By: Luganda David Nsiyonna
According to a FEWS NET report released on August 5, 2025, extremely high levels of acute malnutrition in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State underscore a significant risk of Famine (IPC Phase 5). Recent field assessments in Luakpiny/Nasir and Ulang counties affirm that Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) outcomes are already ongoing.
Data collected in June and July show a grim picture, with global acute malnutrition (GAM) rates among children under five reaching 25.4 percent in Nasir and 23.4 percent in Ulang, based on mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) measurements.
Additionally, 23 percent of households in Nasir and 11 percent in Ulang are experiencing severe hunger, indicating a food consumption deficit of 50 percent or more. The report highlights that the food consumption and acute malnutrition thresholds for Famine (IPC Phase 5) may have already been surpassed in Nasir. While non-trauma mortality remains relatively low, household reports indicate atypically high mortality due to conflict, a severe cholera outbreak, and starvation.
Since February, conditions have rapidly deteriorated for the over 133,350 local and displaced people in Nasir and Ulang. An escalation in violent conflict from February to May has displaced around 80,000 people (over 50 percent of the population) and severely disrupted essential services, including agriculture, fishing, markets, and health facilities. This has been compounded by a worsening cholera outbreak, with a case fatality rate far exceeding the 1 percent marker of effective control.
Humanitarian efforts have been severely hampered by the insecurity. The World Food Programme (WFP) was unable to deliver food assistance to the area from March to June. In July, airdrops by WFP targeted roughly 40,000 people with rations that would, at best, meet about 50 percent of the daily kilocalorie needs for 30 percent of the population; however, actual coverage is likely lower.
According to the report, a credible alternative scenario could lead to Famine if seasonal floods and a resurgence of violence further isolate the population from food sources amid high disease prevalence. Even without this scenario, food assistance needs are expected to deepen, and hunger-related deaths are expected to increase until the end of the lean season in October.
The report emphasizes the need for immediate action from government and humanitarian actors to prevent further starvation and death. The recommendations include restoring safe access to the region and rapidly scaling up multi-sectoral food, health, nutrition, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) assistance.
A significantly below-average harvest is expected between October and December due to the combined effects of violence, displacement, weather shocks, and disease. This underscores the urgency of intervention to save lives and help households rebuild their livelihoods. Sources
