South Sudan’s Deepening Hunger Crisis

By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

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South Sudan’s Hunger Crisis

In South Sudan, a nation deeply rooted in the heart of Africa, a severe humanitarian crisis unfolds, marked by widespread hunger and instability. The Upper Nile region, in particular, faces desperate conditions, with over 40,000 people experiencing extreme hunger (WFP). This dire situation is a stark reminder of the challenges many African nations confront, often stemming from complex internal and external pressures. The struggle for survival here resonates deeply, reflecting the resilience and enduring spirit of a people striving for peace and prosperity.

An estimated 7.7 million people in South Sudan, which is about 57 percent of the population, are facing high levels of acute food insecurity during the April-July 2025 lean season (reliefweb.int). This means they are experiencing “Crisis or worse” conditions, as defined by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system. The IPC uses a scale from Phase 1 (Minimal/None) to Phase 5 (Catastrophe/Famine) to describe the severity of food insecurity. Acute food insecurity refers to a sudden, severe lack of food that threatens lives or livelihoods, differing from chronic food insecurity, which is a long-term, persistent inability to access enough food. The lean season, typically from April to July, is the period before the main harvest when food stocks from the previous season are low, and prices are often high, making it a particularly challenging time for communities.

Approximately 83,000 people, nearly one percent of the analyzed population, are expected to experience IPC AFI Phase 5, or “Catastrophe,” levels of acute food insecurity (reliefweb.int). This includes 15,000 people in Luakpiny/Nasir, 7,000 in Ulang, and 10,000 in Malakal counties of Upper Nile State. Catastrophic hunger means that households are experiencing an extreme lack of food and other basic needs, leading to starvation, death, and destitution. It is the most severe phase, indicating a critical need for immediate, large-scale humanitarian intervention to prevent widespread loss of life. The United Nations agency reports that more than one million people in Upper Nile face “acute hunger,” with 32,000 facing “catastrophic levels of hunger” (WFP).

Conflict Fuels Desperation

Conflict and civil insecurity are the main drivers of acute food insecurity in South Sudan, particularly in the Upper Nile region (reliefweb.int). This ongoing violence forces people to abandon their homes, disrupts local markets, and hinders essential livelihood activities like farming and trade. The fighting also creates immense challenges for humanitarian organizations trying to deliver aid to those in desperate need. The direst conditions are found in conflict-affected states such as Jonglei, Upper Nile, and Unity, where continuous fighting displaces large numbers of people in remote areas (WFP). This displacement prevents communities from growing food and severely disrupts market access, further deepening the hunger crisis.

The conflict in neighboring Sudan has significantly worsened an already complex humanitarian crisis in South Sudan (reliefweb.int). This conflict, which involves clashes between rival military factions, has caused widespread displacement and a massive influx of refugees into South Sudan. The violence and instability in Sudan have led to widespread food insecurity, critical rates of acute malnutrition, and the erosion of traditional livelihood systems. Traditional livelihood systems refer to the long-standing ways communities sustain themselves, such as subsistence farming, pastoralism (raising livestock), fishing, and local trade. When these systems are destroyed, people lose their ability to feed themselves and earn a living, making them entirely dependent on external aid. The ongoing fighting in the region also hampers humanitarian efforts, as reaching thousands of displaced people poses additional challenges (WFP).

Mass Displacement Challenges

The humanitarian crisis in South Sudan is greatly worsened by mass displacement, including a significant influx of refugees from Sudan (reliefweb.int). Since the conflict began in Sudan in April 2023, over one million people have fled across the border into South Sudan (reliefweb.int). These new arrivals often settle in communities already struggling with severe humanitarian needs, including acute food insecurity and limited access to essential services like clean water, healthcare, and education. The added strain on already scarce resources further exacerbates the crisis for both host communities and displaced populations.

The IPC findings indicate that 39,000 people returning to South Sudan after fleeing the conflict in Sudan are among those facing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity (reliefweb.int). Upper Nile State, which shares an approximately 900-kilometer-long border with Sudan, has been among the regions most impacted by the conflict and displacement (reliefweb.int). The sheer volume of people arriving, combined with the existing vulnerabilities, creates an overwhelming challenge for aid organizations and local authorities. The continuous fighting in the Upper Nile region, between government troops and armed militias, has led to United Nations warnings that South Sudan is again on the brink of civil war (WFP). This ongoing instability makes it incredibly difficult to provide consistent support to those in need and to plan for long-term recovery.

Humanitarian Aid Efforts

Humanitarian aid efforts, including food airdrops, are crucial but face significant challenges due to ongoing conflict and limited access (WFP). The World Food Programme (WFP) has resorted to airdropping food in South Sudan, including in the Upper Nile region, to reach those in desperate need (WFP). Airdrops are a last resort for aid delivery, used when ground routes are impassable due to conflict, poor infrastructure, or seasonal flooding. While effective for reaching isolated populations quickly, they are expensive, logistically complex, and can only deliver limited quantities of aid compared to road or river transport. Mary-Ellen McGroarty, WFP’s South Sudan Country Director, described these airdrops as “crucial and critical to bring people back from the brink of famine” (WFP). The WFP has provided lifesaving food assistance and nutrition support to around 765,000 people in South Sudan since the crisis began in mid-December, including over 430,000 displaced or directly affected by conflict (WFP).

The Nile River serves as a critical transport artery in South Sudan, as the country has few paved roads and challenging terrain, especially during the rainy season when many roads become impassable (reuters.com). This makes river transport vital for moving large quantities of humanitarian goods. However, clashes in South Sudan are blocking aid to 60,000 malnourished children, with nutrition supplies for Upper Nile State expected to run out by the end of May (reuters.com). Nutrition supplies are specialized foods and supplements, such as therapeutic ready-to-use food (RUTF), designed to treat severe acute malnutrition in children. If these supplies cannot get through, there is a high likelihood of escalating malnutrition in areas already at breaking point (reuters.com). The WFP continues to work with all parties to the conflict and neighboring country governments to resume reliable movement of humanitarian goods, including cross-border shipments, which are key to supplying conflict-affected areas (WFP).

Obstacles to Assistance

Access constraints are a significant challenge to the delivery of humanitarian assistance in South Sudan (reliefweb.int). The primary barriers include ongoing conflict and civil insecurity, which create dangerous environments for aid workers and disrupt supply routes. This means that even when aid is available, it cannot always reach the people who need it most. The shrinking humanitarian resources further compound the food insecurity situation, as there is simply not enough funding or supplies to meet the overwhelming demand (reliefweb.int). The reliance on the Nile River for transport, while critical, also highlights the difficulties of land-based access, especially during the rainy season when roads become impassable.

The crisis disproportionately affects the most vulnerable, particularly children and women. Acute malnutrition among young children surged after the conflict began in April 2023 (FSIN Platform). In 2024, 26 countries and territories with food crises were also identified as having nutrition crises, with Sudan, Yemen, Mali, and the Gaza Strip facing the most severe situations (FSIN Platform). While the general impact of food insecurity on the population is clear, specific details on how women are disproportionately affected or targeted interventions for these vulnerable groups are not explicitly provided in the available information. However, it is well-known that women often bear the brunt of food insecurity, as they are typically responsible for feeding their families and may sacrifice their own nutritional needs for their children. Children, especially those under five, are highly susceptible to malnutrition, which can lead to stunted growth, developmental delays, and increased risk of disease and death.

Climate Shocks and Food Security

Climate events, particularly widespread flooding, are identified as a significant factor negatively impacting food security in South Sudan (reliefweb.int). These events directly affect agricultural production by destroying crops and farmland, making it impossible for communities to grow their own food. The floods also disrupt market functionality by damaging roads and infrastructure, preventing goods from reaching markets and increasing food prices. This destruction of infrastructure, such as roads, further complicates humanitarian aid delivery and limits people’s ability to access food and other essential services. The impact of climate extremes is growing in intensity globally, wreaking havoc on food security, crippling harvests, and breaking supply chains (unocha.org).

The combination of conflict, economic instability, and climate shocks creates a vicious cycle of vulnerability for the people of South Sudan. As climate change intensifies, these extreme weather events are likely to become more frequent and severe, further undermining food security and humanitarian efforts. Addressing the climate crisis is therefore an integral part of any comprehensive solution to the food insecurity challenges in South Sudan. It requires not only immediate humanitarian response but also long-term strategies for climate adaptation and resilience building within affected communities.

Addressing Root Causes and Future Needs

Urgent and immediate action is required to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation and potential famine in South Sudan (reliefweb.int). A large-scale and multi-sectoral response is needed for the population facing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity. This includes protecting humanitarian access, ensuring aid can reach those in need without hindrance. The current levels of humanitarian food security assistance remain largely insufficient to meet the needs and demands of people in IPC AFI Phase 3 or above, falling short even for those in Phase 4 and 5, despite reprioritization efforts (reliefweb.int).

While the focus is on immediate relief, addressing the root causes of this crisis is paramount for long-term stability. The primary drivers are conflict and civil insecurity, which have forced people from their homes, destroyed markets, and hindered aid delivery (reliefweb.int). Additionally, the ongoing economic crisis, marked by local currency depreciation, high food prices, and eroding purchasing power, severely impacts household ability to buy food (reliefweb.int). Furthermore, climatic shocks, particularly flooding, negatively impact agricultural production, disrupt market functionality, and destroy infrastructure (reliefweb.int). The WFP aims to scale up its assistance to support 2.5 million conflict-affected and food-insecure people in South Sudan over the coming months (WFP). This comprehensive approach, combining immediate aid with efforts to address underlying issues, is essential to move South Sudan away from the brink of famine and towards a more secure future.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darius Spearman has been a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.