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South Sudan + 2 more

UNICEF South Sudan Humanitarian Situation Report No. 3 , 01 -31 March 2025

Attachments

Highlights

  • As of 31 March, 1,111,733 individuals including 551,486 children have entered South Sudan fleeing the conflict in Sudan.
  • As of 31 March, 44,328 cholera cases and 801 associated deaths have been reported in 43 Counties of 9 States and 2 Administrative Areas. Of the reported 801 deaths, 39% have been children aged 0-14 with CFR in this age group being 1.4%. This is a children’s cholera epidemic.
  • 80,000 people displaced in Upper Nile by armed clashes, including some 35,000 who fled to Gambella region in Ethiopia following the escalation of violence between the government forces and the armed groups.
  • As of 31 March 2025, the Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) is funded at 20 per cent out of the $278.2 million financial requirement.

FUNDING OVERVIEW AND PARTNERSHIPS

The humanitarian situation in South Sudan is dire, with over 5 million children, requiring assistance within a context of increasing needs for children and with decreasing funding. The 2025 Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) appeal for South Sudan is severely underfunded. The overall requirement is $278.2 million, but only $55 million (out of which $47 million is carry over from 2024) has been secured with large gaps still existing, especially in the Education, Health, and WASH sectors. UNICEF continues to assess and adapt its partnerships with international NGOs, local NGOs, contractors, and government institutions to respond effectively under these constraints.

SITUATION OVERVIEW AND HUMANITARIAN NEEDS

South Sudan continues to face humanitarian crises, driven by a combination of renewed conflict, displacement, food insecurity, economic instability, and the impact of regional conflicts, particularly the ongoing war in Sudan. South Sudan has received a significant influx of returnees and refugees from Sudan. As of 31 March, 1,111,733 million arrivals were recorded. Food insecurity is critical, with 6.1 million people projected to face crisis level or worse acute food insecurity from December 2024 to March 2025, rising to 7.7 million during the lean season (Aprill to July 2025). Among the returnees from Sudan, 85 per cent are expected to experience crisis-level food insecurity.

The country still battles severe public health emergencies, notably the worst cholera outbreak in two decades. As of 31 March, 44,328 suspected cholera cases, including 801 deaths, have been reported in 43 counties of 9 States and 2 Administrative Areas (Ruweng and Greater Pibor). Alarmingly, children 0-14 years bear a disproportionate burden, accounting for approximately 50 percent of the cases, 39 per cent of the deaths with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 1.4 per cent. This outbreak is devastating their health by causing illness and death, exacerbating the already critical malnutrition situation, and severely hindering education by increasing absenteeism, disrupting learning, and prompting school closures. Urgent scaling up of cholera vaccination campaigns, improved WASH infrastructure and services, strengthened health system support, and robust Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) are critical to controlling the outbreak and preventing future crises; these efforts must also focus on the community level to enable interventions that are accepted and effective.

The security situation in South Sudan sharply deteriorated in March 2025 amid escalating violence, deepening political rifts, and a significant risk of renewed civil war, severely impacting children and humanitarian efforts. Renewed clashes between military and armed groups erupted in Upper Nile State and spread to Central Equatoria, Western Equatoria, and Unity States, caused mass displacement, with reports indicating estimated 80,000 people displaced in Upper Nile alone and many others fleeing to neighboring Ethiopia. This displacement disrupted children's access to essential services such as education, nutrition, water, sanitation, and healthcare, exacerbating their vulnerability. Children faced heightened risks of malnutrition, especially those trapped in conflict zones where humanitarian aid cannot reach them. The conflict has increased concerns for children's safety, including exposure to violence, exploitation, and psychosocial distress, Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to gender-based violence, while mental health issues are widespread due to the trauma of violence and displacement.
Humanitarian programming faces significant challenges due to insecurity and restricted access. The volatile security situation hampers the delivery of lifesaving aid, including food, medical care, and protection services, deepening the humanitarian crisis.

South Sudan's economy has declined for five consecutive years; The situation remains dire with the World Bank reporting that South Sudan's economy was projected to contract by 30 percent in the fiscal year 2024/25, with GDP per capita estimated to fall to about half its 2020 level. Poverty rates rose sharply with more than 92 percent of the population living in poverty, and 84 percent of households were unable to afford even basic food, reflecting extreme deprivation. Public finances were under severe strain, with salary arrears for government employees piling up and reduced spending on essential services like health and education. The government, under mounting pressure from civil servants and the public, announced plans in late March 2025 to pay one month's salary arrears after a six-month delay, acknowledging the severity of the crisis and promising further efforts to address outstanding payments. However, most workers continued to face prollonged hardship, resorting to borrowing, side jobs, or humanitarian aid to survive.

In March, humanitarian operations in South Sudan were disrupted by conflict in Upper Nile State, particularly in Nasir and Ulang counties. Fighting between SSPDF and armed groups in these areas humpered access and the delivery of essential aid, placing displaced and conflict-affected populations at great risk. Health dinics have been wrecked and medical and nutrition supplies looted. Insecurity has also significantly hindered the response to the growing cholera outbreak in Nasir, Ulang, Akobo and Pibor, Overall, 40 access constraints were reported during the month, including hostilities, violence against humanitarian personnel and assets, and administrative impediments. UNICEF's Activity and Incident Management System (AIMS) recorded 6 incidents in the month of March rellated to intercommunal violence and looting of health, WASH, and nutrition supplies, particularly in Upper Nile State.