South Sudan — humanitarian situation

South Sudan confronts a multifaceted humanitarian emergency characterized by protracted displacement, acute food insecurity, disease outbreaks, and climate-related shocks. The country faces dual epidemic threats requiring immediate preparedness: an Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has reached Haut-Uélé Province near South Sudan's borders, with regional health agencies classifying South Sudan as high-risk for disease importation due to extensive cross-border movement and weak surveillance capacity (Mercy Corps). Simultaneously, circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 has been detected in Pibor and Juba's environment, prompting consideration of expanding supplementary immunization days to nationwide campaigns WHO. Cholera outbreaks persist in Fangak and Renk counties, with authorities expediting oral cholera vaccine applications and awaiting laboratory confirmation from Fangak WHO. These health emergencies unfold against rainfall deficits affecting northern sectors from May through July, contributing to widespread soil moisture deficits and vegetation stress IGAD, while a very strong El Niño event anticipated during October-December threatens severe flooding risks OCHA. More than 650,000 refugees and asylum seekers in South Sudan face extreme hunger due to critical funding shortfalls, with the final food and nutrition assistance for the most vulnerable 240,000 refugees scheduled to end without immediate funding UNHCR, WFP. These populations fled war and hunger in neighboring countries yet now risk losing access to lifesaving food, nutrition, and other essential assistance. The broader Eastern Africa region confronts acute vulnerabilities, with 48.5 million people requiring humanitarian assistance, over 40 million experiencing acute food insecurity, and 8.3 million children acutely malnourished OCHA. South Sudan's internally displaced populations endure ongoing hardship in a complex crisis driven by conflict, climate-related shocks, disease outbreaks, displacement, food insecurity, and economic deterioration (Logistics Cluster, WFP). Humanitarian access remains severely constrained by poor road conditions, seasonal flooding, and limited transport infrastructure, hampering response operations across affected communities (Logistics Cluster, WFP). The WFP-led Logistics Cluster continues enabling humanitarian operations through coordination, information management, and capacity strengthening between April and June 2026. WHO has operationalized a new county prioritization framework, focusing Ebola and Borna disease virus infection prevention and control supplies, case management capacity, and risk communication on Ezo, Yambio, Juba, Yei, Morobo, and Nzara counties under an area-based readiness approach WHO.