The United Nations' top humanitarian official has warned that South Sudan stands at a dangerous crossroads, facing the imminent risk of famine as intensifying fighting compounds a deepening humanitarian crisis across the Horn of Africa.
Tom Fletcher, the UN under-secretary-general for Humanitarian Affairs and emergency relief coordinator, called on the Security Council Friday to > "prevent South Sudan from sliding toward full-scale famine and collapse."
After spending a week in the country, Fletcher painted a grim picture of deteriorating conditions across all 10 states. He warned that > "hunger across South Sudan is tightening its grip," with emergency levels of food insecurity expected during the lean season lasting until the end of July.
The humanitarian chief reported > "humanitarian compounds looted and nutrition centres destroyed" in areas surrounding Akobo in Jonglei State, where more than 140,000 people were in > "dire need of help." Fletcher told the Security Council that > "More than 7.5 million people will need food assistance this year."
The crisis is being exacerbated by environmental factors, with Fletcher noting that > "All of this is unfolding as floods are expected to continue, cutting communities off and hitting livelihoods – once again."
Anita Kiki Gbeho, head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), told the Security Council that > "civilians continue to bear the brunt" amid intensifying fighting between the South Sudan People's Defence Forces and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition, particularly in Jonglei.
The escalation represents a dangerous deterioration of the 2018 peace deal that ended South Sudan's five-year civil war. Fighting escalated late last year when a coalition of opposition forces seized government outposts in Jonglei State in December, prompting a retaliatory military operation in late January that forced more than 280,000 civilians to flee the area.
Fletcher urged the Security Council to press for unhindered humanitarian access, increase flexible funding, and demand that all parties fully respect humanitarian law and the protection of civilians and infrastructure. As the council considers renewing the UNMISS mandate, which expires April 30, Gbeho emphasized that > "the scale and urgency of needs on the ground are not yet matched by the type of sustained commitment and investment required to fully meet the shared ambition of sustainable path to peace."
The deteriorating situation in South Sudan adds another layer of complexity to the Horn of Africa's mounting humanitarian challenges. The region is already grappling with the spillover effects of Sudan's ongoing civil war, which has displaced millions and disrupted trade routes across the Horn.
South Sudan's crisis threatens broader regional stability, with the renewed violence in Jonglei State potentially disrupting humanitarian operations needed to address food insecurity across the Horn. The timing of Fletcher's warning, with the UNMISS mandate renewal under consideration, underscores the critical juncture facing both South Sudan and international efforts to prevent state collapse in one of the world's youngest nations.
