South Sudan: Humanitarian Access Snapshot (March 2026)

In March, the most significant deterioration was observed in Jonglei State, where active hostilities between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and opposition groups triggered large-scale displacement and disruption of humanitarian operations. Approximately 268,000 people were internally displaced, with 100,000 fleeing to Ethiopia. Humanitarian presence was severely reduced, with 49 staff relocated from Akobo, Canal/Pigi (Jonglei), Ulang and Nasir (Upper Nile) leading to the suspension of essential services. Looting and destruction of infrastructure, including NGO compounds and hospitals, further compounded the crisis, with significant losses of humanitarian assets. The Health Cluster estimates that about 1.35 million people in Jonglei State have lost access to essential health services due to damage, looting, and service disruptions.

In Upper Nile and Jonglei, humanitarian actors face sustained and conflicting pressures. Authorities continue to push for relocation of operations into areas under their control, including through formal directives and administrative pressure. Simultaneously, communities and opposition actors urge partners to maintain presence in current locations, where displaced populations are concentrated. These dynamics are compounded by continued restrictions on air access (e.g., Kuetrengke and Barmach in Nasir County and Chuil in Nyirol County) and limitations on cash movements, severely constraining operational capacity. Access to key displacement sites such as Nyatim in Nyirol County (Jonglei) remains blocked, preventing assessment and response to about 30,000 IDPs.

The environment remains highly volatile, with violence against humanitarian personnel reported. On 2 March, four humanitarian volunteers were killed and one injured in Abiemnhom County. On 5 March, UN staff were arrested and detained in Maiwut (Upper Nile), while a humanitarian worker was abducted in Central Equatoria. These incidents, alongside looting of facilities, directly impact operational continuity.

Bureaucratic impediments continue to undermine delivery. These include additional clearance layers, conflicting directives from parallel authorities, and increased checkpoints; approximately 25 along the Ajakuac–Rubkona axis in Unity State, charging SSP 1–3 million each. New fees (SSP 150,000 for medical transport) and delays at Nimule and Kenya borders further disrupt supply chains, reflecting growing politicization of humanitarian access. As of 31 March, the WASH Cluster reported that 535 metric tons of humanitarian supplies at the Nimule border point have been delayed for over eight weeks, disrupting pre-positioning and life saving responses to people in need.