CARE staff providing relief assistance. (Photo: CARE).

JUBA, (Eye Radio) – Escalating tensions in South Sudan threaten to erode the country’s progress towards stability and worsen the dire humanitarian crises, including severe hunger facing millions and the raging cholera outbreak, a humanitarian organization said.

CARE International noted that South Sudan is in the grips of a continuing cholera crisis while starvation threatens millions of lives, in a press release on Wednesday.

The relief organization said the escalation in conflict would have a particularly severe impact on South Sudanese women and girls who are already bearing the brunt of much of the suffering.

“The escalating tensions are worsening conditions for already vulnerable communities and threaten to set back progress for women and girls in the country,” said Abel Whande, CARE South Sudan’s Country Director.

“Gains achieved since the 2018 peace deal risk being eroded, leaving women and girls more vulnerable to violence, displacement, and loss of livelihoods. All parties must prioritize women’s protection and meaningful inclusion in their efforts to restore peace and stability.”

The organization said recent clashes have displaced around 100,000 people in Upper Nile state, forcing many to seek refuge in neighboring Ethiopia’s Gambella region.

At the same time, it said the situation would get worst for more than one million refugees and returnees from Sudan in need of urgent shelter and lifesaving support.

CARE noted that humanitarian organizations face mounting challenges in delivering aid, as insecurity hampers access to affected areas.

The aid organization appealed to the international community to urgently support efforts to ensure safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian workers to provide life-saving assistance.​

On the cholera outbreak, CARE reported 40,000 confirmed cases in South Sudan with 799 deaths across 40 counties in nine states.

“At already overcrowded health centers patients are forced to receive treatment under trees in the open. The lack of safe drinking water, sanitation, and oral cholera vaccines is fueling the outbreak,” it said.

“This crisis disproportionately impacts women and girls, who, not only take care of sick family members but are already forced to travel long distances for water. With escalating tensions, they face increased exposure to violence including sexual violence from combatants during their search for clean drinking water.”

– Hunger situation –

CARE said South Sudan is facing a worsening hunger situation, citing the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification.

The IPC forecast worsening food shortages  between April and July of 2025 with about 7.7 million people in South Sudan to struggle to get enough food. Out of these, over 2.5 million will be severely hungry and 63,000 could starve.

CARE said while South Sudan struggles to address these multiple humanitarian crises, it is also experiencing a severe funding shortfall, with only 10.5% of the humanitarian response plan currently funded.

“We urgently implore all parties involved to find more amicable ways to address their issues, adhering strictly to international humanitarian law,” Abel Whande said.

“We urge the protection of civilians who are most affected by the violence. Humanitarian workers must have safe, unhindered access to those in need, and critical infrastructure like hospitals, schools, and water systems must be safeguarded. Failure to do so will deepen suffering and disrupt life-saving aid.”

The humanitarian response plan requires immediate funding to prevent further deterioration, especially given the critical need to address the spread of cholera and to safeguard the rights and well-being of South Sudan’s women and girls, it said.