South Sudan: WFP Scales Up Emergency Response in South Sudan As Catastrophic Hunger and Malnutrition Deepen

WFP is delivering vital food and nutritional assistance to hundreds of thousands of people in Akobo East, as insecurity, infrastructure damage and the onset of the rainy season hamper operations.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has scaled-up its emergency response in Akobo East, South Sudan, delivering vital food and nutrition assistance to hundreds of thousands of people facing catastrophic hunger and malnutrition, even as insecurity, infrastructure damage and the onset of the rainy season continue to hamper operations.

"The situation is critical and demands immediate attention to save lives of people who desperately need assistance," said Mutinta Chimuka, WFP Country Director in South Sudan. "Our hope is to continue to reach people in need. Sustained safety and security of humanitarians and humanitarian cargo is therefore crucial to allow us to ramp up assistance and effectively reach all those in need."

Here are the latest updates on food security and WFP operations in Akobo, South Sudan:

Since launching its emergency response three weeks ago, WFP has reached more than 60,000 vulnerable people in Akobo including:

WFP's supply chain coordination and delivery continues to enable the scale up, including:

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While access in Akobo has recently improved, delivering life-saving assistance has relied heavily on costly air operations due to persistent insecurity.

The risk of renewed fighting is real. We need hostilities to end and humanitarians must have continued secure access to ensure civilians can safely receive vital assistance.

The sustained and consistent delivery of critical services and support to communities is paramount for recovery and rebuilding livelihoods.

WFP is deeply concerned about the many vulnerable people trapped in inaccessible regions, where hunger and malnutrition is likely to worsen during the fast-approaching lean season.

WFP urgently requires US$266 million to continue life-saving food, nutrition assistance, as well as support to the humanitarian community in South Sudan in 2026.

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