Countries: South Sudan, Sudan Source: Famine Early Warning System Network Please refer to the attached file. Key Messages Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes are expected in 32 counties across the north and east of the country in the lean season (June through September) due to escalating conflict and large-scale displacements, exhaustion of household food stocks, high returnee presence, and ongoing economic shocks including rising prices, poor macroeconomic conditions, and further erosion of purchasing power. Areas in north-central Jonglei and southeastern Upper Nile will remain of highest concern, particularly where displacement is most severe, such as in Akobo, Nyirol, and Uror. An increasing share of these county populations are expected to face large to extreme food consumption gaps indicative of Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) through September. Already high levels of acute malnutrition are also expected to continue upward trajectories driven by displacement, disease outbreaks, and deteriorating access to water, hygiene, health, and nutrition services.FEWS NET estimates up to 8.0 – 8.99 million people will need humanitarian food assistance, with needs peaking from July to September. There is a credible risk of Famine (IPC Phase 5) in Nasir and Ulang (Upper Nile) and in Ayod, Duk, Nyirol, Uror, Akobo, and Fangak (Jonglei), with particular concern for areas hosting large numbers of internally displaced populations (IDPs) . Hunger and acute malnutrition are already high in these areas – especially among IDPs with who have fled violence and destruction often multiple times, lost income and food sources, and are most exposed to surging disease outbreaks in overcrowded conditions. A recent rapid screening in Nyirol found 30 percent of children were acutely malnourished (as measured by mid-upper arm circumference), well over the Famine threshold for acute malnutrition (15 percent). If conflict escalates and isolates populations – preventing movement and access to local food sources and humanitarian assistance for a prolonged period – then Famine (IPC Phase 5) would likely occur, with highest concern during the upcoming lean and flooding seasons (June-September). Escalating clashes between Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and opposition forces allied under Sudan People’s Liberation Alliance-in Opposition (SPLM‐IO) continue to drive large-scale displacements and severely disrupt humanitarian operations. IOM DTM estimates nearly 270,000 people are currently internally displaced across Jonglei, Lakes, Upper Nile, and Central Equatoria, while at least 110,000 people fled from Akobo to Ethiopia in early March. This mass displacement across the border followed March 6 evacuation orders issued ahead of anticipated military operations on Akobo town, which triggered widespread panic, looting, and the collapse of basic services, trade flows, and humanitarian access . As of March 19 , Akobo town reportedly remains largely deserted, with humanitarian activities suspended. On March 15, additional evacuation orders in Nasir ahead of military operations anticipated in Mandeng and Torkech payams of Nasir resulted in departure of five humanitarian organizations and suspension of assistance delivery. Across affected areas, armed actors continue to loot and destroy critical infrastructure – including markets and health facilities – further degrading already fragile service delivery systems and compounding constrains on both livelihoods and humanitarian response capacity. Sporadic violence also continued through March in areas outside of Jonglei and Upper Nile. Fatal attacks by armed youth from Mayom (Unity) occurred in Abiemnhom (Ruweng) – resulting in 180 deaths and displacement of over 20,000 people – and in Tonj North and East (Warrap), where 20 were killed and 500 people displaced. FEWS NET’s recent assessment mission to Gogrial East and Twic (Warrap) found persistent intra- and inter-communal clashes and cattle raids, the most recent of which resulted 12 deaths, looting of over 500 cattle, and disrupted access to wild gathering and fishing. Tensions also remain high in parts of Central and Western Equatoria, including Yei, Lainya, Morobo, Tambura, and Mundri East, the latter of which saw violence by armed youth that led to the deaths of 15 people, looting of unconfirmed number of cattle, and displacement of over 200 people in mid-March. Amid escalating internal displacement, continued inflow of returnees and refugees from Sudan are compounding the humanitarian crisis, particularly in northern bordering counties . Between January and mid-March 2026, more than 40,000 people crossed into South Sudan—lower than the roughly 110,000 arrivals during the same period in 2025 but still averaging over 500 arrivals per day. This brings the cumulative number of returnees and refugees since the onset of the Sudan conflict to 1.35 million people . These sustained inflows are straining already limited available reso
Related Articles
Don't miss out on breaking stories and in-depth articles.