.jpg-ch1703684.jpg/jm67623ibi3xetc33u6788q5ak10007d.jpg?g=0.5x0.33&w=950&h=600&format=webp&itok=8f6INoBd "CH1703684_Jok’s lessons take place under a tree in a town in Akobo West, South Sudan. (1).jpg")
JUBA, 20th, January 2026 – Thousands of families affected by conflict and severe flooding in South Sudan will receive lifesaving cash, health and nutrition support in the next four months as European Union injects more funds to South Sudan, Save the Children said.
The more than €3.3 million new contribution from the European Union’s Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) is set to benefit more than 68,000 people with cash assistance to buy food for their children and families. This includes over 8,925 households who will receive three rounds of cash assistance in Abyei, Fangak and the newly added location of Panyijiar.
The programme will prioritise women and girls who make up at least 58% of beneficiaries, while 15% will be people with disabilities and one in ten households supported is facing acute protection risks.
The humanitarian support comes as humanitarian needs soar, with more than 10 million people – nearly two thirds of the population – projected to need assistance in 2026 as conflict, climate shocks, economic decline, disease outbreaks and the spillover from the crisis in Sudan combine to push more people into misery.
Since April 2023, more than 900,000 people have returned from Sudan, placing intense pressure on already fragile communities. In Abyei, insecurity, cholera outbreaks and a Global Acute Malnutrition rate of 28.1% is pitting the lives of children at risk (insert source of this info). Meanwhile, severe floods in Fangak and Panyijiar in 2025 displaced tens of thousands and destroyed homes and farmland, with families still reeling from the impact and in need of aid.
The new funding includes €2.5 million for Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA), alongside €131,578.95 from consortium partners, extending cash support programmes through April 2026 across Abyei Administrative Area, Jonglei, Unity and Northern Bahr el Ghazal.
An additional €800,000 will prevent critical gaps in health and nutrition services, increasing the number of people reached from 77,979 to 131,095.
Save the Children said the programme will now support 11 static health facilities and 10 mobile outreach sites operated by four mobile teams.
Chris Nyamandi, Save the Children Country Director in South Sudan, said: "When conflict and floods strip families of everything, cash gives parents the power to protect their children. It means food on the table, medicine when a child falls sick, and dignity in moments of crisis. In places where markets still function but families have lost their income, cash is often the fastest and safest way to help children survive and recover.”
Clement Nkubizi Papy, Action Against Hunger (ACF), Country Director in South Sudan said:
“This timely support from the European Union comes at a critical moment for families in South Sudan affected by conflict, floods, and disease, as well as the growing influx of Sudanese returnees and refugees who are placing additional pressure on already fragile host communities. It is a lifeline that will help the vulnerable people, restore dignity through cash assistance, and sustain essential health and nutrition services for the most vulnerable. The consortium approach provides a strong umbrella for coordination and synergy, offering real promise to deliver impact at scale.”
Richard Orengo, International Rescue Commission (IRC) Country Director Said: “This support from the European Union comes at a decisive moment for communities in South Sudan who have endured overlapping shocks—from conflict to relentless flooding. Through this joint effort, we can ensure that families facing the greatest risks receive not only immediate assistance, but the dignity of choice through cash support and access to lifesaving services. The IRC is committed to standing with these communities as they rebuild, recover, and chart a more stable future for their children.”
Save the Children has worked in South Sudan since 1991, providing children with access to education, healthcare and nutrition, and supporting families with food security and livelihoods assistance.
Action Against Hunger has been operating in South Sudan since 1985, delivering lifesaving humanitarian assistance, resilience-building initiatives, and long-term development programmes to combat malnutrition and hunger across the country.
The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic well-being, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC works in more than 40 countries and 28 U.S. cities, helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future, and strengthen their communities.
ENDS
************************************************************************************************
For further enquiries please contact:
Save the Children South Sudan:
Sophie Chambers, Strategic Partnership and Influence Director - Juba, South Sudan
Sophie.Chambers@savethechildren.org +447814359181
Ezibon Saadalla Khamis, Media and Communication Manager – Juba, South Sudan
Ezibon.saadalla@savethechildren.org +211 927272929 (Whatsapp and calls)
