Food insecurity is ubiquitous and is being reinforced by ongoing intercommunal conflict, displacement, and external shocks. The Ukraine crisis has also had an unprecedented impact on South Sudan, with inflation impacting the purchasing power of the population with no or limited sustainable livelihood options. South Sudan remains among the poorest countries in the world and four out of five South Sudanese still live below the international poverty line of $1.90 per day.
An estimated?2.2 million people are internally displaced in South Sudan. Additionally, there were 337,000 refugees in South Sudan in 2022 and returnees are estimated at 1.92 million people. The signing of the latest truce in September 2018 and subsequent formation of a unity government in February 2020 have provided a large measure of hope for recovery and peace building in South Sudan. Conflict events decreased significantly in 2022, allowing some refugees previously dispersed in the region to return. In 2023, the political turmoil in Sudan has led to limited adverse impact politically in South Sudan. However, the protracted nature of the conflict has continued to cause unprecedented human displacement. As of 16 October 2023, 317,993 people have been recorded crossing into South Sudan from Sudan since the onset of the conflict in April 20231. Initially, only returnees were dominant at the border points, but gradually the number of Sudanese refugees has continued to increase.
Beyond the immediate humanitarian needs of almost 9 million people, the underlying issues affecting the delivery of transparent, unified governance, economic development, security sector reform and investment in public services urgently need to be addressed.
- Number of HI staff members: 59
- Date the programme opened: 2006
