The UN World Food Programme or WFP warns that South Sudan is facing the worst levels of food insecurity because of a combination of conflict, high food prices and a worsening economic crisis.
WFP South Sudan Country Director Joyce Luma says the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification analysis, released on Wednesday indicated that about 4.6 million people, or 40 percent of South Sudan’s estimated population, face acute hunger in the next three months and requiring urgent lifesaving food or livelihoods assistance
She says the deteriorating economic conditions could quickly worsen things, fearing that lack of funding and reducing humanitarian access are compromising relief agencies’ ability to meet South Sudan’s escalating needs.
Ms Luma laments that the direst conditions are in Jonglei, Upper Nile and Unity States where fighting continues to displace large numbers of people in very remote areas.
She discloses that food insecurity is also deepening in Warrap and Northern Bahr El Ghazal due to high food prices, rising inflation, depreciation of the local currency and diminishing purchasing power are pushing many families closer to the brink.
Ms Luma says WFP currently has a funding shortfall of 230 million US Dollars for its food and nutrition assistance and is revising its requirements to help the growing number of people affected by conflict.