UN relief chief Tom Fletcher warned Friday that South Sudan risks sliding into famine amid escalating conflict and hunger.
Addressing the UN Security Council virtually, he described a worsening crisis after a visit, where residents voiced despair and abandonment.
Fletcher said the world’s youngest nation stands at a dangerous crossroads, reflecting deepening instability and humanitarian strain with warnings mounting.
Conflict rises, displacement grows, hunger intensifies, disease spreads, attacks on aid workers increase, while funding sharply declines across country dramatically.
Two out of every three people in South Sudan require humanitarian assistance this year, Fletcher told the council members today.
Despite this, the $1.46 billion humanitarian response plan remains only 22% funded, limiting critical life-saving operations nationwide efforts across country.
He warned without urgent intervention conditions could deteriorate further, pushing the nation closer to catastrophic famine levels risk rising sharply.
Fletcher urged Security Council action ensuring humanitarian access, flexible funding, and pressure on parties to respect humanitarian law obligations fully.
He also called for renewed political efforts to uphold ceasefire agreements and implement South Sudan’s revitalized peace deal framework urgently.
Fletcher said humanitarian action can save lives, but only peace can end the crisis gripping South Sudan forever across nation.
