UNICEF Chief Urges Action to Protect South Sudan’s Children Amid Rising Crises

During her visit to Bentiu—one of the regions worst affected by climate-related flooding and violence—Russell met families who had lost their homes, livelihoods and loved ones.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell has concluded a high-level visit to South Sudan with an urgent call for the Government and international partners to intensify efforts to safeguard children facing unprecedented threats. She warned that escalating conflict, climate shocks, deepening poverty, and mass displacement are pushing the world’s youngest nation into a child-rights emergency.

Russell’s mission highlighted the scale of suffering endured by South Sudan’s most vulnerable. More than 2.1 million children under five are at risk of malnutrition, while 9.3 million people—three-quarters of the country’s population—depend on humanitarian assistance for survival. The ongoing conflict in Sudan has triggered a massive influx of refugees and returnees, with nearly 1.3 million people arriving in South Sudan, intensifying pressure on already fragile water systems, food supplies and health services.

Human Impact of Conflict and Climate Shocks

During her visit to Bentiu—one of the regions worst affected by climate-related flooding and violence—Russell met families who had lost their homes, livelihoods and loved ones. She recounted the story of a mother who fled rising floodwaters with her children, carrying nothing but a necklace belonging to her late father. Her severely malnourished five-year-old son now wears the necklace as a reminder of the life they left behind.

“These stories reflect a perfect storm of suffering,” Russell said. “Children in South Sudan are caught between conflict and climate shocks in a situation that was already precarious.”

South Sudan’s women and girls face particularly grave risks. Nearly half of girls are married before 18, and 65 per cent of women and girls between 15 and 64 have experienced some form of violence. Russell visited a UNICEF-supported safe space where survivors receive counselling, protection, and peer support. Many centres like this are now under threat, with more than one-third closing this year due to funding cuts.

“I spoke with girls and women who had endured horrific violence,” Russell said. “Two shared that they had contemplated suicide before coming to this centre. Access to a safe space saved their lives.”

Health System Under Strain

Across the country, two in five children face the risk of acute malnutrition, particularly in communities affected by conflict and recurrent flooding. Humanitarian access has become increasingly difficult, with insecurity driving a 25 per cent rise in access constraints, leaving families without essential supplies.

At South Sudan’s only paediatric hospital in Juba, Russell saw first-hand the heartbreaking reality: infants suffering from preventable diseases and severe malnutrition. She praised the commitment of frontline health workers who continue to save lives despite shortages of equipment, medicine, and funding.

“We know how to treat malnutrition and prevent these diseases,” she emphasised. “With sustained government investment and international support, so many more children can be saved.”

Education in Crisis

South Sudan faces one of the world’s gravest education emergencies. Approximately 2.8 million school-aged children are not in school, while more than half of all learning facilities lack safe classrooms, trained teachers, and basic water and sanitation infrastructure. Girls are disproportionately pushed out of school due to child marriage, insecurity, and the absence of safe and supportive learning spaces.

UNICEF stressed that investing in education is not only a humanitarian necessity but also a long-term peacebuilding strategy. Education reduces vulnerability, interrupts cycles of violence, and lays the foundation for social and economic recovery.

Call for Peace and Sustainable Investment

Russell acknowledged the generosity of international donors who have supported South Sudan for years, but warned that rising needs require renewed commitments.

“Now is the time for lasting peace and increased domestic investment in essential services,” she said. “South Sudan’s children are its greatest asset. Investing in their health, safety, and education is a moral imperative—and the key to rebuilding the nation’s future.”