Surge in South Sudanese Refugees
Since February 2025, an estimated 190,000 South Sudanese have crossed borders into Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, joining the 2.4 million already displaced in previous years (UNHCR October 2025).
Sudan alone has seen 75,000 new arrivals, while 45,000 headed to the DRC, 39,000 to Ethiopia and 30,000 to Uganda, putting fresh strain on reception sites and local services already stretched by earlier movements.
Return Movements to Sudan
Complex dynamics persist; more than 132,000 Sudanese who had fled earlier conflict have now gone back from South Sudan to their homeland, often to insecure areas lacking basic infrastructure (UNHCR October 2025).
Obstacles Facing Humanitarians
Conflict-related insecurity, remote terrain and flooded roads continue to hamper agencies trying to reach uprooted families across South Sudan and neighboring states.
Relief convoys often wait days for clearances, raising concerns over the timely delivery of food, shelter and health support during a critical lean season.
Floods Deepen Vulnerability
Heavy rains have submerged wide swathes of Jonglei and Unity, affecting roughly 1,024,500 people in 29 counties by 31 October, with those two states accounting for almost 87 percent of the impacted population.
Swollen rivers have cut off villages, forcing families onto precarious dykes and raising the specter of waterborne disease outbreaks as clean water sources shrink.
Regional and International Response
Humanitarian partners are airlifting high-energy biscuits, temporary shelters and water-purification tablets, yet funding gaps limit scale.
Governments in the Horn and Great Lakes continue to keep borders open, a stance commended by UNHCR officials, who call for sustained solidarity and predictable financing to avert deeper instability.
Outlook
With rains expected to ease only in late 2025, planners emphasize anticipatory action—pre-positioning supplies, bolstering drainage and reinforcing early-warning systems—to reduce future shocks for displaced and host communities.