More than one thousand inmates at Wau Central Prison went an entire day without food as a worsening food crisis hit correctional facilities across several states in South Sudan.
Speaking to Voice of Hope Radio on Friday, April 05, 2025, the Director of Wau Central Prison, Major General Andrea Masharanga Marial, confirmed that 1,023 prisoners had gone a full day without any meals. He attributed the dire situation to a lack of food provision from the government contractor, who has reportedly not received payment from the national government for the past six months.
Major General Masharanga made a heartfelt appeal to humanitarian organizations, religious institutions, local associations, and families to urgently support the prison with food aid to help alleviate the suffering of inmates.
He stressed that the prison doors are open to any form of humanitarian assistance, noting that the health and well-being of the prisoners are now at critical risk.
It is reported that the inmates did not even receive basic morning tea and were expected to sleep hungry again if no immediate intervention was made.
The situation at Wau Central Prison reflects a broader crisis affecting correctional facilities in other states, where food shortages continue to endanger the lives of inmates due to delayed government payments and limited resources.