From Adia Jildo, in Juba
Food insecurity has worsened in South Sudan, as the country reaches a tipping point, said the World Food Programme with almost 7.7 million people facing severe food insecurity as conflict escalates in Upper Nile state.
The World Food Programme said over one million people in Upper Nile state are currently facing high levels of hunger as the state is most impacted by the escalation of conflict.
The situation is expected to worsen as the country enters its pre-harvest lean season.
With more than 1.1 million people having fled to South Sudan since the beginning of the Sudan war, most arriving in Upper Nile, almost half of those currently facing catastrophic (IPC5) levels of hunger in South Sudan are returnees from Sudan.
Continuous conflict in the country since its imterception of indepence has continued to plander the country into devastating humanitarian crisis.
WFP said the situation has also extended beyond just hunger but a cholera outbreak in the states and administrative areas including Upper Nile state where the conflict is high.
Attempts to respond to these crisis has been faced with numerous challenges such as insecurity in the hotspots and a funding shortage, reported the agency.
“Insecurity has forced WFP to pause distributions in six counties in the region for the safety of our staff, partners and the people we serve. Additionally, “WFP and partners have the food ready to deliver and distribute once conditions allow.”
More than 450,000 people in Upper Nile state, are expected to benefit from the over 9,000 metric tons of food including – in the northern town of Malakal, with additional food in Bor and the capital Juba.
The ageny added that it is ashort by US$396 million funding to respond to the crisisfor the whole year as it supplies will only support a month duration.
