UN warns of severe food insecurity in South Sudan

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in its bi-weekly humanitarian bulletin reports that an estimated 4.6 million people in South Sudan will experience severe food insecurity. This is approximately 40 per cent of the total South Sudan population. The number of people facing severe food insecurity has almost doubled since the start of the year from 2.5 million to 4.6 million people.

Fighting in South Sudan erupted in December 2013 after President Salva Kiir dismissed his deputy, Riek Machar accusing him of plotting a coup. Since then, more than 10,000 people have been killed while more than 1.5 million are now displaced from their homes.

The deepening food insecurity is a result of protracted conflict and insecurity among the warring factions of Sudan. This affected the planting season in 2014 and led to abnormal migration of livestock and limited market functionality. Other factors include high food prices caused by rising inflation and depreciation of the local currency.  Child malnutrition continues to be a concern.

Resources are urgently needed to reach those who are most desperate and to prevent further deterioration of the situation.

(Source: United Nations)

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