The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has launched an emergency response in Unity and Upper Nile states in South Sudan to address growing humanitarian needs driven by escalating conflict, displacement, and food insecurity.
Upper Nile State in the Greater Upper Nile region is the hardest hit by the escalating conflict, facing severe food insecurity and hosting most of the 1.1 million people who fled the Sudan war into South Sudan, further straining humanitarian needs.
IRC is responding directly in Unity State, Panyijar County and Upper Nile State, Nassir and Ulang counties through two trusted local partners. The response includes delivering critical health, protection, and nutrition interventions alongside cash assistance. These interventions aim to support vulnerable communities facing acute food shortages and lack of access to essential services.
Richard Orengo, IRC South Sudan Country Director, said,
“The latest FEWS NET (Famine Early Warning System) alert, confirming emergency and famine conditions in parts of Nasir and Ulang, underscores the gravity of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in South Sudan. Of the almost 250,000 people affected, through our local partners in Nassir and Ulang, we are reaching almost 50,000 people in communities most affected by displacement, flooding, and disease outbreaks such as Cholera. We remain committed to scaling up our efforts to meet urgent needs and protect lives.”
The IRC urges relevant parties to ensure unfettered humanitarian access to all populations in need and to protect populations as well as aid workers. We also urge donors to commit to fulfilling the humanitarian response plan, which more than half-way through the year remains woefully underfunded, with only 28.3% of required funding so far committed to the response.
The IRC has operated in South Sudan for over 30 years as one of the largest aid providers, delivering emergency assistance to crisis affected populations in hard-to-reach areas. Our work includes strengthening health services, training local health workers, providing nutrition and sanitation support, protecting survivors of sexual violence and children, promoting human rights, and empowering communities through cash assistance and livelihoods training. Since the beginning of the conflict in Sudan, the IRC has been responding to the arrival of both refugees and returnees in South Sudan.