South Sudan
Millions in South Sudan require urgent food assistance as hunger in the country is likely to reach new heights.
According to the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP), up to 5.3 million people in the country may face severe food shortages during this year’s lean season.
A nutritionist in a food distribution centre has been testing women and children for malnutrition.
“This is a girl and she is two-years-old and she is also severely malnourished. The MUAC (Middle Upper Arm Circumference) is reading eleven,” said, WFP nutritionist Felista Busi.
Earlier in the year, WFP had warned that the number of people facing acute hunger would rise from a previous estimate of 2.8 million. This has largely been blamed on drought and a collapsing economy.
George Fominyen, the spokesperson of WFP said “people are feeling the pinch of the bad weather conditions, which led to failed harvest. They are feeling the pinch of the economic collapse in the country, which means that they don’t have enough money to buy food – if they found it in the market, and when they find the food in the market or anything they do need, it’s so expensive.”
Even as WFP scales up its response, the UN humanitarian plan for South Sudan has received less than a quarter of the 1.29 billion US dollars needed.
01:00
Gaza crisis deepens amid Rafah takeover
01:07
UN food programme warns of famine in Darfur if warring parties don't allow aid in
01:02
Israel re-opens crossing to allow aid to flow into the hard-hit northern Gaza Strip
Go to video
Paris 2024 Olympics: South Sudanese refugee suspended for doping
02:07
Over 282 million suffered acute food insecurity in 2023 - Report
01:01
Israel-Hamas war: Humanitarian aid parachuted into northern Gaza