United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization or FAO warned that South Sudan faces major acute food insecurity and nutrition crisis.
FAO Head of Office in South Sudan Sue Lautze in a statement said “South Sudan was already the scene of one of the world’s largest humanitarian operations before the fighting began, and the situation is now deteriorating rapidly.”
The official explained that “markets collapsed, infrastructure damaged, foreign traders fled, violence disrupted commodity supply corridors and rural populations were unable to bring their crops, livestock and fish to market for sale.
The Head of the office added that livestock production was threatened by potential animal disease outbreaks such as East Coast fever as unvaccinated herds mingled with vaccinated ones.
The official said FAO would train community animal health workers to provide basic animal health support during migrations and help restore the cold chain for vaccine storage and distribution to prevent the spread of livestock disease.
FAO plans to support 545 thousand households in the most affected states while protecting food production in the less-affected areas.
The organization is calling for 77 million US Dollars for critical food security and livelihood support for the crisis-affected population as prices of staple crops rise and basic commodities run out.