South Sudan – More than two million children are at risk of malnutrition and UNICEF calls for urgent action

Catherine Russell’s visit highlighted the growing needs of South Sudanese children. More than 2.1 million children under the age of five are at risk of malnutrition, and 9.3 million children – three-quarters of the population – require life-saving humanitarian support. In addition, nearly 1.3 million refugees and returnees fleeing the war in Sudan have arrived in South Sudan, increasing pressure on limited water, food and medical services.

Russell visited the city of Bentiu to speak to communities displaced by violence and floods, where she said the impact of conflict and climate shocks was creating “a perfect storm of suffering for children in South Sudan, in an already precarious context.”

Girls are forced into early marriage

According to UNICEF, nearly half of girls in South Sudan are forced into early marriage, and 65% of girls and women – between the ages of 15 and 64 – have experienced violence. Russell visited a center that provides a safe space for women and girls.

“I spoke with girls and women who had experienced horrific violence,” Russell said of that visit. “Two of them told me that they had contemplated suicide before coming to the UNICEF-supported centre. They told me that having a safe space to receive counseling and peer support was a lifeline.”

Reduce funding

Funding cuts have led to the closure of more than a third of UNICEF-supported safe spaces for women and children this year. Russell also spoke with mothers whose children suffer from severe malnutrition. Two in five children are at risk of acute malnutrition across the country, especially in areas affected by floods, conflict and violence. Insecurity has caused a 25% increase in humanitarian access restrictions this year, leaving communities without much-needed supplies.

Russell said: “I was in the country’s only children’s hospital in Juba, and I saw infants and young children suffering from malnutrition and completely preventable diseases. It is heartbreaking. We know how to save these children, and I saw the heroic efforts of health workers in the hospital and in the community. With sustained focus and investment from the government and the international community, we can save more lives.”

Millions outside school walls

2.8 million school-age children are still out of school, one of the highest rates globally. More than half of schools lack safe classrooms, trained teachers, and water and sanitation facilities. Girls are disproportionately affected, often forced to drop out of school due to child marriage, insecurity and the absence of safe learning environments.

UNICEF emphasized that investing in education is a moral duty and is the strongest foundation for peace. Education, according to the organization, breaks the cycle of poverty, reduces violence, and builds long-term stability. UNICEF stressed the need to prioritize public investment in education, not only to protect children today, but also to prepare the next generation to rebuild South Sudan’s future.

“Donors have been generous over the years and have made a huge difference for children and families,” Russell said. “Now is the time not only to achieve lasting peace, but also for the government to increase domestic investment in basic services for South Sudan’s greatest asset: its children.”