-
Current Requirements (US$)$713.6 million
Crisis overview
The crisis in South Sudan continues to drive widespread forced displacement across the continent. As of 2024, approximately 2 million people remain internally displaced and 2.3 million South Sudanese refugees live in neighbouring countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda.
South Sudan’s elections, originally scheduled for December 2024, have been postponed by two years. This delay, coupled with ongoing political tensions and the lingering effects of the civil war—such as inadequate infrastructure, poor services, and a fragile legal system—suggest high displacement levels will continue into 2025. Currently, four in ten South Sudanese people are internally displaced, and three in four require humanitarian aid. Between 2023 and 2024, the humanitarian situation deteriorated, partly due to the crisis in Sudan, which has forced over 600,000 South Sudanese refugees to return in adverse circumstances. This influx has further strained the humanitarian response, worsening food insecurity, malnutrition, and health issues. The conflict in Sudan has also disrupted cross-border trade, halted oil production and blocked humanitarian corridors, driving up food and commodity prices and crippling the economy. Additionally, the fifth consecutive year of flooding in 2024 has further heightened food insecurity and hampered aid efforts.
In the DRC, the situation for South Sudanese refugees remained stable, but without opportunities for improved protection or self-reliance. In Ethiopia, partners in the Gambella and Benishangul-Gumuz regions focused on strengthening education, water, sanitation and health services under government leadership. Kenya’s Shirika Plan helped refugees in the Kakuma and Kalobyei settlements better integrate into national systems, improving access to healthcare and education—a priority that will continue into 2025. Uganda’s progressive refugee policies, which allow access to land and basic services, will also continue, strengthening access to national systems and enhancing self-reliance.
In Sudan, conflict since April 2023 has worsened conditions in White Nile State, where large populations of refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) from Khartoum, Al Jazira, and Sennar States have arrived. Services in refugee camps are under immense pressure, and expanding services will be a priority for 2025.
Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo
South Sudanese asylum-seekers being registered, marking the first step toward protection and assistance.
UNHCR/Nick BiataFood assistance remained limited across the region, with rations reduced to as low as 60 per cent in 2024 (except in Sudan). Strengthening food security and promoting self-reliance will be the focus in 2025. With over 60 per cent of South Sudanese refugees being children and youth under the age of 25, expanding access to quality education in national systems will also remain critical.
UNHCR estimates that 242,000 South Sudanese refugees, primarily from Ethiopia and Uganda, will need resettlement in 2025. Additional and complementary pathways to third countries will play a vital role in sharing international responsibility for refugee protection and reuniting families. While labour mobility and higher education opportunities in third countries remain limited, expanding these pathways for qualified and eligible South Sudanese refugees will promote self-reliance and dignity. UNHCR also aims to increase the proportion of South Sudanese refugees prioritized for resettlement to address protection needs.
Together with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the East African Community, partners are working to integrate refugees into national systems and explore regional solutions, including local solutions for protracted displacement.
A lack of adequate funding remained the largest impediment to the response through 2024. In addition, the conflict in Sudan, a country closely linked to South Sudan politically, culturally and economically, has deeply impacted assistance efforts for South Sudanese refugees and has broader implications for regional cooperation and security. The displacement of South Sudanese across the region is likely to remain protracted, leading to extended humanitarian needs in 2025.
Uganda
Daniel, 36, and his wife Grace, South Sudanese refugees, are thriving entrepreneurs in the BidiBidi refugee settlement. Through the IRC’s Economic and Social Empowerment (EASE) programme, they run a grocery shop and a solar-powered electronics charging business. Daniel is also pursuing a bachelor’s degree at university.
IRC/D. SemwogerereResponse priorities in 2025
For 2025, South Sudan Regional RRP partners are seeking $1.35 billion to protect and assist close to 4.3 million refugees and host community members. The strategic objectives of the 2024 South Sudan RRP are extended to 2025, and add food security to meet the needs of refugees and their host communities:
- Maintain asylum space and enhance protection and the realization of refugee and asylum-seeker rights.
- Provide quality, efficient and timely protection and lifesaving multi-sectoral assistance to refugees, asylum-seekers and host communities, including prevention and response to GBV and protection against sexual exploitation and abuse, child protection, birth registration, and enhancing accountability to affected people.
- Promote inclusion of refugees and asylum-seekers into national systems including for child protection, legal and physical protection, social protection, education, health, and livelihoods and resilience through strategic engagement with governments, the private sector, regional bodies and development actors.
- Enhance sustainable and durable solutions for refugees and asylum-seekers including opportunities for resettlement and complementary pathways for admission to third countries.
- Advocate for measures allowing refugees to exercise greater self-reliance and resilience, including food security, economic mobility, and more international support to the South Sudan situation, leveraging pledges made at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum.
In 2025, refugee-hosting countries will prioritize strengthening support for South Sudanese refugees and expanding their integration into national systems to promote self-reliance, by leveraging national, regional and global frameworks. Coordinated efforts among host countries, humanitarian organizations, development partners and the private sector will be essential to address refugees’ immediate needs and build lasting solutions.
The plan also emphasizes protection from sexual exploitation and abuse and accountability to affected people, and promotes age, gender equality and diversity inclusion. Localization will be a core component of the South Sudan RRP, prioritizing collaboration with national NGOs, local authorities, and local communities, including refugees. Partners are committed to mitigating climate shocks across the response.
Lodwar, Kenya
South Sudanese refugee and host community students embark on their journey to the Kenya Medical Training Center, where they will begin their nursing qualifications.
UNHCR/Charity Nzomo2024 in review: Response highlights and consequences of inaction
Response highlights
Ethiopia | Protection
1,717 South Sudanese received identification documents containing Fayda ID numbers and QR codes. The Fayda ID number enables refugees to access digital based services, such as education, health care, social and banking services. It also facilitates acquisition of business licenses, freedom of movement and financial inclusion.
30 Sep 2024Ethiopia | Gender-based violence
All survivors reporting GBV received psychosocial and health support. 26,785 women and girls and 18,374 men and boys were engaged in GBV mass information sessions including Engaging Men and Boys in Accountable Practices (EMAP training) and individualized protection responses.
30 Sep 2024Ethiopia | Health and nutrition
198,150 medical consultations were provided, including 2 per cent for host community members, and 943 individuals received mental health services. Nutrition programmes reached 12,386 undernourished children (6-59 months) with acute malnutrition treatment services.
30 Sep 2024Ethiopia | Livelihoods
4,806 refugees received livelihood agricultural support which facilitated the increase of their agricultural income. An additional 1,489 refugees were supported to engage in different business schemes to enhance self-reliance.
30 Sep 2024Ethiopia | Water, sanitation and hygiene
2,387 household latrines were constructed with community participation.
30 Sep 2024DRC | Livelihoods and economic inclusion
406 households, representing 1,971 people, received livelihood assistance, comprising seeds, farming tools, technical support, training, and semi-mechanization.
Jan - Nov 2024DRC | Environment
As part of environmental protection efforts, 26,102 seedlings of Acacia mangium were planted on over 130 hectares of land in the three refugee communities of Meri, Biringi, and Bele.
Jan - Nov 2024DRC | Education
33,879 school-age children including 19,321 girls and 1,374 boys received school kits and tuition support.
Jan - Nov 2024DRC | Cash-based interventions
A total of 33,879 refugees (19,321 females and 1,374 males) received cash-based interventions.
Jan - Nov 2024DRC | Gender-based violence
Psychological support was provided to 92 per cent of the survivors, 19 per cent received medical assistance, and 5 per cent of the survivors were referred to the justice system.
Jan - Nov 2024DRC | Health
29,604 refugees received medical assistance, including child vaccination, delivery care, secondary and tertiary care.
Jan - Nov 2024Sudan | Water, sanitation and hygiene
Partners provided clean water to 418,463 South Sudanese refugees and asylum-seekers in White Nile, Blue Nile, Kordofans, and Kassala. On average, 12 litres of water per person per day were supplied.
Jan - Nov 2024Sudan | Education
In White Nile, over 35,000 refugee children, or 22 per cent of the school-age population (ages 6-17 years old), were enrolled in schools. The White Nile State Ministry of Education administered Grade 6 exams to over 1,600 South Sudanese refugee children, enabling them to transition to intermediate education when schools reopen.
Jan - 30 SepUganda | Health and nutrition
95 per cent of health facilities approved by the National authorities.
Outpatient facilities provided 695,557 consultations with each clinician averaging 44 consultations per day.
Uganda | Protection
All South Sudanese refugees in Uganda were registered and issued documentation.
Sep 2024Uganda | Child Protection
46,899 children participated in recreational activities and psychosocial interventions in child-friendly spaces. Of these, 4,887 unaccompanied or separated children were placed in kinship and foster care arrangements. An additional 14,204 adolescents received skills development support.
Consequences of inaction
Ethiopia | Child protection
While 16,693 children (9,145 boys and 7,548 girls) with specific needs benefited from case management, due to funding shortages, the child-to-case worker ratio was 243:1 below the standard of 25:1, compromising the identification and care of children-at-risk.
Ethiopia | Gender-based violence
In the Benishangul Gumuz region, 80 per cent of the GBV incentive workers (27 individuals) resigned due to low wages. New teams had to be recruited and retrained.
Ethiopia | Education
Three secondary schools in Gambella were closed from December 2023 to March 2024, impacting 6,377 children, when RRP partners could not meet the cost of teacher salaries and scholastic materials.
Ethiopia | Health and nutrition
Only critical emergency patients were referred from refugee camps to secondary and tertiary health facilities. Other patients, unable to access tertiary care, struggled with health issues. In the Gambella and Benishangul Gumuz camps, only critical emergency patients were referred to secondary and tertiary health facilities. Other patients, unable to access tertiary care, struggled with health issues. Nearly 58,817 refugee children between 24 and 59 months old were not able to receive super cereal porridge.
Ethiopia | Shelter
85 per cent of households in the camps in the Benishangul Gumuz region and 43 per cent in the Gambella region lack proper housing.
Ethiopia | Water, sanitation and hygiene
Refugees in Gambella and Benishangul Gumuz received an average of 13.6 litres of water per person per day in camps, below the 20-litre standard, and only 1 per cent of refugee households received adequate soap for hygiene, against a 70 per cent minimum standard. Only 33 per cent of households had access to household latrines, far below the target of 85 per cent for protracted situations, increasing hygiene and disease risks.
Kenya | Health and nutrition
Clinicians in refugee-attended health facilities handled 75-90 consultations daily, exceeding the WHO standard of 50 consultations per clinician per day.
Kenya | Education
In Kakuma, El Nino rains and flash floods damaged 17 schools, including 12 classrooms including sanitation facilities which disrupted learning for 29,244 students.
Kenya | Water, sanitation and hygiene
In Kakuma, only 68.5 per cent of the refugee population had household latrines, and refugees received an average of 15.4 litres per person per day, increasing the risk of water-borne diseases. The shortage of water impacted over 8,869 people engaged in agriculture.
Kenya | Child Protection
1488 unaccompanied or separated refugee children in the reception centres were reunified with their families in the community.
Jan - Jun 2024Kenya | Education
To support the El Nino-affected refugees, 37,000 school learners received scholastic material. 64 families made up of 335 individuals were provided complete transitional shelters or materials.
Jan - Jun 2024