The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) South Sudan on Tuesday issued an urgent flash update indicating a deteriorating situation for children in Jonglei State, where violence and conflict are raging.
On 6 March, the SSPDF ordered UNMISS to withdraw from Akobo County within 72 hours and advised UN agencies, NGOs, and civilians to relocate, raising serious concerns for access and the safety of civilians.
“Staff from UN agencies and non-government organizations have left the town, and civilians have fled. An estimated 100,000 people have crossed the border into Ethiopia, and others have moved to safer areas in Jonglei and Upper Nile states,” the UNICEF update reads in part. “All those receiving treatment in Akobo hospital – previously a safe haven for the sick and injured – have left. Reports confirm that the hospital has been looted and is now closed.”
“UNICEF has confirmed reports that 28 health and nutrition facilities in Jonglei have been destroyed, looted, or suspended since 1st January, with many health and nutrition supplies taken,” it added.
According to UNICEF, this is against a continuing cholera outbreak with 149 cases and 19 deaths in Ayod and rising cases in Duk and Uror counties (12th March 2026).
“On January 1st 2026, over 6,000 children were being treated for acute malnutrition across Jonglei state, a 60 percent increase from 2025. Since then, armed clashes have displaced more than 263,000 people, leaving many malnourished children without access to services or therapeutic food,” UNICEF said. “Recent assessments in areas with displaced families revealed a quarter of all children under five years were suffering from acute malnutrition, well above the 15 percent emergency threshold. 7 percent of the children assessed had severe acute malnutrition, the severest form of malnutrition for children.”
UNICEF also reports that looting of supplies has increased across the country. Since January, UNICEF has recorded 17 incidents in Warrap, Upper Nile, Unity, and Jonglei states, with over 80 percent happening in Jonglei.
“As well as infrastructure being damaged and vandalized, critical health, nutrition, and water purification and sanitation supplies were taken,” the update said.
The update added that UNICEF and partners continue to scale up lifesaving interventions across health, nutrition, water and sanitation, and child protection to support affected communities – a total of 220 metric tonnes of life-saving supplies have been dispatched to sites across Jonglei since January 2026. Access remains a challenge in some areas.
UNICEF is calling for an end to hostilities and a return to peaceful dialogue. Humanitarian workers must be protected, and all parties must facilitate safe access to displaced and vulnerable populations.
According to UNICEF, many people who have been displaced several times have had to flee again, with estimates of up to 100,000 crossing into Ethiopia or moving towards Nyirol, Uror, and the Sobat corridor. Overall, conflict, disease, displacement, and limited access are compounding humanitarian needs across Jonglei, while funding gaps continue to constrain response efforts.
“Women and children are disproportionately affected as repeated displacement overwhelms fragile health, nutrition, WASH, education, and protection systems. The destruction of health facilities has sharply reduced access to care for pneumonia, malaria, cholera, and injuries. Women and adolescent girls face heightened risks of gender based violence, while children are exposed to domestic violence, family separation, exploitation, and recruitment by armed groups,” the update said. “Continuous population movements further disrupt families, overwhelm services, and hinder tracing, reunification, and protection support.”
The update said that UNICEF and partners continue to deliver lifesaving assistance across nutrition, child protection, health, and WASH, reaching conflict-affected communities with urgent services, essential supplies, and targeted support to address the critical needs of children and their families.