By Ajah Jennifer

South Sudan is on the brink of one of the world’s most devastating yet underreported crises of acute malnutrition, the World Health Organization has warned.

The organization termed the chronic condition that is claiming the lives and futures of millions in South Sudan as a silent killer.

According to the WHO South Sudan Annual Report 2024, 17.4% of the population suffers from acute malnutrition, a percentage which is above the WHO’s emergency threshold of 15%.

This statistic exposes a long-standing crisis driven by a deadly mix of conflict, climate shocks, poor infrastructure, and public health challenges.

Additionally, more than 2.1 million children are battling malnutrition, their growth stunted and their lives at risk. The WHO noted that, as the country reeled from prolonged violence and widespread flooding, access to food remains severely restricted.

“Families are struggling not just with scarcity but with impossibly high food prices that make basic nutrition unattainable.”

South Sudan’s hunger crisis is fueled by a convergence of man-made and natural disasters, including conflict and insecurity that have displaced millions and frequent disease outbreaks, such as malaria and diarrheal illnesses, further weakening immune systems and nutritional health.

The severity of hunger is categorized into five phases: Minimal, where basic food needs are met, stressed, where food assistance may prevent worsening crisis, where acute food shortages and rising malnutrition.

 Emergency – widespread severe malnutrition and risk of death and Famine. South Sudan is currently experiencing Phase 3 (Crisis) and Phase 4 (Emergency) levels in many areas, with some regions at risk of tipping into Phase 5 (Catastrophe) without immediate aid.

WHO, in recent years, has supported 91 stabilization centres to treat severe acute malnutrition, distributed  236 pediatric and SAM kits, reaching approximately 11,80 children and continues to collaborate with the Ministry of Health to develop the National Nutrition Policy and update operational guidelines.

Malnutrition remains a humanitarian catastrophe and without intervention, children suffering from acute malnutrition face lifelong physical and cognitive impairments, or worse, death.

While WHO and partners like Medair and UNICEF have made critical interventions, much more is needed.