The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has issued an urgent plea to political leaders in South Sudan to focus on peace, stability, and the well-being of millions in need of humanitarian aid as political tensions surge in the country.

In a statement released Friday evening from the capital, Juba, the UN agency warned that ongoing instability could further disrupt an already strained humanitarian response, jeopardizing the delivery of critical services to vulnerable populations.

The UNFPA highlighted that over two-thirds of South Sudan’s population—more than 9.3 million people—now rely on humanitarian assistance, while funding for essential services continues to dwindle. Among those in need are 2.4 million women of reproductive age, whose lives, health, and dignity are increasingly at risk.

The statement comes against a backdrop of rising political unrest following the house arrest of First Vice-President Riek Machar and the detention of several of his allies. The government has accused Machar—who signed a 2018 peace deal with President Salva Kiir to end a brutal five-year civil war—of plotting a rebellion. Machar’s supporters have firmly denied these allegations, further deepening the political divide.

The UNFPA expressed alarm over the worsening humanitarian crisis, noting that escalating tensions are amplifying risks such as gender-based violence, including sexual violence and forced early marriages, as well as conflict-related sexual violence. The agency also pointed to disruptions in vital sexual and reproductive health services, alongside widespread food insecurity and mass displacement, as communities struggle with limited or no access to basic healthcare.

“South Sudan is at a critical juncture,” the UNFPA warned, emphasizing that the current instability threatens to unravel fragile gains made since the 2018 peace agreement. The agency called on all parties to ensure unhindered humanitarian access, enabling aid organizations to reach those in desperate need.

The UNFPA also urged the international community to bolster its support for South Sudan, stressing the need for increased resources to address the growing crisis. “The time to act is now,” the statement concluded, underscoring the urgency of protecting the country’s most vulnerable populations amid a rapidly deteriorating situation. (ILKHA)