Over Half of South Sudan’s Population Faces Acute Hunger Crisis, UN Reports

JUBA — More than half of South Sudan’s population is facing acute food insecurity, the United Nations has warned, citing the combined effects of conflict, economic collapse, and climate-related shocks.

According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, approximately 7.1 million people — over 55 percent of the population — are experiencing crisis-level hunger or worse. This marks a significant deterioration from the same period last year.

The situation is dire and getting worse by the day, said a spokesperson for the World Food Programme (WFP) in Juba. Families are skipping meals, selling off their remaining assets, and resorting to desperate measures just to survive.

The UN was recently forced to suspend some food aid deliveries following unacceptable attacks on humanitarian convoys. In February 2026, a WFP convoy came under fire while attempting to deliver food to vulnerable communities in Unity State, prompting a temporary suspension of operations in the area.

South Sudan’s hunger crisis is being driven by multiple factors: ongoing conflict and insecurity disrupting farming and trade, hyperinflation making food unaffordable for most families, and flooding destroying crops and livestock in key agricultural regions.

Humanitarian organizations are calling for urgent international funding to scale up food assistance and address the root causes of the crisis. The UN’s 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan for South Sudan remains significantly underfunded, with only a fraction of the required $1.8 billion received so far.