South Sudan crisis

Fierce fighting in South Sudan has forced more than two million people from their homes. Please help us provide urgently needed food, water and sanitation now and prevent this crisis turning into a catastrophe.

If we do nothing, the number of people going hungry will rise. There is a real threat of famine, unless the world acts now.

- Oxfam Chief Executive, Mark Goldring

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"Oxfam is already supporting 600,000 people but there is much more that we need to do: food, water, shelter, protection."

The situation

Since conflict broke out in December 2013, more than 10,000 people have lost their lives. 1.5 million people forced from their homes are seeking safety in South Sudan, while the number of South Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries has risen to over 500,000.

In total, 4.9 million people need urgent humanitarian support now - including 200,000 children suffering severe acute malnutrition - and 7 million risk not having enough to eat in the months ahead unless international aid is dramatically and urgently increased. 

Many have had to leave behind their possessions, crops and livestock or sell their assets to escape and have no means to buy food, water and other essentials. Most people were not able to plant crops, so there will be no harvest in the coming months and no food stored to see them through next year.

Camps are becoming overcrowded and poor sanitation is increasing the risk of disease, with reported cases of cholera in the capital Juba increasing.

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Oxfam's response

Oxfam is currently supporting over 480,000 people with humanitarian assistance including clean water, hygiene facilities, food, fuel and income support. Oxfam has also helped over 100,000 South Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia and 145,000 in Uganda. Experienced Oxfam teams on the ground in South Sudan are:

  • Providing clean safe water by drilling boreholes and setting up water supply systems
  • Distributing food - we have already helped 125,000 people in Mingkaman and Jonglei
  • Improving sanitation for 180,000 people through latrine building, waste disposal and hygiene training.
  • This includes support to 23,000 people in Juba to prevent the spread of cholera.

You can help: Donate now 

Photo: Pablo Tosco

Oxfam distributes WFP food at Mingkaman where 58,000 people forced from their homes have arrived in search of food, water and safety from the violence.


"This crisis is at a tipping point. We either act now or millions will pay the price."
- Mark Goldring, Oxfam Chief Executive.

A cease fire agreed on 9 May has given hope for an end to fighting, but continued diplomatic efforts are needed to keep negotiations towards a peaceful solution on track.

Oxfam is calling for a massive surge in the aid effort to help millions of people at acute risk of hunger and disease and to avoid catastrophic levels of hunger and suffering. We're calling on governments to respond generously and without delay to the UN appeal which is currently only 40 per cent funded.



Further information

Voices of hope: displaced people share their personal stories (PDF, 1.48MB)

History of Oxfam in southern Sudan

Oxfam has been present in southern Sudan since 1983, providing humanitarian aid to people affected by conflict, drought and floods, as well as long-term development support to vulnerable communities. Over this time, we've helped more than 500,000 people and we are committed to sustained assistance during this current crisis.

Other ways to help