Number of Food-Insecure South Sudanese Expected to Decline in 2024

JUBA, NOV. 7, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), an innovative multi-stakeholder initiative on food security, projects a decrease in the number of food-insecure South Sudanese in the coming year.

A joint report released on Monday by the South Sudanese government and UN agencies indicates a drop in the number of acutely food-insecure individuals from 7.7 million in 2023 to 7.1 million through the next lean season.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) attribute this reduction to relative calm in parts of Jonglei, Warrap, and Western Equatoria, along with investments in infrastructure.

The report states that these improved conditions have enabled communities to develop livelihoods, expand markets, and facilitate the smooth delivery of humanitarian assistance, leading to significant food security gains in Bor, Tonj South, Tonj North, Tong East, and Tambura.

“The projections show a decline in the number of acutely food-insecure people (those facing crisis, emergency, or catastrophic levels of hunger) to 7.1 million people through the next lean season (April-July). This is down from 7.76 million projected to be food insecure through the 2023 lean season,” the report notes.

The lean-season projection from April to July 2024 indicates that 38 counties and an estimated 98,000 returnees will face Emergency acute food insecurity, while 38 counties will experience Crisis acute food insecurity.

“Returnees fleeing Sudan are facing some of the highest levels of food insecurity. Despite only accounting for 3 percent of the population, they represent 35 percent of those facing emergency levels of hunger through the lean season,” the report highlights.

“The most severely food-insecure communities are located in areas that have been significantly affected by frequent climate shocks (flooding and dry spells), the economic crisis (currency depreciation, high food prices), conflict and insecurity, low agricultural production, reductions in humanitarian assistance, and the effects of the ongoing conflict in Sudan,” the report concludes.