UN World Food Programme or WFP started a series of urgent airdrops of food assistance to remote areas of South Sudan unreachable because of insecurity and government restrictions.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, WFP launched the operation to feed people affected by conflict and resupply isolated refugee camps where food stocks reduced.
WFP Country Director Chris Nikoi said, “We are in a race against time to get assistance to people who are in critical need in places we simply haven’t been able to reach by road or river.”
He added that the organization must move some food by air to some parts of the country, particularly during the rainy season and at the time the government imposes more difficulties on aid agencies.
Mr Nikoi revealed that two rounds of airdrops on Tuesday delivered enough cereals for about 8,000 displaced people for 15 days in Ganyiel town of Unity state.
The statement added that airdrops are planned for nine locations in Upper Nile, Jonglei and Unity states and expected to be expanded to other areas.
WFP aims to scale up assistance to support 2.5 million conflict-affected and food-insecure people in South Sudan over the coming months.