South Sudan: Fact-finding assessment on hunger in Lafon County, Eastern Equatoria State - July 2026

Country: South Sudan Source: South Sudan NGO Forum Please refer to the attached file. OVERVIEW OF HUNGER SITUATION IN LAFON COUNTY CAUSED BY PROLONGED DRY SPELL Lafon County is one of the Eight (8) counties found in Eastern Equatoria State located in the North-Western corner of Eastern Equatoria State. Lafon County consists of Six (6) payams of Pacidi, Burgilo, Kurumi, Marguna and the newly established Payams of (Upou and Lipul). According to the county commissioner, the County is hosting an estimated population of 141,000 people as he was referring to 2008 population Census. On the 2nd of July 2026, Eastern Equatoria State Relief and Rehabilitation Commission announced during Inter Cluster Working Group (ICWG) meetings to partners about the prevailing hunger crisis in Lafon County which was later followed by the official letter from RRC coordinator in Lafon County stating that up to Five (5) people have died as a result of hunger. This inspired the State Relief and Rehabilitation Commission to convened an emergency meeting with the Humanitarian partners at the state level which resulted to an urgent fact-finding assessment in the County. On 22nd July 2026, a group of Humanitarian partners in collaboration with the state and Lafon County government commenced the fact-finding assessment in Opuo Boma of Pacidi Payam which later extended to Burgilo payam of Lafon County on 24th July 2026. KEY HIGHLIGHTS • Confirmed death cases related to the prevailing hunger situation. • High population movement especially women in search of food items to the neighboring counties. • High protection related concerns especially along Lafon – Juba via Mugiri route that relates to GBV and Child abduction). • High consumption rate for wild food among the community • Limited medical supplies in rural health facilities • The depletion of essential household items used for the exchange for food commodities as a coping strategy. • The closure of schools especially in the rural payams as a result of worsening hunger situation.
2026-08-07 12:30:17