A resurgence of violent clashes in South Sudan’s Jonglei State since the beginning of 2026 has exposed more than 450,000 children to the risk of acute malnutrition, as hostilities have disrupted essential health and nutrition services, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.
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Seventeen health facilities have been closed due to the ongoing conflict, and associated nutrition services have been suspended, it said.
“We urgently call on all parties to cease the violence and ensure rapid, unhindered, and safe access for humanitarian assistance and aid workers so they can reach the most vulnerable displaced populations,” said Noala Skinner, UNICEF Representative in South Sudan, in a statement released in Juba, the country’s capital.
The UN agency indicated that six counties in Jonglei are already out of stock or close to running out of therapeutic foods, a vital commodity for children suffering from severe malnutrition.
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According to her, the violence has reportedly displaced at least 250,000 people, particularly in the north and center of the state, forcing families to flee their homes in search of safety and significantly increasing protection risks in affected communities.
According to her, the violence has reportedly displaced at least 250,000 people, particularly in the north and center of the state, forcing families to flee their homes in search of safety and significantly increasing protection risks in affected communities.
Access to emergency aid has been severely hampered, with humanitarian agencies unable to reach vulnerable populations due to restrictions on movement by river, air, and road, she lamented.
UNICEF said it had already sent water purification materials, buckets, and soap to Duk County in Jonglei State, where a cholera outbreak is feared.
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Xinhua
