SOUTH SUDAN | An extreme public health crisis persists on the Sobat River-Corridor

One month after the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warned there was risk of famine in a plausible worst-case scenario in Nasir and Ulang counties, an emergency assessment reveals extreme levels of hunger and malnutrition in parts of both counties in July, despite a reduction in large-scale violence since May. 

Our findings reveal an extreme public health crisis, driven by active hostilities, continuous displacement and significant constraints on humanitarian access. In the coming months – which coincide with the rainy season – heavy rainfall and persistent restrictions on humanitarian access will deepen the combined impact of disease and hunger. In addition to a decimated healthcare system and a seemingly intractable cholera outbreak, this will heighten the risk of even more extreme health outcomes, including death from disease and starvation. 

Rising humanitarian needs in the rest of the Upper Nile region

In addition to internal violence, the Upper Nile region is also affected by the conflict in neighboring Sudan. Since the outbreak of conflict in April 2023, over 1 million people have crossed into South Sudan, with the vast majority entering through Renk County. Most were South Sudanese nationals returning after years of displacement, often arriving without financial or social support and experiencing severe food insecurity and malnutrition.  

In June 2025, the Onward Transport Assistance was suspended due to funding cuts, which enabled displaced persons to move safely from entry points to their chosen destinations within South Sudan, where they can reunite with family, access basic services and begin to rebuild their lives. The suspension of this critical service, alongside a broader reduction in humanitarian services in Renk, paints a concerning picture of a growing population of increasingly vulnerable returnees – facing severe humanitarian conditions. As in Nasir and Ulang, disease outbreaks are occurring against the backdrop of a limited healthcare system, with the cholera death rate doubled between June (0.4%) and July (0.9%). 

As of July 2025, the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for South Sudan is funded at 21.9%. The lack of public awareness and international attention has rendered the crisis largely overlooked, despite its severity. 

Other publications - our pick of the month

• Global | IMPACT 2024 Annual Report: Our annual report is now available in both  printable PDF and  digital formats (accessible below), highlights this extensive work across the 38 countries where we operated in 2024. 

• Global | Plan for people, not process: In collaboration with ICVA members and partners, we reflected on what a credible, inclusive, and efficient humanitarian planning process must look like in today’s constrained and complex operational environment.

• Cambodia |  Advancing the understanding of the relationship between Mine Action, Land Use Change, Environment and Climate: a pioneering environmental impact study in Cambodia to understantd the environmental and social impacts of mine clearance activities.

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About REACH

REACH is a leading humanitarian initiative that collects primary data and produces in-depth analysis to help aid actors make evidence-based decisions in support of crisis-affected people. With this in mind, our flagship research programmes aim to inform the prioritisation of aid according to levels of need - both crisis-level planning and targeted rapid response - as well as decisions around appropriate modalities of aid. Through our team of assessment, data, geospatial, and thematic specialists, we promote the design of people-centred research and set standards for collecting and analysing  rigorous, high quality data in complex environments

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