South Sudan emergency
South Sudan emergency
Since 2013, brutal conflict in South Sudan has claimed thousands of lives and driven millions of people from their homes.
While many remain displaced inside the country, more than two million have fled to neighbouring countries in a desperate bid to reach safety.
Countries affected: Democratic Republic of the Congo | Ethiopia | Kenya | South Sudan | Sudan | Uganda
refugees and asylum-seekers from South Sudan in the region
internally displaced due to conflict or extreme weather events
Sudanese refugees and South Sudanese refugee returnees since April 2023
Are you a refugee, asylum-seeker or stateless person looking for help? Visit the HELP site to find support and services from UNHCR.
What is happening in South Sudan?
The situation in South Sudan and neighbouring countries is causing suffering for millions and forcing families to flee their homes.
After more than a decade of conflict and despite efforts toward implementing the peace agreement, South Sudan continues to grapple with sporadic violence, chronic food insecurity and the devastating impact of major flooding. To add to this, the Sudan war continues to rage across the border, with more than one million people forced to flee to South Sudan (Sudanese refugees and South Sudanese returnees) since April 2023.
Most South Sudanese refugees are women and children, many of whom flee across the border alone. Often, they arrive weak and malnourished. When the rainy season comes, their needs are compounded by flooding, food shortages and disease.
Inside South Sudan, 1.9 million people are displaced while outside the country there are now over 2.3 million South Sudanese refugees – mainly hosted in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Uganda. Host countries are themselves struggling with limited resources yet are keeping borders open to those seeking asylum.
South Sudan cannot afford yet another crisis. The world’s youngest country has received more than 1 million people who fled the ongoing war in Sudan, while millions of its citizens continue to recover from years of conflict and crisis at home.
What is UNHCR doing to help?
UNHCR is working in South Sudan to protect the most vulnerable and provide displaced people, refugees and refugee returnees with life-saving relief items, shelter and protection services. UNHCR is also exploring ways to scale up activities in conflict hotspots to protect and assist newly displaced people.
In countries neighbouring South Sudan, UNHCR is supporting governments to ensure access to asylum and is registering refugee arrivals to help identify the most vulnerable, including women and girls, and people with disabilities. We are providing life-saving relief items and shelter so that families are protected and can access further support services. UNHCR is also conducting protection screenings and preventing and responding to gender-based violence.
More humanitarian aid is urgently needed to protect and assist South Sudanese forced to flee.
