05/11/2025
Over 7.5 million South Sudanese projected to face hunger next year, new IPC report warns
South Sudan is heading toward a worsening hunger crisis, with more than half of its population expected to face severe food shortages next year, according to a new national food security report released Tuesday in Juba.
The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis warns that about 7.56 million people could face crisis or worse levels of hunger during the 2026 lean season, from April to July. Around 28,000 people in Luakpiny/Nasir and Fangak counties are already experiencing catastrophic hunger, while over two million children and more than one million mothers are likely to suffer from acute malnutrition by midyear.
Releasing the findings, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Hussein Abdelbagi Akol Agany said the numbers show the need for urgent action to rebuild livelihoods and restore stability. “This report tells a painful truth,” he said. “We cannot feed our people through aid alone. Fields are idle, markets are weak, and farmers are still afraid to return home. Food security starts with peace and the will to produce. The government is working on a preparedness plan to help communities grow more food, improve storage, and build resilience before the next lean season.”
UN Resident Coordinator Anita Kiki Gbeho said the data reflects the daily struggles of South Sudanese families trapped by conflict, floods, and poverty. “This is not just about food—it is about survival,” she said. “In places where peace has held, we’ve seen people recover and rebuild. But where insecurity and displacement persist, hunger deepens. Every delay in access costs lives.”
FAO’s Meshack Malo emphasized revitalizing agri-food systems, while WFP’s Adham Effendi urged sustained humanitarian access. UNICEF’s Ismail Kamil appealed for continued support to health and nutrition services for children and mothers.
Officials warned that without peace and sustained assistance,