels across the country.
Child malnutrition has reached alarming levels, with 2.2 million children aged six months to five years currently acutely malnourished, and 700,000 children expected to face severe acute malnutrition in the coming months. Additionally, 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women are also affected, increasing health risks for both mothers and infants. Disease outbreaks and damaged health services are further compounding the crisis.
Humanitarian agencies warn of a credible risk of famine in parts of Upper Nile and Jonglei states if conflict continues and access restrictions persist. Large areas remain cut off from humanitarian assistance, while funding shortages and insecurity are limiting the reach of life-saving support.
FAO, WFP, and UNICEF are urging immediate international action, including sustained funding, protection of civilians, and unrestricted humanitarian access. They stress that without urgent large-scale intervention, the crisis could escalate into an irreversible humanitarian catastrophe, with children and vulnerable communities at greatest risk.
