South Sudan: Humanitarian Access Snapshot (August 2024)

In August, humanitarian access in South Sudan faced severe disruptions due to flooding, bureaucratic hurdles, and a sharp rise in attacks on aid workers and facilities, with 52 reported incidents. Flooding rendered main supplies roads impassable in Malakal, Longochuk, Maban, Old Fangak, Rubkona, and Southern Unity, forcing aid organizations to rely on expensive air and river transport. These logistical challenges left more than 400,000 vulnerable people without essential support.

The escalation of security incidents further constrained humanitarian operations. Aid workers encountered mounting risks, including at least 14 cases of armed robberies, threats, and theft targeting personnel and 23 attacks on humanitarian facilities across six states. In Nasir, Upper Nile State, renewed violence displaced hundreds and forced the suspension of humanitarian efforts. In Maban and other areas, repeated break-ins and thefts at NGO compounds and storage sites severely disrupted relief operations, undermining the safety and effectiveness of aid delivery.

Bureaucratic impediments also critically hindered access to aid. In Upper Nile State, new taxes and fees on humanitarian workers drove up operational costs, strained resources, and delayed assistance—such as a 10 per cent fee on terminated contracts and mandatory registration charges. Interference in recruitment processes further hampered project implementation, especially in Renk and Maban. In Western Equatoria, authorities imposed a $250 fee for operational licenses, adding another layer of delay. These combined challenges left thousands without timely access to critical services, exacerbating the crisis for South Sudan's most vulnerable populations