South Sudan Faces Worsening Humanitarian Crisis as Food Stocks Dwindle and Refugee Influx Continues

South Sudan's humanitarian emergency is intensifying as food supplies shrink dramatically and thousands of people continue fleeing across the border from war-torn Sudan. The World Food Programme has issued a stark warning that more than one million vulnerable individuals could lose access to essential food and nutrition assistance by October unless the international community provides additional resources.

The scale of the crisis is perhaps most visible in Malakal, a key logistics hub located in Upper Nile state. Food stocks at this critical facility have plummeted from approximately 10,000 metric tonnes a year ago to fewer than 300 tonnes currently. This represents a staggering reduction of over 97 percent, leaving humanitarian agencies scrambling to maintain even basic operations as needs continue to escalate across the region.

Matthew Hollingworth, assistant executive director at the World Food Programme, recently travelled to South Sudan to assess the situation firsthand. During his visit to Renk, Malakal, and Pigi county in Jonglei state, he witnessed the compounded pressures facing communities already burdened by conflict, displacement, hunger, and climate-related shocks. His observations underscore the multifaceted nature of the crisis, which extends well beyond simple food shortages.

The ongoing war in Sudan has proven catastrophic for northern regions of South Sudan, according to Hollingworth. The conflict has driven prices sharply higher due to complications in importing goods across the border, while simultaneously pushing large numbers of refugees into an already overstretched nation. He noted that the influx of refugees arrives in a country that lacks the capacity to adequately support them, creating additional strain on limited resources and infrastructure.

Compounding these challenges is a significant decline in international donor support. Hollingworth emphasized that the global community now has far less to offer compared to previous years, leaving humanitarian agencies without the financial means they once possessed to address growing needs. This funding shortfall comes at precisely the moment when demand for assistance is reaching new heights, creating what humanitarian officials describe as a perfect storm of factors driving the crisis.

Beyond funding constraints, operational obstacles are hampering relief efforts. Hollingworth called on South Sudan's government to address the issue of illegal checkpoints that prevent humanitarian workers from reaching vulnerable populations across the country. These barriers to access significantly complicate the delivery of life-saving aid to communities in remote or contested areas, further exacerbating an already dire situation.

The human toll of this crisis is evident in the testimonies of those affected. Peter Maker, a displaced person living in Pigi, described how insecurity and the arrival of people from other areas have made it nearly impossible to farm or find work. He explained that while he is able-bodied and qualified for employment, the persistent insecurity prevents him from travelling to seek opportunities or cultivate land safely, leaving him and others heavily dependent on the United Nations and humanitarian aid for survival.

Maker emphasized that longer-term solutions are desperately needed, warning that any further reductions or interruptions to assistance would have devastating consequences. He attributed much of the suffering in his community to political leadership failures and divisions between different groups, though he noted that people currently manage to survive through resource-sharing, faith, and the occasional delivery of aid supplies.

The situation at South Sudan's border with Sudan is particularly acute. Renk, located in Upper Nile state, has emerged as a major entry point for people escaping the conflict that erupted in Sudan in April 2023. According to World Food Programme data, more than 1.4 million refugees and returnees have crossed into South Sudan since the war began, with many arriving after harrowing journeys involving checkpoints, extortion, and violence, often with no clear idea of what awaits them.

Zainab Musa, a mother of six currently staying at a transit centre in Renk, recently crossed from Sudan and described the harsh conditions she encountered. She told Al Jazeera that the humanitarian situation is extremely difficult, with virtually nothing to eat and widespread hunger. Musa explained that she decided to move from the Jodha border area to the transit centre in hopes of finding assistance, and now plans to travel to her grandfather in Bunj, located in Maban county within Upper Nile state.

The transit centres in Renk were never designed to accommodate the massive scale of arrivals they now receive. While families wait for onward transport to Malakal or other destinations within South Sudan, some end up remaining at these facilities for months. The overcrowding and strain on resources have created conditions that humanitarian workers describe as increasingly untenable, with basic services stretched beyond their limits.

In August, the World Food Programme and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees issued a joint warning that more than 650,000 refugees and asylum seekers faced the risk of losing food assistance entirely. They projected that food and nutrition support for the most vulnerable 240,000 refugees would be exhausted by September without immediate additional funding. Nura Mohammed Ahmed, a Sudanese refugee, confirmed that hunger and inadequate nutrition are already taking a severe toll on people at the transit centre.

Malakal itself has served as a refuge for families displaced by conflict and natural disasters for many years. The former Protection of Civilians site, which was redesignated as an internally displaced people's settlement earlier this year, currently hosts nearly 40,000 displaced individuals across more than 6,000 households. Many of these people have been displaced for years, with little prospect of returning to their original homes or rebuilding their lives.

Basic services in Malakal and other areas are also under severe pressure. The International Organization for Migration has warned that water, sanitation, and hygiene services in Bentiu and Malakal are at risk due to funding shortfalls. Without proper drainage pumping and dyke maintenance, Malakal faces an elevated risk of flooding during the rainy season, which could further displace vulnerable populations and create additional humanitarian needs that agencies are ill-equipped to address given current resource constraints.