WFP and UNHCR warn 650,000 South Sudan refugees could lose food aid by September
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The World Food Programme and UNHCR warned on Friday that more than 650,000 refugees and asylum seekers in South Sudan risk losing food aid within weeks because of a $37 million funding shortfall. The last distributions for 240,000 of the most vulnerable refugees will take place in September unless new funding is secured, and some refugees have already asked for help returning to Sudan despite unsafe conditions there.
Funding Shortfall
WFP and UNHCR said on Friday that the last food distributions for 240,000 of South Sudan's most vulnerable refugees would be made in September unless new funding is secured urgently. The agencies face a $37 million gap for refugee operations between October and December. WFP deputy country director Adham Effendi told reporters in Juba that the cuts were "not a future scenario" but would materialize within weeks. The 650,000 refugees still receiving support already get half-rations after WFP scaled back assistance because of funding constraints.
Humanitarian Impact
More than 7.8 million people in South Sudan — over half the population — are experiencing acute food insecurity, and 2.2 million children are acutely malnourished. UNHCR deputy representative Mesfin Degefu said families are reducing meals, selling belongings, withdrawing children from school, and taking on debt. Some refugees have asked UNHCR to help facilitate returns to Sudan, even though the agency does not consider conditions there safe. South Sudan is receiving about 3,000 refugees and returnees each week from Sudan, where conflict since 2023 has caused one of the world's largest displacement crises.
Further Aid Cuts
Effendi said that from October food assistance for about 180,000 internally displaced people will cease. By November, some 600,000 people living in famine-risk areas could lose life-saving support. These cuts follow WFP's progressive scaling back of assistance to the 650,000 refugees already receiving half-rations.
What's Next
WFP and UNHCR have until September to secure $37 million for refugee operations from October to December. It remains unclear whether donors will meet that gap or whether further cuts will force more refugees to seek unsafe returns to Sudan.
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WFP and UNHCR warn 650,000 South Sudan refugees could lose food aid by September
