Humanitarian disaster looms after SSPDF evacuation order in Akobo

BOR – The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) in South Sudan has raised alarm over the order issued by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) directing civilians and humanitarian organizations to evacuate Akobo County ahead of planned military operations.

In a statement released Monday in Juba, the humanitarian coordination body warned that the directive could expose hundreds of thousands of civilians to grave danger and potentially trigger a major humanitarian crisis in the remote Jonglei State.

According to the HCT, Akobo County currently hosts an estimated 270,000 people, including displaced families and residents who rely heavily on humanitarian assistance for survival. Aid officials say more than half of those affected are women and children.

“Any military action in or around such a densely populated area would expose civilians to grave danger and risk triggering a catastrophic humanitarian crisis,” the statement said.

The warning comes amid reports of growing instability in the area. Humanitarian officials say some residents have already begun fleeing across the border into neighboring Ethiopia, while incidents of looting have been reported in Akobo town, raising concerns that the security situation could deteriorate rapidly.

Akobo has become a critical refuge for civilians displaced by renewed violence that escalated across parts of Jonglei State in December 2025. In response, humanitarian agencies have significantly scaled up the delivery of life-saving assistance, including food aid, medical care, and emergency services for both displaced families and host communities.

Aid organizations fear that the SSPDF evacuation order could severely disrupt these operations at a time when thousands of vulnerable people depend on humanitarian support.

The HCT stressed that civilians must never be targeted or forcibly displaced and reminded all parties that any movement of people must be voluntary, safe, and carried out with dignity in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Humanitarian partners also called on authorities to uphold commitments made during the recent visit to South Sudan by Tom Fletcher, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. During his visit, Fletcher urged leaders and armed actors to prioritize the protection of civilians and ensure unhindered humanitarian access across the country.

The humanitarian body appealed to all parties involved in the conflict to avoid conducting military operations in populated areas and instead pursue dialogue to resolve their differences.

“Above all, the people of South Sudan need peace and protection,” the HCT said, warning that any escalation in Akobo could have devastating consequences for civilians already living in extremely fragile conditions.