A new food security assessment has warned that South Sudan’s hunger situation is worsening, with millions of people expected to face acute food insecurity during the April to July lean season, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report released by the government and humanitarian partners on Tuesday.

Officials said the situation has worsened compared to late 2025, with about 73,000 people already in catastrophic conditions (IPC Phase 5), while millions more struggle to meet basic food needs.

“The latest IPC analysis indicates a worsening food security situation across the country,” said Lily Albino Akol, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, warning that the crisis is deepening as the lean season approaches.

The report also highlights a sharp rise in malnutrition, with 2.2 million children and 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women in need of urgent treatment.

For her part, the Acting UN Humanitarian Coordinator, Noala Skinner, described the findings as alarming, saying over 7.8 million South Sudanese are now food insecure due to multiple shocks overwhelming already vulnerable communities.

According to the report, the worst-affected areas include parts of Jonglei and Upper Nile states, where some counties face a risk of famine if assistance is not urgently delivered.