The UN food agency (World Food Program) has warned that roughly half of South Sudan's population struggles to get enough food each day. The humanitarian situation in the country could deteriorate further by the end of September unless it receives "a very significant uptick in resources very soon, warned a statement from the agency.
The World Food Program (WFP) has announced that it may have to end food aid for two million people in South Sudan in the coming weeks due to a lack of funding at the United Nations agency.
About 7.8 million people, around half of the country's population, struggle to have enough food each day, according to Matthew Hollingworth, the UN agency's assistant executive director.
The WFP currently provides daily support to around three million people, but that number could drop to one million by the end of September unless it receives "a very significant uptick in resources very soon," Hollingworth told reporters on Tuesday (September 15).
'We are about to drop off a financial cliff'
Hollingworth estimated that 86 million US dollars (around 75 million euros) was needed immediately, with another 416 million dollars (around 362 million euros) required over the next six months to maintain the assistance.
Around 2.2 million children and 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women require "urgent nutrition support," he warned, adding: "Unless additional resources are secured, more than a million vulnerable people could lose access to life-saving food and nutrition assistance by October."
The agency's shrinking resources are already becoming clear on the ground. Hollingworth said WFP warehouses in Malakal held 10,000 tons of food a year ago but now contain fewer than 300 tons.
Since gaining independence in 2011, South Sudan has been devastated by a series of internal conflicts. It has also taken in more than one million refugees from the civil war in neighboring Sudan. Economic instability and climate-related pressures have worsened the humanitarian situation.
"We are about to drop off a financial cliff at a time when the needs are at the greatest level that they've been at for the past 13, 14 years," Hollingworth said.
According to UN data, last updated at the beginning of September, there are nearly 100,000 people from both Sudan and South Sudan already in Libya. Others fleeing the conflicts and difficulties in both countries have crossed into neighboring countries like Chad and Egypt. Food and aid pressures in South Sudan could increase the numbers of displaced people still further, as they move on in the search of stability and help.
With AFP