Nearly 60% of South Sudan’s population projected to face food insecurity by April – WFP

JUBA – Nearly 60% of South Sudan’s population is projected to face acute food insecurity by April due to the combined effects of climate shocks, an ongoing economic crisis, and conflict, the World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Wednesday.

The warning comes as the country grapples with the fallout from ongoing conflicts and the influx of refugees and returnees fleeing the crisis in neighboring Sudan. The WFP and its partners are working to provide assistance, but the scale of the challenge is immense.

The situation is further complicated by the economic downturn and the increasing frequency and severity of climate-related events, such as droughts and floods, which are disrupting agricultural production and livelihoods.

These converging factors are pushing millions of people to the brink of starvation, raising concerns about a potential humanitarian catastrophe.

“The food insecurity is significant, and close to 60% of the population will be food insecure from April,” Rania Dagash-Kamara, WFP’s Assistant Executive Director for Partnerships and Innovation, told reporters in Juba. “We know that the climatic shocks combined with the economic crisis, as well as conflict in parts of the country, have made it difficult for everyone to achieve food security.”

She added that WFP, along with local and international partners, is committed to working with authorities and communities to address the issue.

Deike Potzel, Director-General for Crisis Prevention, Stabilisation, Peacebuilding, and Humanitarian Assistance at the German Federal Foreign Office  (GFFO), commended South Sudan for its role in mitigating the regional impact of the Sudan crisis, despite its own challenges, including hosting tens of thousands of refugees and returnees.

“It was really striking to see the impacts on the ground of this crisis,” Potzel said. “While we stand ready to support the South Sudanese people, we also urge the South Sudanese government to take on more responsibility for the humanitarian emergency in this country and for the protection of people in need.”

She also emphasized the need for safety for humanitarian workers and unimpeded humanitarian access.

Potzel highlighted the resilience of women in the face of these challenges. “I can share with you that we heard some horrific stories when we were up north, but we also saw the courage and strength of women overcoming these challenges, finding new ways to secure a better future,” she said.

“I’m happy to say that Germany is supporting some of these programmes…However, this is by far not enough; we need to scale up our efforts to meaningfully protect those we serve.”

The German Embassy and WFP led a high-level delegation to crisis-affected areas in South Sudan from February 3-7, highlighting Germany’s engagement as the second-largest bilateral donor in the country.