(JUBA) – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has begun airdropping emergency food aid to tens of thousands of people trapped in remote areas of South Sudan, as violent conflict continues to worsen food insecurity across the country. The WFP said it recently gained its first access in over four months to deliver life saving food and nutrition supplies to more than 40,000 people in Nasir and Ulang counties, two of the most isolated regions in Upper Nile State.
These areas are only reachable by air due to ongoing fighting that has blocked river transport routes, the cheapest and most efficient way to deliver aid in the region. This disruption has severely hampered humanitarian efforts and increased the risk of famine among already vulnerable communities.
The security situation in South Sudan has significantly deteriorated since March 2025, when tensions between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar escalated into open hostilities. The renewed violence has triggered fears of a return to civil war in the world’s youngest country, which lost an estimated 400,000 people during the 2013–2018 conflict.
In Upper Nile State alone, which borders conflict hit Sudan, more than one million people are now facing acute hunger, according to WFP. Of these, over 32,000 individuals are already experiencing “catastrophic” food shortages, the most severe category of food insecurity. The number of people in this critical situation has tripled since the latest round of conflict erupted, leading to widespread displacement and the collapse of local livelihoods.
Nationwide, the WFP estimates that 7.7 million South Sudanese, around 57% of the population, are living in “crisis, emergency, or catastrophic” hunger conditions. This situation is one of the worst food insecurity crises in the region and is compounded by a lack of access, funding constraints and climate related disruptions.
Due to financial limitations, the WFP has had to scale back its assistance and now focuses on the most vulnerable 2.5 million people, offering only reduced rations. To sustain its emergency operations through December 2025, the agency has appealed for an additional $274 million (approximately SSP 1.26 trillion at the June 2025 official rate of $1 = 4,600 SSP).
WFP Food Insecurity Figures in South Sudan (as of July 2025)
| Category | Number of People |
|---|---|
| Nationwide hunger (crisis or worse) | 7.7 million |
| Targeted with reduced rations | 2.5 million |
| Acute hunger in Upper Nile | 1 million+ |
| Catastrophic hunger in Upper Nile | 32,000+ |
| Aid appeal to continue operations (USD) | $274 million |
| Aid appeal to continue operations (SSP) | SSP 1.26 trillion |
The situation in northern Jonglei and Upper Nile states is particularly concerning due to blocked access routes and continued displacement. Humanitarian flights remain the only viable option to reach communities that have been cut off from regular supply chains for months.
The WFP and other humanitarian partners are urging the international community to act swiftly. Without increased support, the hunger crisis could deteriorate further, putting even more lives at risk in areas where assistance is already dangerously limited.
The latest food airdrops represent a lifeline for many in South Sudan’s conflict affected regions. However, with the hunger crisis deepening and funding gaps widening, relief agencies warn that time is running out.
