South Sudan is grappling with a growing cholera emergency, with health officials reporting more than 79,000 cases and over 1,400 deaths nationwide. In a joint statement on July 8, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Albino Akol Atak and UN Humanitarian Coordinator Anita Kiki Gbeho described the situation as a multisectoral crisis fueled by seasonal flooding, displacement, and poor access to basic services.

Government, UN Urge Unified National Response

Following an extraordinary inter-ministerial meeting on July 7, officials pledged a whole-of-government and UN-backed response. “This is not just a public health issue; it is a broader humanitarian emergency,” the communique noted, emphasizing urgent action before peak flooding worsens the outbreak.

Planned interventions include the rapid deployment of medical, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), and nutrition supplies in high-risk counties. Authorities will expand surveillance systems, scale up chlorinated water access, hygiene promotion, and latrine desludging, and strengthen logistics and funding tracking.

Preventive and reactive oral cholera vaccination (OCV) campaigns will also be intensified, alongside efforts to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access across affected and at-risk regions.

Eight Weeks To Contain A National Threat

The communique warned that the next two months are critical. With major flooding expected, delays in deploying aid and public health resources could lead to a catastrophic surge in cases. The government committed to mobilizing domestic and international funding and implementing community-level engagement campaigns.

“We must act urgently to protect lives and maintain essential services,” officials said. “This crisis tests our resilience—and our readiness to face future climate-driven health threats.”