South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, continues to struggle to overcome a multitude of challenges. Conflict, climate shocks, economic instability and the ongoing war in neighbouring Sudan have created a perfect storm of suffering, leaving families unable to access enough food.

Since April 2023, over 1.1 million people fleeing the conflict in Sudan have crossed into South Sudan, placing additional pressure on overstretched communities and humanitarian systems. The World Food Programme (WFP) has supported more than 620,000 of them with fortified biscuits, food or cash assistance, and nutrition support for mothers and young children.

Today, 7.7 million people – over half the population – are acutely food insecure or worse, with hunger reaching near-record levels. People in Nasir and Ulang counties in South Sudan are at risk of famine in the coming months, as conflict in Upper Nile State escalates – destroying homes, disrupting livelihoods and impeding the delivery of humanitarian aid. 

The situation is particularly dire for children: more than 2.3 million are at risk of malnutrition, up more than a third compared to 2024. A total of 2.8 million children are out of school – more than half of them girls. Female literacy remains alarmingly low at just 29 percent, compared to 40 percent for men – among the lowest rates in the world.

Food assistance remains essential to averting a humanitarian catastrophe. But it must also serve as a bridge to long-term recovery. WFP is working with local civil society and empowering communities – especially women and girls – to build resilience, support peacebuilding and foster self-reliance in the face of relentless adversity.

What the World Food Programme is doing in South Sudan

Food assistance
WFP works to ensure that vulnerable people affected by conflict, displacement, climate shocks (flooding and drought) and economic crises can meet their food and nutrition needs. This includes conditional or unconditional food distributions and, where possible, cash transfers.
Nutrition
WFP provides specialized nutritious food and nutrition counselling to pregnant and breastfeeding women, and children. The nutrition programme is twofold – treating malnutrition among pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 5, and preventing malnutrition for pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 2. WFP works with UNICEF and other partners to ensure nutrition programmes reach even the most inaccessible parts of the country.
Livelihood support
WFP works with smallholder farmers and farmers’ organizations to improve resilience to shocks, through training and the creation of assets, such as roads, dykes and shallow wells, which can boost agricultural productivity and post-harvest management, improve access to basic services and markets, and help communities adapt to climate change. WFP has introduced livelihood initiatives and supported shared community assets, such as communal farming land, in conflict-affected areas where humanitarian assistance is needed. This works helps reduce conflict and contributes to peace among communities. Where possible, WFP also procures food locally to boost livelihood opportunities and the local economy.
School meals
Schools meals support a healthy and productive learning environment for children, increasing enrolment and attendance rates. WFP seeks to assist more than 377,000 children through school meals through 2025 to encourage school attendance.
Logistics support
WFP provides air transport and logistics services to humanitarian partners, to ensure the delivery of assistance to hard-to-reach areas. This includes flights to 48 destinations through the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service. The WFP-led Logistics Cluster provides coordination and information management, delivery of humanitarian relief items, common warehousing and geographic information system mapping. WFP also supports infrastructure works across the country. This includes building and restoring roads to facilitate the transportation of goods, and creating dykes to prevent floodwaters from devastating communities.

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Partners and donors

Achieving Zero Hunger is the work of many. Our work in South Sudan is made possible by the support and collaboration of our partners and donors, including:
Canada European Union France Germany Japan

Operations in South Sudan

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Contacts

Office

WFP Country Office South Sudan, Jebel Kujur Office, Juba, South Sudan
Juba
South Sudan

Phone
+211 (0) 912 465 581
Fax
+211 (0) 912 537 994
Email
wfp.southsudan@wfp.org
For media inquiries
wfp.southsudan@wfp.org
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