By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
South Sudan, 15 August 2026 - More than 650,000 refugees and asylum seekers in South Sudan are at risk of losing vital food, nutrition and other humanitarian assistance as funding shortages threaten to cripple the aid response.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and World Food Programme (WFP) warned that without urgent funding, assistance for the most vulnerable 240,000 refugees could run out as early as September.
The affected families are the last remaining group among the 650,000 refugees who had been receiving food assistance across the country.
The agencies said an interruption in aid could worsen malnutrition, increase the risk of exploitation of women and children and force some families to cross borders again in search of food and safety.
The crisis is being compounded by the continued war in neighbouring Sudan, with up to 3,000 refugees and returnees arriving in South Sudan every week.
“We are seeing the devastating impact of conflicts that force people from their homes collide with a severe shortage of resources that is now making the crisis worse,” said Adham Effendi, WFP Deputy Country Director in South Sudan.
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WFP faces a $37 million immediate funding gap for its refugee response, while its wider operations require an additional $258 million for the remainder of 2026.
The warning comes amid a broader hunger crisis in South Sudan, where more than 7.8 million people are facing acute food insecurity and 2.2 million children are acutely malnourished.
UNHCR and WFP have appealed for immediate and flexible funding to prevent the suspension of lifesaving assistance and protect refugee families already living on the edge.
UN Warns 650,000 Refugees in South Sudan Face Aid Crisis
UNHCR and WFP warn that without urgent funding, assistance for the most vulnerable 240,000 refugees could run out as early as September.