South Sudan: Conflict in Jonglei State – Flash Update No. 7 as of 13 February 2026

Attachments

HIGHLIGHTS

• Dozens of conflict-related casualties reported in Akobo County: Humanitarian partners report dozens of patients wounded in recent fighting are being treated at Akobo Hospital. Their condition remains precarious due to unreliable access to emergency referrals and critical life-saving medical care.
• Mass displacement in Jonglei: Since late December 2025, renewed fighting and airstrikes in Jonglei State have displaced an estimated 280,000 people, according to the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), significantly increasing humanitarian needs across affected counties.
• Health facilities damaged and looted: Since the onset of hostilities, 12 health facilities have been looted or partially destroyed, four in Uror, four in Nyirol, three in Ayod and one in Duk, severely disrupting essential health services and further limiting access to care for vulnerable populations

SITUATION OVERVIEW

As of 13 February, the humanitarian situation in Jonglei State continues to deteriorate amid escalating clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the South Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-iO). The fighting is driving displacement and further constraining humanitarian access. Partners reported dozens of conflict-related injuries at Akobo Hospital in Akobo County, with patients at heightened risk due to limited emergency and life-saving care.

In a statement issued on 13 February, the members of the Security Council expressed grave concern at escalating violence in Jonglei and Eastern Equatoria, and throughout the country. They strongly called on all parties to de-escalate and immediately cease renewed hostilities and to resolve issues through peaceful dialogue. They stressed that this deterioration and continued violations of the peace agreement are undermining stability and worsening humanitarian needs.

UNICEF warned on 13 February that displaced children face grave protection risks, including killing and maiming, recruitment into armed groups, family separation, gender-based violence, and severe psychological distress.

In Uror County on 9 February, two suspected unexploded ordnance incidents were reported: an explosion in Dik Village injured two children, while another in Yuai killed a teenage boy and injured one other; all survivors were transported to Poktap Health Facility. On 8 February near Walgak Town, Akobo County, armed men allegedly detained seven women who had returned to collect belongings and subjected them to sexual violence at gunpoint. One survivor died from her injuries; the others fled into nearby bush areas.

Speaking at the Red Hand Day commemoration in Juba on 13 February, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General/Humanitarian Coordinator, Ms. Anita Kiki Gbeho, called for intensified efforts to prevent child recruitment and end grave violations against children. The Head of the Child Protection Unit within the SSPDF, Chapline Ashraf Khamis, underscored the need to address rising youth gang activity alongside armed group recruitment.

On 12 February, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) statement reported that civilians are increasingly bearing the brunt of renewed fighting across South Sudan since late 2025, describing it as the most significant escalation in nearly a year, particularly in Jonglei State.

On 13 February, the Humanitarian Coordinator met the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hon. Albino Akol Atak, to discuss access constraints in Jonglei State and a planned joint mission to Duk Poktap, Duk County. The Minister indicated that assurances had been obtained from security actors that humanitarian operations can resume across Jonglei State, reaffirming a shared commitment to scale up assistance in conflict-affected areas.

HUMANITARIAN IMPACT AND NEEDS

• Displacement: According to the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, more than 280,000 people are displaced across Uror, Nyirol, Akobo, Duk, Ayod, Canal/Pigi, Twic East and Bor South counties following escalating tensions and airstrikes in Jonglei State. Reported figures include 105,400 in Uror; 57,200 in Nyirol; 27,100 in Duk; 17,000 in Ayod; 11,800 in Akobo; 10,000 in Canal/Pigi; 8,000 in Twic East; and 4,300 in Bor South. Secondary displacement has been recorded to Upper Nile and Lakes states, including 29,500 people registered in Mingkaman (Awerial County, Lakes State) and approximately 12,000 arrivals in Ulang County, Upper Nile State, primarily from Nyirol. Host communities and basic services are under severe strain. IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) has verified 186,596 displaced people as of 4 February (Flash Update), with verification ongoing. The majority are women and children.
• Shelter and basic needs: Displaced families are sheltering in the open, under trees, or in makeshift structures, with limited access to food, health care and protection services. Most are relying on already overstretched host communities.
• Health – Cholera: Cholera cases are rising in conflict-affected counties. As of 12 February, cumulative cases since the outbreak started in September 2024 reached 98,195, including 1,619 deaths. In the past seven days, 100 new cases and two deaths were reported across six counties. The highest numbers were recorded in Duk (29), Mayendit (24) and Mayom (22) in Unity State; Ayod reported 13 cases and three deaths, and Yirol East (Lakes State) reported 11 cases.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE AND CHALLENGES

• Following an authorization by the Government for humanitarian partners to fly to Akobo on 2 February to deliver life-saving supplies. UNICEF contributed to the joint mission and delivered 2.5 metric tons of life-saving supplies including assorted medical items, anti-malarial drugs, an Interagency Emergency Health Kit, Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), ReSoMal, and F-100 therapeutic milk, followed by a second limited window on 5 February for additional therapeutic commodities. These deliveries represent a critical lifeline for conflict-affected communities, particularly acutely malnourished children, and underscore the urgent need for sustained, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access.
• In addition, UNICEF and partners have scaled up cholera response in affected counties through support to case management, infection prevention and control measures, hygiene promotion, and water treatment interventions. UNICEF planned to transport doses of Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV) to Duk County as part of the ongoing response in the coming days. In Bor South County, UNICEF supported nutrition centres are treating, screening and providing ready-to-use therapeutic food to children displaced by conflict.
• As of 13 February, MSF has established a 30-bed Cholera Treatment Centre (CTC) in Poktap in Duk County to enhance cholera case management capacity. WHO facilitated the state cholera taskforce meeting, where partners reviewed response updates, identified operational gaps and challenges, and agreed on coordinated actions to respond. In addition, WHO planned to deploy Rapid Response Team to Ayod County from 18 to 25 February to conduct rapid epidemiological investigation and to respond to the ongoing cholera outbreak.
• On 12 February, ICRC reported that among other life-saving activities, they have deployed a temporary surgical team to Panyijiar County in Unity State, to deliver emergency surgical care to critically wounded patients from Jonglei State. ICRC also continues to remotely support Akobo hospital with provision of life-saving surgical care to the wounded. Additionally, ICRC have delivered critical medicine and medical supplies to Akobo hospital, where wounded people have arrived in large numbers in recent weeks. Since the escalation of the conflict in Jonglei State in late December 2025, ICRC has conducted more than 600 surgeries on patients with weapon wounds arriving in Juba Military hospital in Central Equatoria State and Panyijiar Hospital in Unity State, while facilitating the transfer of some 110 wounded patients from remote locations.
• An inter-agency rapid assessment mission to assess situation of people impacted by conflict in Duk Padiet, Duk Canal and Poktap, Duk County is ongoing. The mission that commenced on 12 February with Padiet and Canal area assessed and completed. Today, 13 February, the team will do an assessment in Poktap and proceed to Twic East County for a similar assessment.
• Humanitarian partners remain concerned about worsening access constraints in Jonglei State, where escalating hostilities and large‑scale displacement are increasingly hindering efforts to reach people in need.
• Since the onset of the conflict, a total of 12 health facilities have been looted and/or had infrastructure destroyed (four in Uror, four in Nyirol, three in Ayod, and one in Duk), further disrupting the delivery of essential health services and limiting access to care for affected populations. The affected facilities include Riang Primary Health Care Centre, Yuai Primary Health Care Centre, Waat Primary Health Care Centre, Pajut Primary Health Care Centre, Jiech/Wau Primary Health Care Centre, Ayod Primary Health Care Centre, Pading Primary Health Care Unit, Pulturuk Primary Health Care Centre, Pieri Primary Health Care Unit, Motot Primary Health Care Unit, and Walgak Primary Health Care Unit. The destruction and closure of health and nutrition facilities are directly limiting women’s and children’s access to essential care. Service interruptions in Akobo, Uror, Lankien, Duk, and Ayod reduce options for safe delivery and reproductive health and delay treatment for acutely malnourished and sick children, increasing the risk of morbidity and mortality among the most vulnerable.
• In Duk, Ayod, Uror, Akobo, and Nyirol counties, a total of 16 humanitarian vehicles/assets were commandeered by the SPLA-iO group. These include 14 light vehicles, 1 tractor, and 1 quad bike. The affected organizations include Save the Children, Oxfam, NRC, MSF, Tearfund, and CRS. Engagement is ongoing for the unconditional release of vehicles.