South Sudan

Introduction

The humanitarian crisis in South Sudan continues to  intensify due to a combination of:

• armed conflict
• inter-communal violence
• economic instability
• spillover effects of the war in Sudan
• climate-related shocks
   

In 2025, 9.3 million —about 70% of the population—require humanitarian assistance.  At the same time, a prolonged cholera outbreak continues to strain the country’s  already fragile health system.

The EU remains committed to providing life-saving, needs-based humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable.

Facts & figures

Through its humanitarian efforts, the EU provides vital support to those in need.

EU humanitarian funding:

over €1.2 billion since 2011

What are the needs?

The outbreak of violence since March 2025 has devastating consequences. Civilians are being killed, homes and essential infrastructure are destroyed or looted and tens of thousands were uprooted from their homes. Insecurity also severely restricts access for humanitarian workers, leaving many communities cut off from critical aid.

More than 9.3 million people require humanitarian assistance in 2025, including 5.97 million people estimated to be severely food insecure  between September and November 2025. It is estimated that 2.11 million children and 1.15 million pregnant or lactating women are at risk of acute malnutrition.

Extremely poor health conditions

South Sudan’s health indicators are among the worst in the world, with the highest neonatal and maternal mortality rates globally and extremely limited access to health facilities. The country continues to grapple with a cholera outbreak. As of November 2025 over 96,000 cases and over 1,500 deaths have been reported across 55 counties.

Displaced people

In addition, severe flooding has affected 1.35 million people in 39 counties across 8 states, displacing nearly 375,600 people, many of whom are sheltering on higher ground with their livestock. The crisis in South Sudan is further intensified by the impact of the war in neighbouring Sudan. As of November 2025, approximately 1.21 million people have arrived in the country, including 800,000 South Sudanese returnees. In addition, more than 4 million people are displaced (almost 2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and nearly 2.3 million refugees in neighbouring countries).

Protection crisis

This is not only a humanitarian crisis but also a protection crisis, with high levels of sexual and gender-based violence. Humanitarian actors operate in a volatile and complex environment. Repeated attacks on aid workers and looting of humanitarian assets continue to undermine access and slow the delivery of aid. This comes in addition to significant logistical challenges.

How are we helping?

In 2025, the EU allocated €106 million for humanitarian actions in South Sudan, covering responses across food assistance, health, education, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, protection, and logistics, as well as other urgent needs arising from the war in Sudan. This makes the EU the second-largest humanitarian donor in the country.

This includes €1 million to support the response to the ongoing cholera outbreak. With food insecurity and malnutrition at record highs across the country, the EU is helping to reduce excess mortality and morbidity through emergency food assistance, nutrition interventions, and cash-based support, including in hard-to-reach areas. Furthermore, €5.5 million has been allocated to support both static and mobile education-in-emergencies interventions, focusing on primary education for newly displaced and out-of-school children.

Emergency life-saving interventions

In addition, EU humanitarian funding addresses critical needs through emergency life-saving interventions, particularly in response to new shocks, using:

• integrated multi-sector approaches
• mobile outreach teams
• cash-based assistance 

EU-supported projects also provide protection services to communities affected by:

• violence
• new displacement
• climate-related shocks

The consequences of the Sudan crisis

The EU further supports the humanitarian response to the consequences of the Sudan crisis, including border-area interventions such as camp management and onward transportation, as well as assistance to the most vulnerable communities affected by the large number of returnees. 

The EU continues to strongly support principled humanitarian action, advocating for the protection of humanitarian workers and ensuring their safe and sustained access to all parts of the country.

_{Last updated: 25/11/2025}