South Sudan: Conflict in Jonglei State - Flash Update No.13, as of 19 March 2026

HIGHLIGHTS

  • As of 19 March, Akobo Town remains empty. Civilians reportedly lack confidence in the security situation, with most people staying outside the town, mainly toward Tiergol in Ethiopia.
  • Verified data from IOM indicates that nearly 268,000 people have been displaced across Jonglei, Lakes, Upper Nile and Central Equatoria States.
  • About 132,000 people lost access to health services in Jonglei State. Aid agencies suspended humanitarian activities in Akobo County due to conflict.
  • Humanitarian response has been scaled up in displacement locations including Bor South, Nyirol, Uror, Ayod, Duk, Fangak, Canal/Pigi and Twic East Counties.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

As of 18 March, the humanitarian situation in central and northern Jonglei State continues to deteriorate due to escalating violence, large-scale displacement and increasing access constraints. A tense situation continues to be reported in Akobo and neighbouring counties, including in Upper Nile State. On 14 March, South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) troops reportedly entered Akobo Town. Reports indicate widespread looting of markets, NGO compounds and Akobo Hospital, the main medical facility serving communities across the county and surrounding areas. Civilians displaced towards the Tiergol border area have reportedly not returned due to fears for their safety.

As of 19 March, Akobo Town remains empty. The population reportedly lacks confidence in the security situation, with most people staying outside the town, mainly towards Tiergol in Ethiopia. On 16 March, the Commissioner of Akobo County urged civilians who fled during recent unrest to return, assuring them that measures are in place to maintain stability and protect communities. He also appealed to chiefs, local authorities, teachers, traders, faith-based groups and humanitarian organizations to voluntarily return, reiterating that their safety would be ensured. His appeal went unheeded. UNMISS reported that the SSPDF has pledged cooperation, indicating that clearance for flight operations in the county would be granted.

On 16 March, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, expressed grave concern over the stalled implementation of critical protection measures to prevent and address conflict-related sexual violence in South Sudan. Patten, who was speaking on the margins of the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York, called for an immediate cessation of all hostilities and conflict-related sexual violence and urged all parties to engage in inclusive dialogue.

An access and inter-agency rapid needs assessment is planned in the coming week to identify the locations where people are displaced in Akobo County, and to assess the needs of people. The focus will be on Dengjok, Nayndit and Alali, where local sources indicated tens of thousands of people are concentrated.

HUMANITARIAN IMPACT AND NEEDS

  • Displacement: Verified data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) indicates that nearly 268,000 people have been displaced across Jonglei, Lakes, Upper Nile and Central Equatoria States as of 16 March. The fighting has triggered the mass displacement of an estimated 110,000 people across the border into Ethiopia, in Tiergol and Yir‑yir, according to UNHCR. Others have moved to neighbouring Upper Nile State, including about 9,000 people in Wanding Payam (Ulang) and approximately 3,500 people in Nasir County. Akobo’s broader population was estimated to be 270,000 before the evacuation order on 6 March. More than half of those displaced are women and children. On 13 March, nearly 6,000 individuals (1,000 households) were reported to have arrived in Gobjak village, Mareng Payam of Canal/Pigi County after fleeing fighting in Nyirol County.
  • About 75 per cent of displaced households are sheltering in the open, in bush areas, or in makeshift structures with no protection from cold, rain, or disease vectors, according to the Shelter and NFI Cluster. Many have lost essential items, including blankets, mats, mosquito nets, cooking sets, and plastic sheeting, due to repeated displacement. Market disruptions have limited access to shelter materials, making emergency shelter construction largely unfeasible. Families hosting displaced people report congestion and increased pressure on limited resources.
  • Protection risks: Escalating violence and repeated displacement have led to widespread conflict‑related sexual violence, child rights violations, abductions and increased risk of child marriage. Women, girls, unaccompanied children, people with disabilities, and female‑headed households face the highest protection risks. Protection services remain largely absent across affected areas. In Uror County, an inter-agency team identified at least 56 unaccompanied and separated children (53 in Pathai, and 3 in Yuai). Efforts are ongoing to reunify the children with their parents. In Akobo County, 110 children were identified as unaccompanied and separated. Child protection actors provided psychosocial support and distributed NFIs to the affected children.
  • Looting of health facilities: UNICEF reported that at least 28 health and nutrition facilities in Jonglei State have been destroyed, looted, or had their operations suspended since January, with many health and nutrition supplies taken. UNFPA reported that 25,000 inter‑agency Emergency Reproductive Health Kits, valued at US$18,400, were looted from Akobo Hospital. In addition, 1,307 individual dignity kits worth US$25,000 were taken from an international NGO warehouse in Akobo Town during the violence. Medical equipment, supplies, furniture and consumables valued at US$3,000 were looted from the Delule health facility, while training materials and equipment worth US$1,500 were stolen from the Women and Girls’ Friendly Space in Akobo County. The looting is expected to disrupt services for nearly 20,000 people in Akobo over the next three months. In neighbouring Ulang County, the theft and interruption of supplies further deprive more than 9,100 people of essential maternal, sexual, and reproductive health services, including clinical management of rape.
  • According to the Health Cluster partners, an estimated 132,000 people have lost access to health services following the looting of health facilities in Nyirol, Ayod and Pigi/Canal counties in Jonglei State. The value of damaged or stolen assets, including medicines, is estimated at US$254,000. One partner also reported losing access to three mobile clinics in Akobo East, Akobo County. Staff have been relocated to safer areas, and further updates will be provided once the security situation permits. An international NGO reported the loss of several WASH items, including 2,300 20-litre buckets, 1,165 boxes of filter cloths, 778 boxes containing 240 PUR sachets each, 59 boxes of Aquatabs and 280 cartons of soap, which were looted from its warehouse during the conflict in Akobo Town on 9 March.
  • On 18 March, the Nutrition Cluster partners reported that the nutrition situation in Nyirol, Uror, Duk, Ayod and Twic East counties remains critical following recent conflict‑related displacement and disruptions to essential services. A rapid screening for malnutrition among children under five in Chuil, Yakuach and Khormayom villages in Nyirol County found a Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate of 30.3 per cent, far exceeding WHO emergency thresholds of 15 per cent.
  • WFP reported that armed clashes around Akobo Town have forced the suspension of all humanitarian activities, including Catholic Relief Services’ Asset Creation and livelihood programmes for 60,867 host community members and Oxfam’s planned food distributions for 18,882 IDPs.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE AND CHALLENGES

  • Logistics Cluster: On 18 March, the Logistics Cluster facilitated the delivery of 190.5 metric tons of multisectoral relief supplies using combined air and road transport. Deliveries reached crisis‑affected locations across Jonglei, including Chuil, Duk Padiet, Ayod, Yuai, Pieri and Pathai, on behalf of six humanitarian partners supporting the ongoing emergency response. A total of 27.5 metric tons of logistics, nutrition, protection and WASH supplies were airlifted to Chuil and Barmach (Nasir County) for MSF‑Holland, MSF‑Spain, UNICEF and GOAL. The Cluster also coordinated a road convoy to accessible areas in northern Jonglei, transporting approximately 163 metric tons of nutrition and WASH items aboard seven trucks and one Land Cruiser.
  • Food Security and Livelihoods Cluster: WFP and partners (ACF and Oxfam) have deployed teams to Ayod and Chuil in Nyirol County to continue IDP verification and food distributions. As of 19 March, nearly 108,800 IDPs and host community members were verified in Chuil, Nyirol, Ayod, Duk and Akobo East in Akobo County. Verification and distributions are ongoing in Chuil and Duk. Additional distributions are planned for more than 17,300 people in Ayod Town and more than 12,000 people in Mogok. On 19 March, WFP and a partner deployed teams to Yuai, Motot and Pieri to continue verification and response. In Nyirol County, WFP and partners distributed an estimated 57.9 metric tons of food to about 6,600 host community members, with deliveries ongoing for 18,700 displaced people in Chuil Payam. In Ayod County, nearly 1,600 displaced households and 4,528 host community households were verified on 16 March, with distributions planned next week. In Duk County, approximately 44 metric tons of food were distributed to more than 3,500 displaced people in Poktap Payam. LWF is providing cash-for-food assistance to 970 households (680 host and 290 displaced) in Twic East County and plans to support an additional 976 households in Duk County under the same modality.
  • Nutrition Cluster: Nutrition services supported by UNICEF and partners continue in Chuil, Duk, Ayod and Uror. Volunteers and mother‑to‑mother groups are screening children under five and pregnant and breastfeeding women, while also providing counselling on infant and young child feeding. About 3,500 cartons of Ready‑to‑Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and antibiotics have been pre‑positioned in Chuil, Akobo and Duk, along with 18 cartons of therapeutic milk for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) cases with complications. Case management services, including identification and support for unaccompanied and separated children, family tracing, and psychosocial support, have been scaled up in Duk County. Partners continue efforts to maintain service delivery; however, conflict and logistical constraints have significantly hindered operations. In the past week, UNICEF delivered 1,781 cartons of RUTF and 7,086 bottles of Amoxicillin, enabling six nutrition sites to resume treatment for malnourished children in Uror County. As of 18 March, at least six operational nutrition sites, including Yuai, Modit, Pathai, Weikol, Payai and Partet in Uror County, are actively screening and admitting children.
  • Protection Cluster: At least 110 Child‑Friendly Space kits have been distributed in Pibor, Bor and Akobo towns. Dignity kits have also been distributed: 500 in Chuil, Nyirol County, and 1,100 in Bor town, with an additional 1,500 planned for Bor and Duk. On 14 March, two Protection Cluster partners conducted an awareness campaign on gender‑based violence, child protection and related risks in Paguir Payam, Fangak County. During the event, school Child Protection Clubs and Hygiene and Environmental Clubs performed short dramas highlighting child labour, neglect, commercial exploitation, denial of education and forced and early marriage. The activity aimed to strengthen parental and community engagement in protecting children’s rights and prioritizing their education despite ongoing challenges. UNHCR assisted 412 families (2,472 individuals) in Akobo with cash-for-protection support. In Ayod, 372 families were registered for cash‑based assistance, with distributions expected in the coming weeks. The response targets conflict‑affected populations. During the reporting period, UNHCR supported 17 survivors of conflict‑related sexual violence brought from Waat in northern Jonglei. Distributed items included sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets, laundry soap and Masai bedsheets.
  • Shelter and NFIs Cluster: IOM and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) completed shelter and NFI distributions for 4,600 households in Bor IDP camp (Block 4, Baidit, Targok) and in Mingkaman, Awerial County in Lakes State. In Ayod County, IOM and CIDO have temporarily suspended distributions for more than 5,300 households due to ongoing clashes between the SSPDF and SPLA-iO. A fact‑finding mission is planned for next week, with a rapid response to follow once dates are confirmed. Shelter and NFI distributions for more than 5,100 households are ongoing in Twic East, Duk and Uror counties (1,100 in Twic East, 2,200 in Duk and 1,800 in Uror). In Nyirol County, NRC and HDC plan to assist 3,000 households in the coming days, security permitting. A national NGO completed a market assessment in Jebel Boma Market, Pibor, Greater Pibor Administrative Area. A cash‑voucher‑based response is planned pending final approval.
  • Health Cluster: Emergency supplies were dispatched to Bor Town and Chuil in Nyirol County to support services for 62,000 conflict-affected people. Partners are providing malaria diagnosis and treatment, acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) management, and outpatient care. Additional emergency health supplies are available for rapid pre-positioning when access permits.
  • WASH Cluster: At least 200 WASH kits (including filter cloth, purified water sachets, soap and 20-litre buckets) and 4,100 Aquatabs were distributed in Chuil in Nyirol County, Poktap and Padiet in Duk County. Some 1,000 buckets and latrine slabs were delivered to support IDP sites; additional WASH infrastructure was deployed across Akobo East Payam in Akobo County, Duk and Chuil in Nyirol County. Hygiene promotion reached 205 households via Boma Health Workers.
  • Cholera outbreak: A cholera outbreak that began in September 2024 remains one of the most serious health threats, though response efforts have helped reduce deaths and slow transmission in some areas. Between 9 and 15 March, health partners reported 51 new cholera cases and no deaths across four counties: Yirol East (30), Duk (16), Awerial (4) and Bor South (1). The outbreak has largely shifted to Jonglei and Lakes states, driven by displacement and poor WASH conditions in IDP sites. Awerial is the latest area to record a resurgence, with four cases in the past week. Two samples tested positive by both Rapid Diagnostic Test and culture. Since the outbreak began on 28 September 2024, a cumulative 100,759 cases and 1,653 deaths have been reported across 55 counties in nine states and all three administrative areas. The disruption of vaccination, disease surveillance and referral systems by conflict and insecurity has heightened the risk of rising cases and deaths. Cholera response activities continue in Jonglei hotspots, particularly Duk and Ayod, through coordination, case management and surveillance support. Case management, infection prevention and control, and WASH supplies were dispatched to Uror to strengthen ongoing response efforts, and state Rapid Response Teams were deployed for verification and follow‑up actions. Follow‑up oral cholera vaccination activities are underway across Jonglei, including completion of targeted mop‑up in Duk and preparation of a micro‑plan for Pariak. WHO and the Health Cluster continue to provide core pipeline and other emergency supplies to partners.
  • Jonglei State Contingency Plan: The contingency plan for Jonglei State has been finalized with inputs from national clusters and humanitarian partners. According to the plan, between 250,000 and 350,000 people are projected to be displaced across four counties. The contingency plan identifies several key risks, including conflict-related risks, public health risks, worsening food insecurity during the upcoming lean season, and operational and physical protection risks. Response preparedness actions and operational modalities have been outlined in the contingency plan to guide coordinated humanitarian interventions should any of these scenarios materialize.

CHALLENGES

  • Restriction of humanitarian cash delivery in Nyirol County: On 18 March, security officials denied humanitarian contractors’ permission to deliver operational cash to Chuil in Nyirol County. The restriction affects support to operations in SPLA-iO-controlled areas and poses a significant challenge to sustaining humanitarian activities and timely assistance.
  • Insecurity, ongoing clashes, and movement restrictions continue to limit humanitarian access, suspend services, and delay partner re-engagement in affected counties. In Ayod and Akobo Counties, humanitarian needs are yet to be fully assessed and verified due to significant logistical and access constraints.
  • Reports indicate urgent food needs among IDPs, mainly women and children in Nyatim Boma, Nyirol County.
  • In Protection, current response capacity covers only an estimated 35 per cent of critical life-saving needs, while demand continues to rise sharply. This leaves a substantial gap of approximately 65 per cent, underscoring the acute and urgent need for additional funding to mount a comprehensive response.
  • A significant number of IDPs are sheltering in abandoned structures or informal communal spaces, conditions that substantially elevate the risk of disease transmission and give rise to serious protection concerns, including Housing, Land and Property violations and gender-based violence.
  • Inadequate funding: Most active field-level partners are critically underfunded, severely limiting their capacity to deliver last-mile response and react swiftly to rapidly evolving needs.
  • A limited humanitarian footprint has led to a weak mechanism to identify and support Persons with Specific Needs (PSNs), including those with disabilities and elderly persons who are forced to travel long distances for food or water.