The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has called on all parties to the conflict in South Sudan to urgently halt military operations and allow safe humanitarian access to enable the delivery of life-saving food assistance to hundreds of thousands of people in Jonglei State.
WFP warned that escalating insecurity in the region threatens to displace large numbers of civilians and worsen already severe hunger levels.
Jonglei is home to about two million people, nearly 60 percent of whom are expected to face crisis levels of food insecurity during the upcoming lean season, the period between April and July when hunger typically peaks.
“This military escalation could not have come at a worse time,” said Adham Effendi, WFP’s Acting Country Director in South Sudan. “Our window to reach the most vulnerable is quickly closing.
The time to act is now, and we urge all parties to protect civilians, aid workers and allow the delivery of vital humanitarian assistance.”
Beginning in February, WFP plans to pre-position food and relief supplies closer to hunger hotspots ahead of the lean season and the onset of heavy rains, which often cut off key overland routes and leave communities isolated for months.
The agency stressed that access during the dry season is critical to preventing a humanitarian emergency later in the year.
However, WFP said humanitarian operations are currently constrained by access restrictions. Both the WFP-led Logistics Cluster and the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) have yet to receive clearance from authorities to coordinate road convoys and passenger flights for the humanitarian community.
Without urgent action, WFP warned, entire communities could be left beyond the reach of essential assistance. “With safe and unimpeded passage, WFP has the teams and capacity to reach the most vulnerable families,” Effendi said. “Hundreds of thousands of lives depend on it.”
The warning comes as South Sudan continues to grapple with conflict, displacement and chronic food shortages. In 2026, WFP aims to support 3.3 million of the most vulnerable people across the country with emergency food, nutrition assistance, school meals, resilience programmes and cash-based support.
At the time of publication, authorities had not publicly responded to WFP’s call for unrestricted humanitarian access in Jonglei State.
