As clashes resume between government forces and opposition groups, the World Food Programme (WFP) is sounding the alarm.
According to the agency, nearly two-thirds of South Sudan's population is currently suffering from acute food insecurity. The UN warns that four counties in Jonglei and Upper Nile states are on the brink of famine, while 2.2 million children under the age of five are at risk of acute malnutrition.
Adham Effendi, WFP Country Director in South Sudan, emphasizes that the situation continues to deteriorate. Approximately 7.8 million people are struggling to feed themselves during the lean season. Despite efforts to support the most vulnerable populations, ongoing violence and access restrictions are significantly hindering the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Repeated obstacles, interference, looting, and denials of access severely reduce the effectiveness of interventions on the ground. Faced with this emergency, the WFP calls on the authorities to invest massively in agriculture, livelihoods, and strengthening community resilience.
Adham Effendi also points out that women and children are the primary victims of this conflict, as evidenced by the alarming levels of malnutrition. He emphasizes that these children represent the future of the country, a future now severely compromised without immediate assistance.
This humanitarian crisis is intensifying despite billions of dollars in oil revenues and international aid. Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee in a country already ranked among the poorest and most corrupt in the world.
