Latest updates on country situation
05 November 2024
By 1 November 2024, flooding had affected over 1.4 million people across 43 counties in South Sudan and the Abyei Administrative Area, with lowland areas in Jonglei and Northern Bahr Al Ghazal states among the hardest hit. The natural hazard-related disaster has displaced nearly 375,000 people in 21 counties and the Abyei Administrative Area. Heavy rainfall and flooding have also made 15 major supply routes impassable, significantly limiting access to the affected populations. (OCHA 01/11/2024, Eye Radio 02/11/2024)
08 October 2024
On 3 October 2024, the Council of Ministers approved the declaration of a state of emergency in flood-affected states of South Sudan. Since August, flooding has affected more than 890,000 people, displacing about 226,000 until 4 October. Unity state has been the hardest hit, with 114,480 people displaced. Access remains a challenge, given damaged and impassable roads. The flooding is expected to peak in November, causing further damage. The floods have already damaged schools, hospitals, and critical infrastructure. (OCHA 04/10/2024, AA 03/10/2024)
12 September 2024
By 11 September 2024, flooding had affected over 710,000 people across 30 counties in South Sudan and Abyei, affecting Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Jonglei, Unity, and Warrap states the most. Since May, the floods have damaged and destroyed homes, crops, and essential infrastructure, affecting access to education and healthcare services and increasing the risk of outbreaks of diseases, particularly cholera and malaria, which are endemic in the country. (OCHA 06/09/2024, ECHO 12/09/2024, Africanews 09/09/2024)
02 September 2024
Since May 2024, heavy rains have been causing flash floods that have affected over 472,000 people across 26 of South Sudan’s 78 counties. The floods have destroyed homes, crops, and infrastructure and disrupted education and health services. Before May, the hardest-hit states, Central Equatoria, Jonglei, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Unity, Upper Nile, Warrap, and Western Bahr el Ghazal, were already contending with the aftermath of previous floods in 2023, active conflict, displacement, and severe food insecurity. The influx of returnees and refugees fleeing the Sudan conflict has worsened these challenges. Displaced populations are seeking refuge with relatives, in public spaces such as schools and churches, or along roadsides. There has been an increase in cases of malaria, respiratory infections, acute diarrhoeal disease, and snakebites, placing additional pressure on already stretched healthcare services. Those affected are in need of health, WASH, food security and livelihoods, shelter, and NFIs. (OCHA 29/08/2024, Radio Tamazuj 29/08/2024, The Guardian13/08/2024)
18 June 2024
By 13 June 2024, more than 700,000 people had arrived in South Sudan from Sudan following the outbreak of conflict in April 2023, averaging 1,605 arrivals per day. While the majority were South Sudanese returnees, the proportion of Sudanese refugees had risen to 32% compared to 2023. Consistently, 83% of the arrivals entered through the Joda-Renk border crossing in the northeast. The refugees and returnees urgently need food, water, shelter, sanitation facilities, and medical care. Acute food insecurity is expected to increase both for the arrivals and host communities as the influx puts additional pressure on already scarce resources, heightening the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan. Strain on the limited services at border points and destination areas also threatens to reignite intercommunal violence in Renk, Malakal, and other parts of the country. (ECHO 14/06/2024, MSF 18/06/2024, Protection Cluster 29/03/2024)
22 February 2024
Approximately 5,400 individuals have fled Wonduruba payam in Central Equatoria state following clashes between an armed group and the national army in February 2024. The displaced people have sought refuge in government facilities and lack food and shelter. Similar clashes have also displaced 79 families further south in Lainya county. (BNN 20/02/2024, Ground 20/02/2024, Eye Radio 20/02/2024)
24 January 2024
Between 23 December 2023 and 5 January 2024, about 68,100 refugees and asylum seekers crossed from Sudan to South Sudan, significantly higher than the 27,100 between 9–22 December. The movement is stemming from the intensification of clashes in southern Sudan. Reports point to a change in displacement trends, with nearly 63% of the recent arrivals being Sudanese nationals, when the majority from 15 April to 22 December were South Sudanese returnees. The arrivals are coming through the Joda crossing point in Upper Nile state of South Sudan, and they likely need food, nutrition, shelter, and healthcare services. Humanitarian organisations face access restrictions because of waterlogging on some roads and insecurity in the border district of Abyei (disputed between Sudan and South Sudan). From 15 April 2023 to 21 January 2024, 516,600 people crossed from Sudan to South Sudan. (OCHA 12/01/2024, UNHCR/IOM accessed 24/01/2024)
current crises
in
South Sudan
These crises have been identified through the INFORM Severity Index, a tool for measuring and comparing the severity of humanitarian crises globally.
SSD001 - Complex crisis
Last updated 28/10/2024
Drivers
Conflict
Floods
Displacement
Crisis level
Country
Severity level
4.4 Very High
Access constraints
4.0
Analysis products
on
South Sudan
19 August 2024
South Sudan: key crises to watch
DOCUMENT / PDF / 2 MB
This report provides an overview of key humanitarian crises expected to deteriorate or see a significant humanitarian impact in the next five months in South Sudan.
Attached resources
17 May 2023
South Sudan: conflict-related displacement
DOCUMENT / PDF / 293 KB
As at 14 May 2023, the conflict that began on 15 April in Sudan had displaced more than 57,000 people to South Sudan. 90% of this number were conflict-displaced South Sudanese returnees. The majority of the displaced are settling in border towns in Upper Nile state.
27 October 2022
South Sudan: Impact of floods
DOCUMENT / PDF / 2 MB
Since August, flash and riverine floods have been severely affecting South Sudan, as is typical during the rainy season (April–November). Most of the country had below-average rainfall in June–July. The extent of flooding more than doubled between early August and early October, from 22,000km2 of South Sudan’s landmass to 48,000km2.
18 December 2020
South Sudan Scenarios: Movement patterns and humanitarian needs
DOCUMENT / PDF / 1 MB
Possible developments of movement and settlement patterns and humanitarian needs in the next six months after the redesignation of the Protection of Civilians sites.
12 August 2020
South Sudan: Access to basic needs and services
DOCUMENT / PDF / 546 KB
Taking into account a range of variables that affect South Sudanese access to basic needs and services, these scenarios consider developments that could have humanitarian consequences and impact on access to basic needs within South Sudan over the coming six to twelve months.