The ongoing conflict between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan has forced more than 900,000 people to flee to neighboring South Sudan.
Speaking during the launch of the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) in Juba on Monday, Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, Anita Kiki Gbeho, said the Sudan’s fighting has exacerbated the already dire humanitarian situation of South Sudan.
“We recognize that South Sudan remains at a critical junction, affected by the impact of the Sudan crisis on South Sudan’s economy, on security,” she said. “The number of people crossing the border has reached almost 900,000 or over 900,000 since the war broke out in Sudan and recently an outbreak of cholera.”
She said the humanitarian crisis has been compounded by climate change-induced impacts such as delayed rains and flooding.
“South Sudan, being on the front lines of the climate crisis, causing frequent disruptions and displacements over the past decade, this year’s floods affected 1.4 million people,” Kiki highlighted. “Food security projections state that South Sudan will continue to experience severe food insecurity in 2025, a rise from 6.3 million people to 7.7 million who are food insecure is projected for next year.”
For his part, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Albino Akol Atak Mayom, said the refugees and South Sudanese returnees are straining the resources available to the government and host communities.
“Despite collective efforts by the government, humanitarian community, and the government and others, the humanitarian situation in South Sudan remains dire. Outbound interruptions and triggers continue to drive humanitarian needs across the country,” he stated. “Disease outbreaks, conflicts, and I mean here specifically conflict in Sudan, which brought up to now closer to one million people, floods, food insecurity, and climate events affect people’s vulnerability and resilience, further straining the country’s overstretched system.”
On 15 April 2023, Sudan was plunged into conflict as longstanding tensions between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo erupted into war.
According to ACLED, at least 24,000 people have been reported killed across Sudan, though the actual death toll is likely much higher – especially when accounting for indirect deaths such as the spread of disease, malnutrition, and lack of adequate healthcare.
About one-third of recorded deaths have occurred in Khartoum, which has the highest casualty rate.