Humanitarian worker distributing relief items (

Estimated 9.3 million people are expected to face humanitarian crisis in 2025, a figure slightly higher than the 9 million people projected for this year, the UN humanitarian coordinator for South Sudan has warned.

Speaking at the launch of South Sudan humanitarian needs and response plan for 2025, Monday,  Ms. Anita Kiki Gbeho lauded humanitarian organizations for relentless efforts to support the needy population.

She said 4.2 million people have been reached with humanitarian intervention in 2024, through food distribution, shelter and camp management among others.

“The 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan was about 64% funded. As a result, we were able to reach 4.2 million women, men, boys and girls with different forms of critical assistance, including food, nutrition, health, water and sanitation, camp coordination, camp management, education, shelter, non-food items and protection services,”she said.

According to Anita, unlike the estimated 9 million people targeted this year, there is possibility that the number of people who might not escape humanitarian catastrophe in 2025 might reach 9.3 million.

The coordinator revealed that humanitarian funding will target 5.4 million of the population at risk of crisis next year.

“According to the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, 9.3 million people, 70% of the population, will require some form of humanitarian assistance in 2025.

“Of these, the humanitarian community will target 5.4 million with an appeal for 1.7 billion dollars”, she added.

For his part, the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management attributed the successful humanitarian response this year to high collaboration and coordination.

Albino Akol Atak called for continuous strengthening of collaboration to achieve the targeted 5.4 million people in the 2025 humanitarian needs and response.

“We managed to respond to the needs of people in this year, 2024, simply because there was high collaboration and coordination. So the same thing next year, if we want to respond to this target number 5.4 million people. We need to strengthen and to increase that collaboration.

He assures partners and humanitarian organizations of his government’s continues cooperation to support vulnerable population across the country.

“The government expressed its sincere appreciation for solidarity and support provided by humanitarian donors and partners over the past years and looks forward to continuing cooperation to respond to the most active needs of vulnerable people in South Sudan.”

Government representatives, partners, national NGOs and International NGOs were part of the launch of 2025 Humanitarian needs and response plan.