‘Super El Niño’ deepens hunger crisis in South Sudan says UN

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Published: 2026-09-26T10:57:34.596Z • Permanent link

Fears of widespread famine are growing in South Sudan, where a severe drought exacerbated by Super El Niño has left millions of people without access to food. According to UN officials, the situation is becoming increasingly dire, with violence, extreme weather, and dwindling aid further exacerbating the crisis. The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that without urgent action, the number of people at risk of starvation could rise to 5 million by the end of the year.

Millions of people are already struggling to find enough to eat, with food prices soaring and access to markets becoming increasingly difficult. The situation is particularly dire in the states of Unity, Upper Nile, and Jonglei, where the lack of food is compounded by ongoing conflict and displacement. The UN's humanitarian chief, Martin Griffiths, has expressed alarm at the scale of the crisis, saying that "the situation is getting worse by the day".

International aid is pouring in, but it is not enough to meet the scale of the need. The US, EU, and other major donors have pledged billions of dollars in emergency funding, but much of this aid is being tied up in bureaucratic red tape and is not reaching those who need it most. The WFP has warned that without more effective coordination and delivery, the crisis could spiral out of control, with devastating consequences for the people of South Sudan.

Millions of people around the world are watching the crisis in South Sudan with growing concern, as it highlights the fragility of global food systems and the need for more effective international cooperation. Companies that supply food aid to South Sudan, such as Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland, are facing intense pressure to do more to help. Research communities are also calling for more data and analysis to be made available, in order to better understand the root causes of the crisis and to develop more effective solutions.

The crisis in South Sudan also has significant implications for global markets, particularly in the food and commodity sectors. Prices for staples such as maize and sorghum are soaring, and the situation could have a ripple effect throughout the global economy. Policymakers are also taking notice, with the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) calling for urgent action to address the crisis and prevent a global food crisis.

The crisis in South Sudan is part of a larger pattern of global instability, where climate change, conflict, and economic inequality are all converging to create new challenges for food security. In recent years, there have been several other major crises, including the drought in Ethiopia and the floods in Bangladesh, which have highlighted the need for more effective international cooperation and coordination.