UN says climate shocks driving severe South Sudan food crisis

South Sudan's food crisis is expected to worsen through late 2026 as a combination of persistent conflict, extreme climate shocks, economic collapse, and severe funding shortages deepens the humanitarian emergency, according to the latest report by the United Nations (UN) released on Monday.



The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that South Sudan faces intensifying drought risks with seasonal forecasts by the national flood taskforce indicating a high likelihood of below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures across much of the country during the June-September rainy season.



"Early impact is already emerging with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), reporting that about 1,500 people have moved from areas around Kapoeta in Eastern Equatoria towards Kenya due to water scarcity and deteriorating livelihoods," OCHA said in a report released in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.



OCHA warned that while local floods are possible, South Sudan faces widespread drought risks as Eastern and southeastern zones will suffer severe water shortages, livestock deaths, and falling crop yields.