UN calls for humanitarian support to South Sudan

JUBA – The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA)on Monday called on international donors to provide funding for South Sudan amid the country’s dire humanitarian situation.

Reena Ghelani, UN Famine Prevention and Response Coordinator stressed the need for the world to pay attention to the situation in South Sudan, where more than half of the population is going hungry.

She made this call following her recent visit to South Sudan’s Unity State, one of the regions most affected by flooding with the highest prevalence of malnutrition.

“We can’t let people starve on our watch. I’ve seen how women and young people can produce their own food and become self-sufficient when provided with the right support. We must invest in sustainable and long-term solutions to build a famine-free future in South Sudan,” she said in a joint statement extended to Sudans Post on Monday.

For her part, Marie Helene Verney, the acting Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan called for sustained support for world’s youngest nation.

“South Sudan is on the frontline of climate change. Last year, one million people were affected by floods, many were forced to move elsewhere in the country, others have had to find new sources of livelihoods, often requiring a rapid change in centuries-old customs,” said Helene.

She said South Sudan needs urgent access to climate funds for its people to find long-term solutions and adapt to the crisis.

Humanitarian actors have estimated that 9 million people would need support in 2024.

Of those, humanitarians plan to target 6 million people with life-saving support and require US$1.8 billion, according to Ocha.

An estimated 1.6 million children (6 – 59 months) are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition from July 2023 to June 2024.

At the same time, humanitarians are forced to halve rations and reduce their support due to funding cuts.

Extreme levels of food insecurity and malnutrition make South Sudan one of the worst food insecurity emergencies in the world.

Already, about 25,000 people – including many of the refugees fleeing the conflict in Sudan – are experiencing catastrophic levels of hunger according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC 5), and the number could rise to nearly 80,000 in the next coming months unless urgent support is provided.

A total of 7.1 million people (56% of the population) is experiencing high levels of food insecurity (IPC3+), the highest percentage in the world.