UNICEF South Sudan Humanitarian Flash Update (Conflict in Jonglei State), 24 February 2026

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Highlights

• More than 280,000 people have been displaced due to fighting within Jonglei, the majority of whom are women and children. Significant additional influxes into neighbouring Lakes and Upper Nile states are placing severe strain on already vulnerable host communities.
• Recent inter-agency assessments conducted in Bor, Duk, and Twic East in Jonglei indicate serious protection concerns affecting women and children. Findings point to a pattern of grave violations committed by armed actors and conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) affecting women and girls, occurring both during periods of active conflict and throughout displacement. Assessments found that specialized health and response services for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) are almost non-existent in many displacement areas. At the same time, emergency child protection services are critically overstretched, leaving thousands of vulnerable children without access to life-saving child protection case management, including family tracing and reunification and psychosocial support.

Situation and Humanitarian Overview

The humanitarian situation in Jonglei remains fragile as intensified clashes between the SSPDF and SPLAIO continue to uproot communities and disrupt basic services across northern and central counties. Sustained ground fighting, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and intermittent airstrikes have displaced hundreds of thousands since late December 2025.

The displacement pattern remains fluid, with families moving repeatedly in search of safety and essential services. According to the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, an estimated 280,000 people have been displaced within Jonglei, with the scale varying significantly by county. Current figures show 105,400 people displaced from Uror, 57,200 from Nyirol, 82,000 from Akobo—including a large influx from Lankien—17,700 from Duk, 17,000 from Ayod, 10,000 from Canal/Pigi, 5,000 from Twic East and 4,300 from Bor South. These movements also extend into neighbouring states, with 29,500 newly registered people in Mingkaman (Lakes) and nearly 12,000 arriving in Ulang (Upper Nile). As of 20 February, IOM-DTM has verified 226,000 displaced people, up from earlier counts.

Public health risks remain elevated. While transmission is trending down, cholera continues to threaten crowded displacement sites. Over the past two weeks, 90 cases were recorded across several counties: Duk county’s daily caseload fell from 15–16 per day to 4 new admissions on 18 February. Nationally, the outbreak that began in September 2024 has reached 98,000 cases.

Humanitarian access has slightly improved but remains unpredictable. The confirmation by the Joint Verification and Monitoring Mechanism on 16 February that humanitarian personnel may resume movement to previously restricted areas, has opened a window for partners to scale up life-saving work. UNHAS has reinstated flights to Akobo, Lankien, Motot, Pieri, Walgak, Yuai, Kurwai, New Fangak, Paguer, Toch, and Ayod, reconnecting counties inaccessible for several weeks. However, ground access remains unpredictable, with several planned missions recently denied.

Source: https://reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/unicef-south-sudan-humanitarian-flash-update-conflict-jonglei-state-24-february-2026