El Niño, conflict and aid shortfalls push hunger deeper in South Sudan

# What happened

Programme (WFP) said at a Geneva briefing that South Sudan's hunger crisis is worsening. WFP assistant executive director for programme operations Matthew Hollingworth said conflict, displacement, economic hardship, climate shocks and the situation in neighbouring Sudan are combining to deepen vulnerability.

# Scale of the crisis

WFP figures cited by the Oman Observer report show roughly 7.8 million people in South Sudan—more than half the country—struggle daily to obtain enough food. Immediate nutritional support is required for 2.2 million children and 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Hollingworth warned that without additional funding and sustained aid access, about one million of the most vulnerable people could lose access to life-saving food and nutrition assistance by next October.

# How El Niño is affecting food supplies

WFP and UN sources describe the current El Niño as "very powerful." The phenomenon has already reduced rainfall and raised temperatures in parts of East Africa. In South Sudan, the most fertile agricultural areas have been affected: crops were damaged and harvests reduced by drought linked to El Niño-driven weather shifts.

The report ties the crop losses directly to worsening food availability and rising needs for emergency nutrition support.

# Conflict and regional pressures

The hunger crisis is not driven by climate alone. Ongoing violence and mass displacement have disrupted planting, markets and humanitarian access. Economic hardship—compounded by instability in neighbouring Sudan—has pushed households into deeper need.

WFP stressed that multiple, overlapping shocks are at work: insecurity limits aid delivery and market functioning, while climate shocks lower local food production. The combined effect increases reliance on external assistance at a time when resources are declining.

# Regional footprint

WFP noted that El Niño's effects extend beyond South Sudan into neighbouring countries including Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya. Those regional impacts raise the risk of broader food insecurity across the Horn of Africa and East Africa.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is quoted in the coverage saying the El Niño event "is growing before our eyes," signaling concern at senior UN levels.

# What this means now

• Immediate: Large caseloads of children, pregnant and breastfeeding women require urgent nutrition treatment and prevention services.
• Short term: Reduced harvests and disrupted markets will raise food needs and likely increase food prices, putting additional households at risk.
• Funding and access: WFP warns a funding shortfall would force cuts that could leave about one million vulnerable people without assistance by next October.

# Practical implications for readers following the crisis

Humanitarian agencies will press donors for emergency funding and try to protect delivery routes where security allows. Monitoring of food prices, malnutrition admissions and river or road access will indicate how rapidly the situation deteriorates. Regional weather forecasts and El Niño updates will show whether rains or further drought are expected.

# Bottom line

South Sudan's hunger crisis is the result of overlapping drivers: a powerful El Niño that has reduced crops, persistent conflict and displacement, economic strain tied to regional instability, and dwindling humanitarian resources. WFP warns that without fresh funding and secure access, millions will face deeper food insecurity and large numbers of vulnerable children and mothers will miss critical nutrition services.