More than 445,000 people have been displaced across South Sudan in 2025 amid intensifying armed conflict, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Tuesday, warning that shrinking humanitarian funding risks pushing the country deeper into crisis.
According to the ICRC, the surge in fighting has spread across several regions, including Upper Nile, Jonglei, Central Equatoria, Western Equatoria, and Western Bahr el Ghazal uprooting families’ multiple times as they flee violence and search for safety.
“All over the country, civilians bear the brunt of conflicts and violence. They flee, try to rebuild their lives, and are forced to flee again,” said Florence Gillette, ICRC Head of Delegation in South Sudan.
“Conflict-related hostilities affected seven out of ten states, and inter-communal violence has occurred in almost all states. This cycle must end so that communities can recover from years of crisis.”
Gillette added that the crisis is worsened by climate shocks, with over 900,000 people affected by floods and droughts, including 300,000 newly displaced this year.
“We Walked for Days Without Food”
In Yambio, Grace Wani, a mother of four, recounted her ordeal after clashes erupted near her village.
“When the fighting started, I ran with my children and never looked back. We walked for days without food, and my youngest fell sick on the way. Life in this temporary settlement is not easy, I worry for my children’s safety and our future.”
Similarly, Achol Marial, a returnee from Sudan now in Kuajok, described her family’s struggle after fleeing war in Sudan.
“When we arrived, life was hard my children went to bed hungry. Then in September, the ICRC came with support for returnees. That evening, I cooked beans and porridge, and my children smiled again. For the first time in months, we slept safely and full.”
The ICRC urged all parties to the conflict and donors to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure including farmlands, water systems, health facilities, and schools to avert a deeper humanitarian catastrophe.
Since January 2025, the organization, working with the South Sudan Red Cross (SSRC), has assisted nearly 196,000 displaced people and returnees from Sudan with food aid, cash assistance, and livelihood support.
