South SudanSouth Sudan Aid Crisis Deepens
Over one million people may lose life-saving aid by October due to funding shortages and refugee influx from Sudan. Food stocks in Malakal have fallen to less than 300 tonnes from 10,000 metric tonnes last year.
Global Newsflix 2 min read
More than one million vulnerable people in South Sudan could lose access to life-saving food and nutrition assistance by October unless additional resources are secured, according to the World Food Programme (WFP).
The WFP says food stocks in Malakal, a key logistics hub in the Upper Nile state, have fallen from 10,000 metric tonnes at this time last year to less than 300 tonnes now.
WFP assistant executive director Matthew Hollingworth visited Renk and Malakal in Upper Nile and Pigi county in Jonglei state this month, where he witnessed firsthand the pressures facing communities already struggling with conflict, displacement, hunger and climate shocks.
Hollingworth said the war in Sudan had driven up prices and put additional pressure on a country already stretched by the influx of refugees.
In Renk, Hollingworth saw the effects of drought alongside areas still affected by flooding, highlighting the complexity of the crisis.
Peter Maker, a displaced person in Pigi, said insecurity and the arrival of people displaced from other areas had made it difficult to farm or find work.
The WFP is calling for additional resources to address the crisis, as the international community faces shrinking resources while needs continue to rise.
Key facts
- Over one million people may lose life-saving aid by October
- Food stocks in Malakal have fallen to less than 300 tonnes
- 3,000 refugees and returnees cross into South Sudan from Sudan every week
- The WFP is calling for additional resources to address the crisis
Three perspectives
Neutral
The situation in South Sudan is critical, with the WFP warning of a potential aid crisis. The international community is being called upon to provide additional resources to address the crisis. The WFP is working to provide food and nutrition assistance to those in need.
Positive
The WFP is taking proactive steps to address the crisis, with assistant executive director Matthew Hollingworth visiting affected areas to assess the situation. The organization is calling for additional resources to provide life-saving aid to those in need.
Negative
The aid crisis in South Sudan is being exacerbated by the war in Sudan, which has driven up prices and put additional pressure on the country. The WFP is facing significant challenges in providing food and nutrition assistance to those in need, with funding shortages and logistical challenges hindering efforts.
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