Humanitarian agencies operating in South Sudan are facing an unprecedented challenge as they are compelled to reduce aid efforts due to a severe funding crisis and an escalating humanitarian emergency, according to the United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The situation is dire, with a staggering 7.76 million people in South Sudan currently grappling with catastrophic levels of need. Regrettably, resource constraints have forced a painful decision to prioritize emergency food assistance exclusively for 3.2 million individuals experiencing the most acute levels of food insecurity. Even among this group, the already limited rations are being reduced.
Makena Walker, the acting country director for the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP), minced no words in conveying the gravity of the situation. “The simple fact is that there are not enough resources available to the humanitarian community to meet the needs in South Sudan,” she declared.
South Sudan is confronting an alarming crisis of extreme food insecurity and malnutrition, affecting a staggering two-thirds of its population. This predicament has catapulted the nation into one of the most severe food insecurity emergencies globally.
The United Nations had originally appealed for $1.7 billion (£1.3 billion) in funding to address this burgeoning crisis. However, despite the immense needs, only 46% of this funding has been received thus far.
Adding to the mounting woes is the urgent requirement for over $300 million to support individuals fleeing the civil war in neighboring Sudan. This influx of refugees further compounds South Sudan’s humanitarian challenges, stretching already scarce resources to the brink.
The funding shortfall threatens to exacerbate an already dire situation, leaving millions in South Sudan teetering on the edge of survival. The international community is urged to respond swiftly and generously to avert a deeper catastrophe in a nation where countless lives hang in the balance.
By xamse
September 8, 2023
