Japanese government contributed five million US Dollars to the United Nations World Food Programme or WFP to cater for food and nutrition support for most vulnerable victims in South Sudan.
In a joint statement on Tuesday, WFP said it would purchase specialized fortified foods including cereals, pulses and salt to prevent malnutrition in children under the age of five years.
Japanese Ambassador to South Sudan Takeshi Akamatsu said ‘The food insecurity situation is very severe in South Sudan and the rate of malnutrition among children has also significantly increased’.
He added that there is urgent need to scale up the response to tackle food insecurity in the country.
WFP Country Director in South Sudan Joyce Luma said the funds would help them expand nutrition programs in the country to save lives.
About 235 thousand children below five years require treatment for severe acute malnutrition in 2014 alone.
The statement added that 470 thousand children require treatment for moderate acute malnutrition.