South Sudan — humanitarian situation

South Sudan continues to face complex humanitarian pressures amid ongoing displacement flows, health system vulnerabilities, and climate-related threats. The country is simultaneously receiving refugees while producing outflows to neighboring nations, with regional displacement patterns reflected in population movements tracked across East Africa (UNHCR). An Ebola outbreak in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo has prompted prepositioning of emergency supplies in South Sudan as part of regional containment measures worth 2.9 million Swiss francs (IFRC). The country's health infrastructure remains fragile following years of disruption, with immunization coverage gaps identified as a critical concern requiring targeted interventions to restore population immunity after COVID-19 and systemic health challenges (WHO). Food security conditions remain precarious, with operational disruptions reported in neighboring Ethiopia affecting assistance delivery to South Sudanese refugees, including fuel shortages and insecurity constraining last-mile distribution (WFP). The humanitarian outlook faces additional strain from forecasted El Niño conditions expected from mid-2026, with most models indicating at least moderate strength and strong events increasingly possible. This climate phenomenon arrives amid record global temperatures, creating compounded risks for populations already experiencing vulnerability (OCHA, IFRC, IASC). The closing window for anticipatory action heightens urgency for pre-positioning resources and scaling preparedness measures before crisis peaks materialize. Attacks on health care remain a persistent protection concern across conflict-affected contexts, with 2025 recording 2,546 incidents in 33 countries including South Sudan, resulting in destruction of facilities and targeting of health workers (Insecurity Insight). Cross-border movements continue between South Sudan and Sudan, with influx patterns documented through mid-June (UNHCR). The convergence of displacement dynamics, disease outbreak risks, climate forecasts, and protection threats underscores the need for sustained humanitarian financing and coordinated multi-sector response, though specific funding levels and people in need figures for South Sudan were not detailed in available sources.