Food insecurity and malnutrition in South Sudan remain extremely high, driven primarily by localised conflict and expanding civil insecurity that have displaced large populations, as well as by widespread flooding that continues to disrupt livelihoods and agricultural production. 

During the current analysis period (September to November 2025), an estimated 5.97 million people (42 percent of the analysed population) in South Sudan are facing high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC AFI Phase 3 or above), of which around 1.3 million people are facing Emergency (IPC AFI Phase 4) conditions. During this period, as well as the two projection periods, approximately 28,000 people are classified in IPC AFI Phase 5 (Catastrophe), including 17,000 people in Luakpiny/Nasir (Upper Nile) and 11,000 people in Fangak (Jonglei).Luakpiny/Nasir County, particularly its southern parts along the Sobatcorridor, remains a major concern, with populations facing a risk of Famine during bothprojection periods under a plausible worst-case scenario.

During the harvest and post-harvest projection period (December 2025 and March 2026), an estimated 5.86 million people (41 percent of the analysed population) are expected to face IPC AFI Phase 3 or above (Crisis or worse) conditions. The situation is expected to worsen significantly during the lean season (April to July 2026), with 7.55 million people (53 percent of the analysed population) projected to experience high level of food insecurity (IPC AFI Phase 3 or above). 

• Promote a peaceful co-existence to enable communities to engage in productive livelihoods and benefit from the dividends of peace. Sustained peace remains central to restoring normal economic and agricultural activity.
• Restore and sustain humanitarian access to ensure needs assessment and delivery of multi-sectoral assistance.
• Scale up multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance, including food, nutrition, health, WASH, and livelihoods, especially where populations are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity and acute malnutrition. In areas where populations are facing IPC AFI Phase 5 (Catastrophe) and in counties classified in IPC AFI Phase 4 (Emergency) acute food insecurity, it is strongly recommended that Humanitarian Food Assistance (HFA) be immediately scaled up to save lives and prevent the total collapse of livelihoods. Counties classified in IPC AFI Phase 3 (Crisis) but with significant proportions of populations in IPC AFI Phase 4 (Emergency) should also beprioritised to prevent further deterioration into more severe phases.
• Scale up livelihood support, including the provision of seeds, tools, and other agricultural inputs, to boost crop and livestock production, reduce dependence on food imports, and enhance self-sufficiency. Farmers should also be trained and supported to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices. Safeguard the health and productivity of livestock through regular vaccination campaigns.
• Scale up nutrition interventions: Given the strong link between disease burden, malnutrition, and food utilisation, there is an urgent need to invest in WASH and health systems, including emergency nutrition interventions (through in-kind, cash, or voucher modalities), particularly during the lean season, when waterborne disease incidence and acute malnutrition prevalence are highest.
• Strengthen flood early warning systems and disaster risk reduction mechanisms by improving the dissemination of early warning messages, especially through community radios, during periods of heightened risk.