Around 1,00,000 flee South Sudan offensive into Ethiopia: UNICEF

UNICEF reports 100,000 flee South Sudan's Akobo due to escalating conflict, worsening conditions for displaced populations in Ethiopia.

An order by South Sudan’s army to evacuate the opposition-held town of Akobo earlier this month pushed an estimated 1,00,000 people to flee across the border into Ethiopia, UNICEF said Tuesday (March 17, 2026).

Akobo in the eastern state of Jonglei is the latest flashpoint as fighting between the government and opposition has brought South Sudan back to the brink of all-out civil war.

The army ordered an evacuation of the town, including foreign aid agencies, on March 6.

It claims to have since taken control of Akobo, though there have been conflicting reports of events on the ground, which have been impossible to verify due to limited communications.

A security source told AFP that the army had taken over the military barracks in Akobo and destroyed buildings in the vicinity to create a buffer zone, but no official report had yet been issued.

The UN children’s agency said “violence and conflict are raging” across Jonglei, creating a “deteriorating situation for children”.