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UNHCR South Sudan Thematic Brief - Multidimensional poverty of refugees and host communities

Countries: South Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Sudan Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Please refer to the attached file. Key messages The Multi dimensional Poverty Index (MPI) measures deprivation in education, health, and living conditions and provides a comprehensive picture of well-being. Newdataon refugees in South Sudan allows comparison with host communities, and in turn enables policy discussions to address the drivers of poverty. Refugees in South Sudan are characterized by a high level of multi dimensional poverty. Refugees in the Northern part of the country are slightly better off than their hosts. The results show that almost the entire population–both refugees and hosts–is either poor or vulnerable to falling into poverty. The three dimensions—education, health, and living conditions—equally contribute to the multi dimensional poverty. Vulnerable groups such as children, women and girls as well as households with children under 5 years old are more likely to face multidimensional poverty. There is a strong statistical association between multi dimensional poverty and mental health problems among refugees, along side reduced self-efficacy (belief in one’s ability to achieve goals).This suggests the possible existence of a psychological poverty trap. Deprivation fuels poor mental health and low self-confidence, which in turn limit resilience, livelihood engagement, and the capacity to escape from poverty. Evidence from other contexts shows that combining economic and psychological support can produce stronger results than either approach alone. The alarming situation reflects the conditions that prevailed before the outbreak of war in Sudan, which has significantly increased the number of refugees and exacerbated an already fragile humanitarian context. With ongoing reductions in humanitarian aid, the situation is deteriorating further, and there is a high risk that conditions will continue to worsen. As a matter of fact, humanitarian aid plays a crucial role in sustaining refugees. The recent humanitarian cuts will lead to decreased food assistance and compromised health care and education services. Consequently, this is likely to exacerbate poverty among refugees as more than 75 percent of refugees in the South and 50 percent of those in the North rely on humanitarian assistance. The international community needs to step up support for refugees and their communities. Sustainable responses require partnerships, financing, and national leadership. South Sudan’s Global Refugee Forum commitments prioritize socioeconomic inclusion, responsibility-sharing, and regulatory reforms, supporting a shift from short-term aid to long-term development to reduce poverty and foster self-reliance. This shift advocates for development interventions from the onset of crisis to enhance integrative approaches and services for both refugees and host communities, promoting resilience and self-reliance.

ReliefWebReliefWeb•UN High Commissioner for Refugees15 Sept
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South Sudan and Uganda Sign a Landmark Agreement to Strengthen Cross-border Collaboration on Health Security – Africa CDC

Countries: Uganda, South Sudan Source: Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Two neighbours will strengthen joint preparedness and response to public health emergencies South Sudan, Juba, 10 September 2026 – With an active Ebola outbreak still raging across the region, Uganda and South Sudan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly detect, prevent and respond to public health emergencies along their shared border. Signed on 7 September and facilitated by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) through the Continental Incident Management Support Team (IMST), the agreement gives both countries a shared operational framework against Bundibugyo Virus Disease, viral haemorrhagic fevers, cholera and other cross-border disease threats. The Ministries of Health of the Republic of Uganda and the Republic of South Sudan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cross-border cooperation on preparedness, prevention, surveillance and joint response to public health emergencies on 7 September. Facilitated by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) through the Continental Incident Management Support Team (IMST), the agreement provides a framework for protecting communities along the shared border from Bundibugyo Virus Disease, viral haemorrhagic fevers, cholera and other infectious disease threats. Hon. Luke Thompson Thoan Teny, MP, Minister of Health of the Republic of South Sudan, said the agreement would strengthen practical cooperation between the two countries. “I reaffirm South Sudan commitment to seamless information sharing, joint preparedness and a coordinated response to health threats, protecting our communities and securing our shared future,” he said. “This MoU should not be another protocol or MoU that is signed today and sits on a shelf tomorrow. We are deliberately trying to build something different: a model of cooperation that is adaptive, operational and accountable.” Hon. Dr Chris Baryomunsi, MP, Minister of Health of the Republic of Uganda, emphasized the need to translate the agreement into measurable action: The MoU comes at a critical time for regional health security as the ongoing Bundibugyo Virus Disease outbreak highlights the importance of coordinated action across borders. Although South Sudan has not reported a confirmed case, porous borders, high population mobility and health-system vulnerabilities increase the risk of importation. The country is also managing concurrent outbreaks of mpox, cholera, measles and circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus. The MoU establishes practical mechanisms for cross-border surveillance and early warning, laboratory preparedness and sample referral, screening at points of entry, infection prevention and control, case management, vaccination coordination, contact tracing, risk communication and community engagement, as well as the movement of response personnel and supplies. The MoU was signed in the presence of H.E. Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan and Chair for the Service Cluster, demonstrating strong political commitment to cross-border health security. The Vice President underscored the importance of a whole-of-government approach, stating: “Health security is national security.” Capacity building will be a key component of implementation, including skills exchange, mentorship and joint simulation exercises to strengthen health workers, response teams and institutions at national and subnational levels. The two countries will also establish mechanisms for timely notification, information sharing and regular cross-border coordination. “South Sudan and Uganda are showing what African health security and sovereignty agenda (AHSS) means in practice: countries coming together to build solutions, learn from one another and act before a health threat becomes a wider crisis,” said Dr Lul Riek, Senior Regional Representative, Africa CDC Eastern Africa RCC, adding the initiative demonstrates African health security and sovereignty in action. The MoU will remain in force for an initial three years, providing a sustained platform for joint preparedness and coordinated response. The initiative reinforces a simple but critical principle: health threats cross borders, so preparedness and response must cross borders too. ### About Africa CDC The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention is the public health agency of the African Union. As an autonomous institution, Africa CDC supports AU Member States in strengthening health systems, improving disease surveillance, and enhancing emergency preparedness and response. For more information, visit: http://www.africacdc.org and follow Africa CDC on LinkedIn , X , Facebook , and YouTube . Media enquiries Directorate of Communications and Public Information, Africa CDC | Email: communications@africacdc.org

ReliefWebReliefWeb•Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention14 Sept

UNICEF South Sudan Humanitarian Situation Report No. 6, 31 July 2026

Countries: South Sudan, Sudan Source: UN Children's Fund Please refer to the attached file. Highlights Humanitarian needs remained acute in July as conflict, displacement, food insecurity, climate shocks and continued arrivals from Sudan affected vulnerable populations. Between January and July, 444,556 people were newly displaced, while more than 13,400 refugees and returnees arrived during the month. ฉholera remained the largest public health emergency, despite a significant decline in transmission. By the end of July, 109,908 cumulative cases and 1,720 deaths had been reported. Mpox, measles and cVDPV1 outbreaks continued to strain health services. Acute malnutrition and access constraints remained major concerns, with critical malnutrition levels in parts of Jonglei, Upper Nile and Unity, including 22.3 per cent GAM in Akobo West. Humanitarian access incidents were 51 per cent higher than during the same period in 2025. Funding shortfalls continued to constrain the response, with the 2026 HAC appeal only 44 percent funded. WASH and education remained the most underfunded sectors, leaving critical gaps in service delivery.

ReliefWebReliefWeb•UN Children's Fund14 Sept

Sudan: Eastern Africa: Regional Cash and Voucher Assistance Overview (April - June 2026)

Countries: Sudan, Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Please refer to the attached Infographic. Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) in Eastern Africa reached 4.6 million people with US$193.9 million across seven countries in the second quarter of 2026, up from 2.3 million people and US$87.3 million across five countries in the first quarter. Sudan, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Somalia accounted for 91 per cent of transfers, reflecting high humanitarian needs in protracted crises. Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) and Food Security and Livelihoods accounted for 90 per cent of transfers, highlighting the role of flexible cash in addressing immediate and broader needs. National NGOs comprised nearly half (46 per cent) of implementing organizations, advancing localization. Cash-in-hand remained the main delivery mechanism at 54 per cent, while bank transfers and mobile money each accounted for 19 per cent, highlighting the importance of reliable, accessible and context-appropriate payment systems. At the same time, insecurity and access constraints in Sudan and South Sudan, liquidity shortages in northern Ethiopia, and gaps in registration, interoperability and coordination continue to constrain the timely and effective delivery of assistance. As humanitarian needs remain high and resources increasingly constrained, maintaining the scale and effectiveness of CVA will depend on more flexible and predictable financing, stronger delivery systems and the ability to act earlier ahead of predictable shocks. Click here to access the interactive Regional Cash and Voucher Assistance Dashboard

ReliefWebReliefWeb•UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs14 Sept

South Sudan: UN Commission warns of growing risks to civilians and democratic transition as violence and impunity persist

Country: South Sudan Source: UN Human Rights Council Please refer to the attached file. JUBA/GENEVA (10 September 2026) – The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has concluded its 14th visit to the country, expressing deep concern that renewed violence, political tensions, shrinking civic space, entrenched corruption and persistent impunity continue to place civilians and the country's political transition at risk. During its four-day visit, the Commission engaged with Government authorities, political and security actors, civil society representatives, victims and survivors, humanitarian and international partners, members of the legal community and other stakeholders. The Commission Chair, Yasmin Sooka, undertook a field visit to Bor, where she met with Government authorities, civil society and humanitarian actors, as well as survivors of the recent fighting in the northern part of Jonglei State. Survivors, including women and girls, recounted harrowing experiences of sexual violence, killings, displacement and separation from their families. Several described being left without access to medical, psychosocial or other essential support, including survivors with serious and urgent health needs. “Visit after visit, we continue to hear from people who bear the consequences of violence, displacement, insecurity and the failures of those with political and security responsibilities to prevent and address those harms. What troubles us most is that we continue to hear similar stories of suffering – families uprooted from their homes, communities living in fear, women and girls facing serious violations, and people struggling to access even the most basic services. The patterns have changed little, while the human cost continues to grow. South Sudanese people deserve better than to have their lives shaped by recurring cycles of violence and uncertainty,” said Chairperson Yasmin Sooka . The Commission remains concerned about killings, displacement, attacks affecting civilians and civilian infrastructure, disruption of humanitarian operations and growing insecurity for humanitarian personnel. These developments underscore the urgent need for all parties to comply fully with their obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law and take concrete measures to protect civilians. The humanitarian needs facing South Sudan are enormous, but funding is falling far short of what is required, forcing humanitarian partners to scale back assistance even as needs continue to rise. Continued support for humanitarian operations, and for UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and its civilian protection mandate, is critical. The people of South Sudan cannot afford for the international response to retreat while the crisis is deepening. The Commission is particularly concerned by the attack on a UNMISS patrol in Jonglei, in which two peacekeepers were killed and others injured, and calls for a prompt, thorough and independent investigation into the attack and for those responsible to be held accountable, in accordance with due process and international standards. The Commission's visit comes at a pivotal point as South Sudan prepares for planned December elections. In its August 2026 Advisory, At the Brink: Preventing Atrocity Crimes and Safeguarding South Sudan's Transition , the Commission warned that elections without essential safeguards and genuine and inclusive political dialogue could fuel renewed conflict and increase the risk of atrocity crimes. The Commission reiterates that the holding of elections must be accompanied by the conditions necessary to ensure meaningful political participation, respect for fundamental freedoms, civilian protection and confidence in the electoral process. “The political failures of South Sudan’s leaders continue to reproduce the conditions for damaging violence. Implementation of the Revitalized Agreement has stalled, but its objectives for delivering a transformed, democratic and peaceful South Sudan remain as relevant as ever, and must be protected. Even as the country heads for elections, political and civic space has narrowed, while many of the safeguards and conditions for peaceful and credible polls are still missing. South Sudanese do have a right to vote; that right must be protected by ensuring they can participate freely, compete fairly, and resolve any electoral disputes through credible adjudication. These are the safeguards that will prevent an election from becoming a trigger for violence and disruption,” said Commissioner Barney Afako . The Commission reiterated its call for genuine and inclusive political dialogue involving all relevant political actors, including First Vice President Riek Machar's SPLM-IO, holdout groups, civil society, women and youth. Such dialogue must be meaningful, sustained and aimed at resolving political differences through peaceful means. It also called for the release of detained political opponents unless they are promptly brought before an independent and impartial court in proceedings that fully comply with international human-rights standards and due process guarantees. In its engagements with the Government of South Sudan and the African Union, the Commission emphasized the urgent need for the establishment of the Hybrid Court for South Sudan and the full operationalization of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing and the Compensation and Reparation Authority as essential elements of a credible national accountability process and to address continuing impunity for serious human rights violations. During the visit, the Commission specifically noted the lack of progress since its 2025 report on corruption and economic crimes , which documented how entrenched corruption and the diversion and misallocation of public resources undermine the rights of South Sudanese. The Commission is concerned that the limited implementation of the report’s recommendations leaves underlying governance and accountability risks largely unaddressed. “All these years, the Commission has documented serious violations and identified the same underlying problem: impunity. Too often, those responsible for grave abuses have not been held accountable, while institutions responsible for justice remain weak and under-resourced. One year after our report on corruption, there has also been little meaningful implementation of its recommendations, and in some areas the situation has deteriorated further. When violations go unpunished and public resources are diverted without consequence, impunity becomes entrenched, and that breeds violence. South Sudan cannot break this cycle without credible accountability, functioning justice institutions and transparent management of the country's resources,” said Commissioner Carlos Castresana Fernández . The Commission stressed that the consequences of weak governance and corruption are felt directly by the population, particularly as humanitarian needs increase and international humanitarian funding becomes increasingly constrained. It urged the Government to strengthen public financial management, ensure transparency and independent oversight of public revenues and direct national resources towards essential public services. It further stressed that public resources must be managed in the public interest and that allegations of corruption and economic crimes require effective, independent and transparent investigation and, where warranted, prosecution. The Commission called on the Government and all political and armed actors to urgently support de-escalation and civilian protection, ensure safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, create conditions for inclusive political dialogue, advance implementation of the Revitalized Agreement and strengthen credible accountability. It also called on regional and international partners, particularly the African Union, IGAD and the United Nations, to intensify preventive diplomacy and support an inclusive, consensus-based transition. The Commission urges these actors to use their influence to prevent further escalation and to ensure that commitments already made are translated into concrete action. “South Sudan still has a choice. The people of this country have waited long enough for peace, security and institutions that serve them. The country can move towards elections in a way that deepens division and conflict, or it can use this moment to restore political dialogue, protect civilians and put in place the safeguards needed for a peaceful and credible transition. What is needed now is genuine dialogue and political will – not another cycle of promises,” said Sooka. The Commission’s message is clear: the window to prevent further deterioration is narrowing. South Sudan’s leaders and institutions have an opportunity and a responsibility to take concrete steps to protect civilians, restore political dialogue, strengthen accountability and safeguard the country’s transition. The Commission will incorporate information gathered during the mission, including from its field visit to Bor, into its ongoing investigations and reporting to the United Nations Human Rights Council in February 2027. ENDS Background: The Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan is an independent body mandated by the United Nations Human Rights Council. First established in March 2016, it has been renewed annually since. The commissioners were appointed by the President of the UN Human Rights Council; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work as Commissioners. They are supported by a Secretariat based in Juba, South Sudan. More information about the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan can be found here . Follow the Commission on X (formerly Twitter) here , on Facebook here , and on YouTube here . For media queries, please contact: In Juba: Rajeev PS, Public Information Officer/Media Adviser, rajeev.puthenpurackalsunilkumar@un.org / +211912174078; in Geneva: Todd Pitman, Media Adviser, todd.pitman@un.org / +41766911761

ReliefWebReliefWeb•UN Human Rights Council11 Sept

DR Congo: Ebola Outbreak, DRC and Region, Situation Report #13 (September 10, 2026)

Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: International Medical Corps Please refer to the attached file. FAST FACTS On May 15, the DRC declared an outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD), later confirmed to be caused by the Bundibugyo strain. As of September 8, 6,843 confirmed EVD cases and 3,310 confirmed EVD deaths had been reported in the DRC. Uganda, where the last confirmed case was released from treatment on July 16, has officially declared its outbreak to be over. Final numbers in Uganda were 20 confirmed cases and two confirmed deaths. In the DRC, the outbreak remains centered in Ituri province, but cases have also been confirmed in Bas-Uélé, Haut-Uélé, North Kivu, South Kivu and Tshopo provinces. This outbreak has been classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. No EVD cases have been confirmed in South Sudan, but risk of an outbreak remains high due to transient populations and porous borders with the DRC. OUR RESPONSE Across the region, our teams are providing case management, infection prevention and control (IPC), screening and triage, risk communication and community engagement (RCCE), training and preparedness planning. We are supporting more than 100 facilities in the screening, identification and treatment of EVD. Our supported sites in the DRC have so far conducted 626,380 EVD screenings and provided treatment to 1,911 patients, including 521 confirmed cases. We have so far trained 2,930 people in the DRC on EVD case management, response and transmission prevention. In the DRC, International Medical Corps continues to closely coordinate with the Ministry of Health and relevant partners to support case management, screening-and-referral units, facility-based surveillance, MHPSS, IPC, logistics, just-in-time training, continuity of essential health services, and water, sanitation and hygiene services. We also are part of broader efforts to expand contact tracing, which will strengthen mapping, daily monitoring and follow-up activities to better address the risk of undetected transmission across operational areas and beyond. In Uganda, International Medical Corps is working through a trusted partner to support Ebola preparedness and surveillance results across Bundibugyo, Kampala and Ntoroko districts. We have provided training on community-based disease surveillance to 369 people, and have screened 2,665 people at points of entry and 1,022 at bus stations. Our surveillance systems have supported daily monitoring of 1,399 contacts, received 254 alerts from village health teams, identified 94 alerts that met the Ebola case definition and collected 31 samples. Our RCCE interventions have directly reached 1,858 people, supported 18 community dialogue sessions with 1,368 participants and distributed 11,398 educational materials. International Medical Corps is continuing to support national EVD preparedness efforts across South Sudan and is actively participating in coordination and technical pillar meetings at both national and county levels. We regularly engage with the National Public Health Institute, the Ministry of Health, county health departments and EVD technical working groups—including key coordination platforms for case management, IPC, surveillance and RCCE—to strengthen coordination, technical capacity and overall readiness for timely detection and response to potential EVD cases.

ReliefWebReliefWeb•International Medical Corps10 Sept

Kenya: UNHCR Regional Bureau for Eastern and Southern Africa | Consolidated Regional Community Feedback Analysis Report: January - March 2026

Countries: Kenya, Burundi, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Please refer to the attached file. In the first quarter of 2026 (January to March), eight (8) country operations (Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda) from the Regional Bureau for Eastern and Southern Africa (RBESA) actively collected and analyzed community feedback to better understand the priorities, concerns and information needs of forcibly displaced and stateless populations. Community feedback continues to play a critical role in informing protection responses, programme adjustments and accountability efforts across the region. The report does not capture feedback from the former Southern Africa Bureau, as bilateral engagements on taxonomy alignment and data integration continued during this reporting period.

ReliefWebReliefWeb•UN High Commissioner for Refugees10 Sept

Overcoming war’s legacy: learning to walk again at a South Sudan clinic – in pictures

After decades of sporadic conflict in South Sudan, many civilians have been left with life-changing injuries from gunshots and landmines. The country also has high rates of disability resulting from disease and snake bites. Kieran Seager of the International Committee of the Red Cross followed patients and staff at a centre in the country’s capital, Juba, documenting the process of physical rehabilitation Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian28 Aug