South Sudan Faces Escalating Crisis as UN Warns of Rising Violence and Humanitarian Catastrophe
The United Nations has issued a stark warning about the deteriorating situation in South Sudan, where escalating violence, hunger, and disease are overwhelming the country’s fragile infrastructure. Amid budget cuts to the UN peacekeeping mission, officials fear the crisis could spiral further out of control, leaving millions of civilians at risk.
Anita Kiki Gbeho, the newly appointed Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), delivered a grim update to the Security Council on Friday. Gbeho, who assumed her role on April 11 following the death of her predecessor Nicholas Haysom, highlighted the intensifying conflict between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, particularly in Jonglei state. Civilians, she stressed, are bearing the brunt of the fighting.
The UN has reported a staggering 40% increase in deaths and injuries in 2025 compared to the previous year. Intercommunal violence remains rampant in regions like the Equatorias, Bahr el Ghazal, and Warrap, fueled by disputes over cattle, land, and retaliatory attacks. Compounding the crisis, UN human rights investigators recently uncovered mass burial sites in Jonglei, raising concerns that the true toll of the violence may be far higher than currently documented.
Budget Cuts Cripple UN Operations
The escalating violence coincides with significant budget cuts to UNMISS, which have forced the mission to scale back critical operations. Gbeho revealed that operational capacity has been reduced by 24% to 30%, limiting the mission’s ability to protect civilians, clear explosive hazards, and respond to humanitarian emergencies.
While peacekeepers managed to intervene in violent incidents in Akobo and Abiemnhom, Gbeho emphasized that their long-term presence is unsustainable under current financial constraints. Reduced mine action capacity has delayed responses to humanitarian needs in high-risk areas like Jonglei.
Moreover, the mission’s ability to engage with local authorities, traditional leaders, and communities has been severely hampered, undermining efforts to build trust and prevent misinformation. Gbeho underscored the urgent dilemma facing UNMISS and the Security Council, stating that “the scale and urgency of needs on the ground are not yet matched by the type of sustained commitment and investment required to fully meet the shared ambition of a sustainable path to peace.”
A Humanitarian Catastrophe Unfolds
Tom Fletcher, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, echoed Gbeho’s concerns, describing South Sudan as standing at a “dangerous crossroads.” Fletcher warned that two-thirds of the population—approximately 7.5 million people—will require humanitarian assistance this year. Yet, the UN’s $1.46 billion Humanitarian Response Plan remains severely underfunded, with only 22% of the necessary resources secured.
The crisis is particularly acute in Jonglei, where recent violence has forced the closure or destruction of 26 healthcare facilities, leaving 1.35 million people without access to medical care. Cholera and measles outbreaks are worsening, further straining an already fragile healthcare system.
During a visit to Jonglei, Fletcher spoke with local women who recounted harrowing stories of extreme violence, including homes burned to the ground and civilians slaughtered “like goats.” Similar scenes are unfolding in Upper Nile State, where fighting, access restrictions, and interference with UN operations are blocking vital aid.
As South Sudan enters its lean season this month, emergency levels of food insecurity are expected across all ten states, lasting through July. Millions face the prospect of starvation without immediate intervention.
Amid Challenges, Aid Efforts Continue
Despite the daunting challenges, UNMISS and humanitarian partners continue to deliver critical aid. In Jonglei alone, over 113,000 people have received food assistance this year, alongside 14 tonnes of emergency health supplies and thousands of water, sanitation, and hygiene kits.
UNMISS has also maintained its human rights monitoring and reporting efforts, contributing to improvements in detention oversight and the release of arbitrarily detained individuals. Through mobile and special courts, the mission supports access to justice in regions where formal institutions are absent, helping to break cycles of retaliatory violence and rebuild trust in state authority.
However, Gbeho and Fletcher emphasized that current efforts are insufficient to address the scale of the crisis. They called for renewed international commitment and funding to avert a full-blown humanitarian catastrophe and put South Sudan on a path to peace.
As the world’s youngest nation teeters on the edge of collapse, the international community faces a critical choice: rally to support South Sudan or risk witnessing a tragedy of unprecedented proportions.
— Reported by Nexio News
