Akobo: Renewed fighting in South Sudan’s Jonglei State has forced thousands of civilians to flee their homes, creating a deepening humanitarian crisis in and around the town of Akobo.
Clashes between government forces and armed opposition groups have intensified in recent months, with reports of air attacks, ground assaults and villages being burned. Families have fled into swamps and bush areas or walked long distances in search of safety, while many women and children have gathered in Akobo hoping to receive protection and relief assistance.
Humanitarian agencies estimate that hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced since the violence escalated late last year. Many of those fleeing arrived with nothing after homes were destroyed and livestock lost.
Survivors have described killings, injuries and family separations during the attacks. Aid workers also warn of growing reports of sexual violence and abuse, especially against women and girls displaced by the fighting.
Health services in the region have nearly collapsed. Several health facilities have been looted or destroyed, leaving communities without access to medical care. Aid groups say they are struggling to provide even basic treatment due to insecurity, damaged infrastructure and shortages of supplies.
Food and shelter are also in short supply. Displaced families are living in overcrowded conditions, often without clean water or proper sanitation, raising fears of disease outbreaks.
In separate incidents reported in Jonglei, civilians were allegedly lured from their homes with promises of food aid and then killed, highlighting the worsening insecurity and mistrust among communities.
The renewed violence is linked to ongoing political tensions between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and opposition elements aligned with Vice President Riek Machar. The unrest threatens to undermine the fragile peace agreement that ended South Sudan’s civil war in 2018.
The United Nations has expressed deep concern over the escalating conflict and warned that the crisis risks becoming one of the world’s most neglected humanitarian emergencies. Aid agencies are calling for urgent international support, saying needs are growing rapidly while funding and access remain limited.
With conflict, hunger and disease risks rising together, humanitarian workers fear conditions could worsen if fighting continues and assistance fails to reach those most in need.