CERF funding a lifeline for newly displaced families in South Sudan

A recent allocation of US $10,000,000 from the OCHA-managed UN Global Emergency Fund (CERF) has been described as a lifeline for thousands of families who have been displaced by recent fighting in South Sudan.

Kiki Gbeho, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan said the funding would “help humanitarians provide immediate assistance to up to 180,000 newly displaced families, while strengthening the national and local responders who are navigating these challenges on the front lines every single day”.

Since late December 2025, renewed fighting and airstrikes, especially in Jonglei State, have displaced an estimated 280,000 people, according to the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), significantly increasing humanitarian needs across affected counties.

Many civilians have been killed or injured, with humanitarian partners reporting that dozens of patients who had been wounded in recent fighting were being treated at Akobo Hospital, with their condition remaining precarious due to unreliable access to emergency referrals and critical life-saving medical care.

At least 12 health facilities are reported to have been looted or partially destroyed, severely disrupting essential health services and further limiting access to care for vulnerable populations.

Humanitarian infrastructure has been damaged, and essential services have been cut off for many families as access to clean water, shelter and healthcare have been disrupted, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks, including cholera.

The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator said children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities were finding it even harder to reach safety and support.

“In times like this, a rapid humanitarian response is critical. This is why I welcome the allocation of 10 million US Dollars from the Central Emergency Response Fund. In practical terms this funding will help us expand life-saving health care, nutrition, clean water, and protection services in three states: Jonglei, Upper Nile, and Lake State,” Ms. Kiki Gbeho said.

She paid tribute to CERF as a lifeline that allows humanitarians to act swiftly and in a coordinated manner, helping communities who need support the most, often before other funding becomes available.

“Continued global backing for CERF is essential because even in the hardest moment it helps us save lives, protect dignity and give communities a chance to recover,” said Ms. Kiki Gbeho, noting that the situation in South Sudan was a living example of why CERF’s unique, flexible and life-saving funding matters and why it must continue.

Posted February 2026

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