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Country Context
Thirteen years after gaining independence, including three years after signing the most recent peace agreement, people in South Sudan continue to face deteriorating humanitarian conditions amidst a worsening economy. Conflict, subnational violence, public health challenges, climatic shocks, and large-scale displacement have severely affected people’s livelihoods and hindered access to essential services. Forced displacement in South Sudan is highly complex, with large numbers of internally displaced persons, refugees, and returnees living side-by-side with host communities.
Since the onset of the conflict in April 2023, more than 836,000 individuals have arrived in South Sudan from Sudan, including returnees, refugees, and asylum seekers. About 175,000 newly arrived Sudanese refugees in South Sudan have been transferred to existing refugee settlements in Upper Nile and Ruweng Administrative Area and to a newly established settlement in Aweil in Northern Bahr el Ghazal. More than 600,000 South Sudanese who had sought refuge in Sudan before the conflict were forced to return under adverse circumstances. Upon arrival in South Sudan, returnees indicate their intention for onward destinations – primarily to Upper Nile, Unity State, Central Equatoria, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Warrap and Western Bahr el Ghazal. Returnees are also finding their way to peri-urban centres such as Juba, Bor, Torit, Yei, and Malakal.
The conflict in Sudan has had a catastrophic impact on South Sudan, disrupting trade and leading to a rise in food and fuel prices. This price surge exacerbates protection risks and vulnerabilities, particularly in South Sudan's northern states, further straining access to essential goods and services. It has also increased these communities’ food insecurity, negative coping mechanisms, and humanitarian needs.
On top of this, climate change poses a significant additional threat to South Sudan, the second most vulnerable country to natural hazards globally in the 2024 INFORM Risk Index. Hazards, such as drought and flooding, have profoundly impacted the country, with floodwaters from the 2019-2020 rainy season lingering in some areas. This persistent climate crisis and short-term changes, such as altered rainfall patterns, indirectly contribute to instability, conflict, and food insecurity.
Despite being deeply impoverished, climate-impacted and underdeveloped, especially in border areas with high displacement and refugee hosting, the Government of South Sudan maintains an open-door policy. It grants access to its territory to all individuals arriving from Sudan, including Sudanese refugees, other refugees, returnees, and third-country nationals. The government has granted prima facie status recognition to all Sudanese affected by the current crisis. This conducive policy environment creates the momentum to facilitate development approaches that support local authorities, host communities, and forcibly displaced and returnee populations. Additionally, UNHCR is leading the Area-Based Coordination Leadership in Malakal (Upper Nile), which hosts a Protection of Civilians site for IDPs and a high number of returnees from Sudan. UNHCR has facilitated the government and multi-agency Durable Solutions Roadmap for Upper Nile. UNHCR, together with IGAD, has also supported the formulation of the National Durable Solutions Strategy for IDPs, Returnees, Refugees and Host Communities.