War, Floods Displace Half a Million People in South Sudan

Some of the displaced nationals of South Sudan (Photo Credit: Chimpreports)

Juba – The dual crises of escalating conflict and devastating floods have newly displaced nearly half a million people in just nine months, according to the latest UNICEF humanitarian report.

The compounding disasters, concentrated in the Upper Nile, Jonglei, and Equatoria regions, have also pushed 9.3 million people, half of them children, into desperate need for humanitarian aid, threatening to unravel fragile gains in health and food security.

From January to September 2025, over 497,000 individuals were newly displaced, with 321,000 fleeing violence and 175,000 escaping floodwaters that have submerged homes, farmlands, and essential infrastructure.

“Persistent insecurity in Western Equatoria and Upper Nile has forced tens of thousands to flee, resulting in civilian casualties, damage to health facilities and schools, and restricted humanitarian access,” the report states.

It also detailed how clashes in areas like Nagero County displaced 21,000 people, while renewed fighting in Tonga, Panyikang County, drove another 8,000 from their homes.

Floods have exacerbated the chaos, affecting more than 639,000 across 26 counties in six states, with Jonglei and Unity bearing the brunt. In Mayendit County alone, flash floods submerged 18 schools, affecting 6,037 children and amplifying risks of malnutrition and waterborne diseases.

Nationwide, cholera cases are said to have surged to 94,306 with 1,563 deaths as of September 30, overwhelming a health system strained by 70 access incidents, including looting and impassable roads.
5 million children face the harshest toll of the double disasters with 650,000 of them at risk of severe acute malnutrition, heightened vulnerability to protection violations, and disrupted services in nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene.

“Flooding and displacement have heightened risks of waterborne diseases, acute hunger, malnutrition, and protection issues,” underscoring service delivery gaps in key sectors.

UNICEF’s 2025 Humanitarian Action for Children appeal stands at a precarious 26% funded, with $73.5 million secured against a $278.2 million target, leaving a staggering $204.6 million shortfall. Sectors like education (96% unfunded) and WASH (90% unfunded) are on the brink, forcing a ”humanitarian reset” to prioritize life-saving interventions amid dwindling partner support.

“Without urgent donor intervention, UNICEF’s ability to maintain access to essential services for children will be severely constrained,” the report warned.

Source: https://chimpreports.com/war-floods-displace-half-a-million-people-in-south-sudan/