South Sudan

Violent conflict, intercommunal violence, forced displacement and food insecurity have created a situation of severe humanitarian need in South Sudan.

Two aid workers kidnapped in Central Equatoria state
30 July 2024: Along the Yei-Maridi Road, Central Equatoria state, two aid workers were kidnapped by armed men while transporting medical supplies. Source: AWSD. Return to South Sudan home page. more
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Health Care

2023 Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC) Factsheet

Based on Insecurity Insight data, the SHCC identified 12 incidents of violence against or obstruction of health care in South Sudan in 2023, compared to 32 in 2022. In these incidents, at least six health workers were killed and five others arrested. The actual number of incidents and the severity of the problem are likely much greater because of probable under-reporting. Violence and threats towards health workers was the predominant form of violence against health care in 2023 in South Sudan where there is a widespread shortage of trained, skilled health workers. The factsheet is available in English.

The data is available to download and can be explored visually using our interactive Attacked and Threatened: Health Care at Risk map.

Sexual Violence

A wide variety of armed groups have been accused of committing abuses against civilians in South Sudan, including sexual violence, which is frequently used as a tactic to displace and terrorise rival communities. Insecurity Insight documents such violence. Our data is accessible on the Humanitarian Data Exchange here.

Insecurity Insight’s latest report on sexual violence in South Sudan analyses 40 reported incidents of conflict-related sexual violence between January 2020 and August 2021. It revealed that women and girls were often attacked by members of state forces during clashes with armed groups and counter-insurgency operations, highlighting the extent to which sexual violence may form part of a strategy to fight insurgents by attacking their families or to strengthen group cohesion among perpetrators. The full report is accessible here.