South Sudan: Humanitarian Access Snapshot (January 2026)

Humanitarian access deteriorated sharply in January 2026 due to escalating hostilities, forced staff relocations, and direct attacks on humanitarian operations across South Sudan. The impact was most severe in Jonglei State, with additional serious incidents in Unity, Upper Nile, and Eastern Equatoria States.

In late December 2025, SSPDF orders to relocate humanitarian staff from Northern and Central Jonglei including Akobo, Nyirol, Uror, Fangak, Duk, and Ayod led to the evacuation of around 84 per cent of staff from 38 NGOs to Juba and Malakal. As a result, critical health, nutrition, WASH, and protection services were suspended across large areas at a time of escalating needs.

Fighting directly affected civilian and humanitarian infrastructure. On 30–31 January, health facilities were burned in Pading and looted in Pulturuk, with medicines and equipment stolen. In Uror and Nyirol, insecurity forced the closure of 24 nutrition sites, cutting off treatment for 7,868 children including 2,633 with severe acute malnutrition and 2,764 pregnant and breastfeeding women. According to the Government, by the end of January more than 230,000 people had been displaced across Jonglei State, many fleeing to areas with limited services, while cholera cases increased in Duk and Ayod Counties.

Access constraints were further compounded by repeated denials of UNHAS flights to Akobo, Lankien, Pieri, Walgak, and Yuai, including medical evacuation requests, preventing humanitarian partners from returning after evacuations.

Elsewhere, conflict continued to disrupt operations. In Upper Nile, health and nutrition supplies were looted in Dajo Payam, and 12 humanitarian boats carrying food for 73,000 people were looted in Baliet County. In Unity State, nutrition supplies were looted near Norlem Payam, forcing staff evacuations. In Eastern Equatoria, fighting in Narus, Kapoeta East, led to the relocation of NGO and UN staff to Kenya.

Alongside insecurity, bureaucratic impediments further delayed assistance. In Upper Nile, 12 boats carrying food and non-food items were stranded at Malakal Port for weeks due to multiple and inflated taxation demands. On 14 January, an additional 10 per cent tax and fixed fees were imposed on humanitarian boat movements, further restricting the delivery of life-saving aid.