The United Nations has confirmed that more than 180 people have been killed and over 250 injured in escalating violence across South Sudan since March, driven by armed clashes and aerial bombardments in Upper Nile State.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the surge in violence has also displaced approximately 125,000 civilians, many of whom are fleeing intensified fighting and airstrikes. An estimated 25,000 civilians have been uprooted in the Upper Nile region alone.
During a recent visit to Malakal, the capital of Upper Nile State, the Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, Anita Kiki Gbeho, voiced deep concern over the deteriorating situation. “I heard firsthand the devastating impact of the violence on civilians. All parties involved must immediately cease actions that harm the population — including humanitarian workers who are risking their lives to deliver aid,” Gbeho said in a statement released Tuesday.
She emphasized that ongoing conflict has obstructed the delivery of critical humanitarian assistance. Since March, at least four aid workers have been killed and six healthcare centers shut down due to looting and destruction.
South Sudan Faces a Broad Public Health Emergency
Gbeho also highlighted the broader public health emergency facing the country. “Just yesterday, services at Ulang Hospital — a vital facility for 174,000 people — were suspended following widespread looting,” she reported. South Sudan, already grappling with severe poverty despite its oil resources, is now battling a cholera outbreak that has infected nearly 49,000 people and claimed 919 lives.
Humanitarian access remains heavily restricted, and medical supplies are rapidly dwindling, further complicating efforts to respond to the crisis. “This latest wave of violence must end,” Gbeho urged. “It comes at a time when needs are increasing while humanitarian funding is shrinking.” Only 12.6 percent of the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan has been funded so far, according to the UN.
Multiple crises — including conflict, food insecurity, disease outbreaks, economic hardship, and climate-related shocks — have converged to create a dire humanitarian landscape in South Sudan. The country is also dealing with spillover instability from neighboring Sudan. With the rainy season approaching and cholera cases rising, the UN is calling for immediate and unhindered access to affected communities.
“Citizens Talk for Peace”
Amid the growing turmoil, civil society organizations are working to promote peace and accountability. The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) has launched a nationwide initiative titled “Citizens Talk for Peace” as part of its “No Return to War” campaign.
CEPO Executive Director Edmund Yakani described the campaign as a grassroots effort to engage citizens in non-violent dialogue and encourage a shared commitment to national peace. “The Citizens Talks for Peace will be held at the state level and will promote inclusive, non-partisan civic engagement,” he explained.
A symbolic “No Return to War Touch” will be carried from one state to another to inspire community-driven dialogue aimed at ending violence and building lasting peace. The initiative seeks to foster a culture of interpersonal communication, nonviolence, and civic responsibility in the pursuit of national stability.