Juba; Hunger and malnutrition are on the rise across the flood, drought, and conflict-affected areas in South Sudan.
According to the World Food Programme report, about 7.76 million people are probably to face food insecurity during the April to July 2023 lean season while 1.4 million children will be malnourished as well.
The joint statement which reads “the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations -FAO, the United Nations Children’s Fund -UNICEF, and the United Nations World Food Programme-WFP gave an alarming warning that the proportion of people facing high levels of food insecurity Phase 3 or above and malnourishment is at the highest level ever, surpassing levels seen during the conflict of 2013 and 2016”.
The decline in food security and the high prevalence of malnutrition are linked to a combination of, poor macroeconomic conditions, conflict, extreme climate events, and spiralling costs of food and fuel.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification was released by the World Food Programme, Food and Agricultural Organisation, and UNICEF on Thursday.
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The report further explained why there has been a decline in funding for humanitarian programs despite the steady rise in humanitarian needs.
“We have been in famine prevention mode all the year and have staved off the worst outcomes, but this is not promising,” Acting Country Director for WFP in South Sudan, Makena Walker said in a statement.
“Showcasing its momentum, South Sudan is on the frontline of the climate crisis, and day in, whereby families are losing their cattle, homes, fields, and hope to extreme weather. Without humanitarian food assistance, millions of people will find themselves in a situation and unable to provide basic food for their families at large.” Makena added.
The United Nations said that the unprecedented, multi-year flood sweeping the country is exacerbating already high levels of hunger caused by the ongoing conflict and the global food crisis.
“Figuring out, livelihood support is particularly needed to facilitate South Sudan’s self-reliance in food production. We know the potential exists as about 840 000 tonnes of cereals were produced in 2021, during a difficult year with conflict, climate change, floods, and other factors. With the current cereal deficit of 541 000 tonnes, urgent investment in rural livelihoods is needed to increase production and self-sufficiency,” FAO Representative in South Sudan, Meshack Malo said.
The joint statement furthermore clarified that while there have been marginal improvements in food security across some parts of the country, the nutrition crisis across South Sudan is deepening, hence all counties except one are showing a deterioration in their nutrition situation in June 2023, including forty-four (44) counties.
“Past three (3) years, floods have dramatically affected an increasing number of people across South Sudan,” UNICEF Acting Representative in South Sudan, Jesper Moller said in a statement.
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, said the IPC report is the product of months of data collection and analysis, with participation from the government, the United Nations agencies, NGOs, and other partners.
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“Quality data like this is critical to formulating humanitarian response plans to help meet the needs of people in the country, and these figures show the people of South Sudan need support more than ever,” said Nyanti “It is vital we receive commitments from donors for 2023 so we can prevent a worsening of the humanitarian situation across the country.”
The report shows around 7.76 million people are likely to face food insecurity during the April to July 2023 season, including a projected 2.9 million on the brink of starvation and another 43,000 who are expected to be living in Catastrophe.
