South Sudan: Almost half a million children in danger of malnutrition

By Kielce Gussie

UNICEF has reported that more than 450,000 children are currently at risk of acute malnutrition due to the ongoing violence in South Sudan. The internal conflict has led to mass displacement and the interruption of critical health and nutrition services in the Jonglei State.

Dangerous situation for children

According to reports, since the beginning of 2026, the escalating violence in the Jonglei State has displaced some 250,000 people, particularly in the northern and central parts of the state.

The UNICEF representative in the country, Noala Skinner, explained the organization’s deep concern for the women and children who are being directly impacted by the violence. “We know that these areas have the highest levels of malnutrition among children, and we know that malnourished children without treatment are 12 times more likely to die”, Skinner said.

Women wait to receive cash assistance during a World Food Programme transfer distribution center   (AFP or licensors)

She made an urgent appeal to all the parties involved to end the conflict and work to establish “rapid, unimpeded, and safe access for humanitarian aid and workers to reach highly vulnerable displaced groups.”

A system on the brink

Moreover, the conflict has severely limited access to emergency aid. Humanitarian agencies have been unable to reach vulnerable populations due to restrictions on travel by river, air, and road.

In the Jonglei State, six counties have already run out of or are about to run out of food supplies, which is a vital need for the numerous severely malnourished children there.

UNICEF has reported that about 17 health facilities have closed across the country, which has led to the suspension of associated nutrition services. Consequently, there have been 10 cases of looting of health and nutrition supplies—half of which took place in the Jonglei State.

Even with the difficulty accessing the areas most in need, UNICEF is responding to the crisis by sending water purification equipment, buckets, and soap to Duk County in Jonglei, where there is the threat of a cholera outbreak.

The town of Akobo in the Jonglei State has also received supplies like malaria treatment medicines, food for malnourished children, and emergency health kits to treat more than 10,000 people.