(JUBA) – Years of conflict, displacement, flooding and funding cuts have pushed South Sudan’s orphaned children into one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world. With an estimated one million children displaced, and at least 60% of them classified as orphans, thousands are facing hunger, illness,and emotional trauma without stable care or support.
Despite the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, which brought a ceasefire and a unity government, peace remains fragile. Sporadic violence and political tensions have undermined the agreement’s implementation, further deepening the suffering of the civilian population, particularly children.
In 2023, as violence surged again, refugee camps across the country became overcrowded and severely under-resourced. By the end of that year, two thirds of South Sudan’s population faced serious food insecurity.
Flooding in 2024 destroyed much of the country’s farmland, compounding hunger and displacing more families. In 2025, worsening instability has left orphaned children exposed to malnutrition, preventable diseases and violence.
According to Jennie Ellwanger from SOS Children’s Villages in South Sudan, “the humanitarian crisis has made children especially vulnerable to stunting, undernourishment and preventable illnesses.”
UNICEF and the Sudan Relief Fund have highlighted that children, especially orphans, are struggling with limited access to food, healthcare, education and shelter.
Many orphans arrive at aid centres alone and traumatised, some after walking for days with no food, clean water or medical attention. SOS Children’s Villages offers housing, education and healthcare for these vulnerable children. Other organisations such as the Sudan Relief Fund also support initiatives like the Congregation of Christian Brothers’ Star Support Group and the St. Bakhita Orphanage.
Support Provided by Key Organisations
| Organisation | Key Services | Location / Focus |
|---|---|---|
| SOS Children’s Villages | Shelter, health care, education, trauma support | Nationwide |
| Star Support Group (Christian Bros) | HIV/AIDS care, education, medicine, food | Supported by Sudan Relief Fund |
| St. Bakhita Orphanage | Shelter, food, education, healthcare, safety | Western Equatoria |
| Save the Children | Health, nutrition, reunification, emergency response | 14+ years in South Sudan |
| Helping Hands for South Sudan | Scholarships, supplies, boarding and education | School-based, rural-focused |
| Amani South Sudan | Food, water, agriculture and sanitation programmes for orphans and widows | Local, community-level projects |
At St. Bakhita Orphanage in Western Equatoria, children once abandoned on the streets now find shelter, food and education. Founded by Sister Bianca Bii, the orphanage had to relocate due to nearby violence. With support from the Sudan Relief Fund, new housing was constructed, providing a safe environment close to schools and health services.
However, this limited support is not enough for the scale of the crisis. Recent foreign aid reductions in 2025 have slashed food supplies, maternal health services, and emergency medical care.
According to Ellwanger, “cuts have reduced access to essential food aid and emergency medical support,” worsening an already dire situation.
UNICEF estimates that over 44,000 children suffering from severe wasting are in urgent need of nutrition treatment. In 2024 alone, more than 338,000 children were admitted for treatment out of 2 million screened, but these life-saving efforts are now threatened by funding gaps.
Orphaned and displaced children are now walking for hours in high temperatures to reach one of the few functioning clinics still operating in the country. Save the Children notes that orphans had access to 27 local clinics, but that number has since dropped significantly, adding further pressure to families and overstretched NGOs.
Despite the challenges, several organisations continue to provide essential support. Helping Hands for South Sudan, for instance, has helped over 1,000 children access schooling by providing scholarships, uniforms, books and accommodation.
Save the Children has been operating in South Sudan for more than 14 years and offers a wide range of services, from emergency care to long-term support including trauma counselling through the Healing and Education through the ARTS programme. The organisation is also piloting an app to assist in tracking and reuniting displaced children with family members.
Amani South Sudan, a local non profit, addresses the needs of orphans, widows and elderly people through food distributions, gardening projects and sanitation education. It remains one of the few grassroots organisations providing consistent services across affected regions.
While aid groups and orphanages continue their work despite funding shortages, the humanitarian situation for South Sudan’s orphans remains critical. Without increased support from both local authorities and international donors, the country’s most vulnerable children may continue to fall through the cracks.
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