Alarming report shows parts of South Sudan at critical risk of famine

A new report issued today (12 June 2025) by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) – a UN and government backed initiative that monitors the severity of food crises worldwide – has found that tens of thousands of people in South Sudan are at risk of famine, while almost 2.5 million are experiencing emergency level food shortages. 

Bethan Lewis, Head of Humanitarian Unit at children’s charity Plan International UK said: 

“Today’s report is an urgent wake-up call for the international community and UK Government. South Sudan is now one of the world’s worst hunger crises, and thousands of children are at risk of starvation without immediate intervention. 

“A lethal combination of brutal conflict, mass displacement and economic hardship is forcing children into extreme hunger. Food prices are soaring and families cannot afford to feed themselves. The situation is particularly severe for girls and young women: when starvation strikes it is almost always girls who eat last and least, while they are also placed at heightened risk of early marriage and other negative coping mechanisms as families struggle to feed their children.  

“South Sudan’s rapidly deteriorating hunger catastrophe shows yet again that the UK Government’s unconscionable decision to slash overseas aid comes at the worst possible time for the world’s most vulnerable children. Conflict, starvation and disease are killing more and more children every day. It is essential that the UK Government protects life-saving humanitarian funding for South Sudan so that children’s lives can be saved before it’s too late.”