Humanitarian aid in South Sudan

Project Number: 179.1029

South Sudan, the youngest country in the world, is currently facing a number of severe political, economic and humanitarian crises. Since 2013, the country has suffered from an ongoing civil war that has led to numerous deaths, displacement and a worsening humanitarian emergency. Despite a peace agreement signed in 2018, violence and human rights violations by various armed groups continue.

The outbreak of conflict in neighboring Sudan in April 2023 has led to a new wave of refugees in South Sudan, further exacerbating the existing humanitarian challenges. South Sudan is also one of the countries with the highest inflation rates in the world and more than seven million people are affected by food insecurity. South Sudan is also struggling with extreme weather conditions. Large parts of the country are affected by floods, which, together with periods of drought, further impair the already fragile food production. More than half of the population is affected by acute hunger and many people have no access to basic services such as healthcare, clean water or sanitation.

Since spring 2025, the conflict between the armed forces of President Salva Kiir and the militias of Vice President Riek Machar has been intensifying. According to UN figures, acts of violence in March 2025 led to more than 60,000 people being displaced. This massive insecurity for the people is exacerbating the humanitarian emergency. Urgent measures are needed to support the people affected.

Background information

Violent clashes have been taking place again since early 2025. They are taking place in various cities in South Sudan. At the end of March, the South Sudanese government also brought troops from Uganda to Juba to secure the capital and simultaneously bombard Nasir (Upper Nile State). Dozens of people were killed in the fighting. According to UN figures, at least 60,000 people have fled the affected region since February.

President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar accuse each other of fueling the conflict. Although Salva Kiir has affirmed that he wants to maintain the fragile peace, Riek Machar was taken from his home in March 2025 by heavily armed troops and placed under house arrest.

Long-lasting consequences of the floods

In addition, South Sudan has been struggling with devastating floods since September 2023, which have already affected over 900,000 people. The Upper Nile region has been particularly hard hit. More than 420,000 people have now been displaced from their home villages by these floods and are now seeking refuge in temporary camps. The floods have destroyed vast areas of agricultural land and numerous livestock have drowned. Over two thirds of the year's harvest was lost, drastically exacerbating the already critical food shortages and livelihoods of the affected communities. In many flooded areas, there have been outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera and acute diarrhea. Important infrastructure such as roads, bridges and water systems have been destroyed. This makes the provision of humanitarian aid considerably more difficult.

Target groups

Humanitarian aid due to the renewed fighting in spring 2025 is specifically aimed at people who have fled Magwi County. Around 3,000 people are being provided with food aid and urgently needed goods according to their individual needs by Mission 21's partner organizations.

Support for those affected by the floods is particularly aimed at vulnerable and marginalized people, including pregnant women, children, the elderly, the sick and people with disabilities. The surrounding communities also benefit indirectly, as the entire region is better prepared for future crises by strengthening infrastructure, disaster prevention and resilience measures. In addition, supporting local structures promotes the long-term stability and social fabric of the affected communities.

Activities

Immediate humanitarian emergency aid:

Provision of relief supplies such as food, medicines and other essential non-food items.
Construction and expansion of temporary refugee camps with access to clean water, sanitary facilities and healthcare.
Measures to prevent and combat waterborne diseases, in particular cholera, in order to contain their spread.

Reconstruction and resilience:

Helping affected communities rebuild their homes, restore livelihoods and repair key infrastructure.
Promoting sustainable land and water management practices to mitigate the long-term effects of flooding.
Disaster preparedness and flood prevention training in the municipalities.

Early warning systems and flood management

Strengthen local and national authorities to monitor and predict flood events and develop and implement flood management guidelines.
Disseminating early warnings to communities at risk through various communication channels and incorporating flood risk reduction measures into national and local development plans.
Provision of emergency teams and supplies at strategic locations for rapid deployment.

These measures aim not only to provide emergency aid, but also to strengthen the capacities and resilience of local communities.

Donations