By Otto Abut|CRN|Juba-21.May.2025
World Vision has raised grave concerns over the rising levels of hunger and acute food insecurity affecting millions across East and Central Africa, with South Sudan among the hardest-hit countries. The humanitarian organization warns that children are bearing the brunt of this deepening crisis.
A recent multi-country assessment by World Vision International reveals an escalating humanitarian emergency across six countries in the region, with Sudan and South Sudan at the epicenter.
World Vision’s Country Director in South Sudan, Mesfin Loha, says the worsening food situation is forcing children into dire and dangerous circumstances, including dropping out of school, engaging in child labor, early marriage, and even human trafficking.
“Many children are being separated from their families and forced to work just to survive,” Loha said.
He noted that hunger and malnutrition are widespread in South Sudan, severely affecting not just the immediate well-being of children but also their future development and the long-term stability of communities.
“We must do more to ensure that children are healthy, well-nourished, and able to thrive,” he emphasized.
Loha called for urgent and collective action to address the crisis.
“It is our shared responsibility to end this suffering. We must act now to keep children safe, protected, and in school.”
According to the latest World Vision report, more than 6 million people in South Sudan are facing high levels of food insecurity. Alarmingly, nearly 2 million children under the age of five suffered from malnutrition in 2024 alone.
World Vision is urging governments, humanitarian partners, and the international community to scale up life-saving interventions and long-term solutions to prevent the crisis from worsening.
“The situation is not improving,” the report warns. “Millions, especially children, are at risk, and time is running out.”