Sudan conflict displaces over 900,000 people into South Sudan: UN

December 17, 2024 (JUBA) – Over 905,000 people have crossed into South Sudan since the outbreak of the Sudan crisis in April 2023, with an additional 337,000 people projected to arrive in 2025, the UN said.

On Monday, the humanitarian community launched the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP), calling for $1.7 billion to provide life-saving assistance to 5.4 million people across the country.

Anita Kiki Gbeho, the Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan cited extreme effects of climate change, disease outbreaks and economic crisis as having exacerbated the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

“The 2025 HNRP paints an accurate picture of the most acute needs of vulnerable people across the country, and a plan for assistance that is realistic and most importantly, life-saving,” she said.

Gbeho said floods resulting from climate crisis affected at least 1.4 million people this year.

“Food security projections state that South Sudan will continue to experience severe food insecurity in 2025, a rise from 6.3 million people to 7.7 million who are food insecure is projected for next year,” she stated.

In 2025, the UN said, 9.3 million people or 69 per cent of South Sudan’s total population of 13.4 million people are projected to require some form of humanitarian assistance. Of these, humanitarian partners will target 5.4 million vulnerable people facing the most acute needs with life-saving services.

“Collaboration will continue in 2025 – not only to bring relief to people affected by crisis but also to support durable solutions and build their resilience by investing in the provision of basic services and livelihood opportunities to enable them to graduate from humanitarian assistance,” said the Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management minister, Albino Akol Atak Mayom.

According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report released in November, 6.4 million people are severely food-insecure in crisis levels or worse with the number projected to increase to 7.7 million during the lean season from April to July 2025.

The minister said the humanitarian situation in South Sudan remains dire despite collective efforts by the government, humanitarian community and development partners.

Since the conflict broke out on 15 April 2023, about 24,000 people have reportedly died across Sudan.

(ST)