(Malakal) – The United Nations has issued a serious warning about the risk of famine in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state, as conflict continues to disrupt communities, damage livelihoods, and block the delivery of humanitarian aid.
In a joint statement released on Thursday, three major UN agencies—the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)—confirmed that 11 out of 13 counties in Upper Nile are now experiencing emergency levels of hunger. The agencies say the situation is worsening rapidly, and famine could soon be declared if conditions continue to deteriorate.
Upper Nile, located in the northeast of the country, has been a hotspot for fighting between government forces and armed groups opposing President Salva Kiir’s administration. The violence, which has intensified over recent months, has forced thousands of families from their homes and made it difficult for aid workers to reach those in need.
An estimated 32,000 people are currently enduring what the UN describes as “catastrophic” levels of hunger—three times higher than previously expected. This classification reflects the most severe phase of food insecurity, just one step away from an official famine declaration.
While some other regions of South Sudan have seen slight improvements in food availability, overall conditions remain extremely fragile. Across the country, around 57% of the population—equivalent to more than 6.5 million people out of a total of 11.5 million—are facing acute food insecurity.
The international standard for declaring famine is set by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a system used by more than 20 global organisations, including the World Bank, the EU, and various UN bodies. Famine is confirmed when 20% of households face extreme food shortages, at least 30% of children are severely malnourished, and the death rate reaches two adults or four children per 10,000 people each day due to hunger.
In Nasir County, one of the areas identified as being at extreme risk, local fighting has caused significant civilian casualties and further disrupted any remaining access to food or basic services. The area is also a stronghold of armed groups opposing the national government, complicating any humanitarian response.
Mary-Ellen McGroarty, the WFP’s representative in South Sudan, said the crisis is another example of how deeply conflict impacts food security. “Conflict not only destroys homes and livelihoods, it tears communities apart, cuts off access to markets and sends food prices soaring,” she said. “Long-term peace is essential, but for now, it is paramount that our teams are able to access families caught in the Upper Nile conflict and safely distribute food to them, to pull them through and prevent famine.”
The current emergency recalls the 2017 famine that was officially declared in parts of South Sudan. That crisis, too, was largely driven by conflict and a lack of access to humanitarian aid.
As of June 2025, with the South Sudanese Pound (SSP) officially trading at approximately 4,600 SSP per US Dollar, local households in affected areas face food costs that are rapidly increasing beyond reach. For example, what might cost 36,000 SSP (roughly $90) for basic monthly food items in calm regions, now costs much more in conflict-affected zones due to market shortages and disrupted supply routes.
The UN agencies are urging all parties involved in the fighting to allow humanitarian workers safe and unrestricted access to vulnerable populations. They have also called on the international community to step up support for emergency food supplies and long-term solutions to food insecurity across the country.
