The warning comes in the midst of increased violence and a deterioration of food safety, which has 11 out of 13 counties in the state facing emergency levels of hunger and 32,000 of these inhabitants facing disastrous levels of hunger, almost three times earlier estimates.
“We see the devastating impact conflict has on food security in South Sudan“Said Mary-Ellen McGroarty, Rural Director of the World Food Program (WFP) in South Sudan.
“Conflict does not just ruin home and livelihood, that Tears society apart, cut off access to markets and send food prices spiral -shaped upward“Said Ms. McGroarty.
Nationwide hunger
In total, 7.7 million people all over South Sudan will face acute food security and account for over half the entire population. In addition, 2.3 million children in South Sudan are facing malnutrition, an increase from 2.1 million at the beginning of the year.
FAO expects these figures to rise as the country prepares to enter the lean and wet season, which will further reduce food supply and potentially aggravate the displacement.
The agency noted that counties, where violence has been largely absent, has seen improvements in food security as a result of increased crop production and humanitarian efforts. But hunger continues.
Despite such ongoing challenges, Meshack Malo, the country’s representative of FAO in South Sudan, said that these results are proof of “the outcome of the peace.”
Design in conflict
South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, gained independence in 2011 and immediately fell into a brutal and devastating civil war, which eventually ended in 2018 thanks to a peace agreement between political rivals that have largely held.
However, the recent political tensions and increased violent attacks, especially in the upper Nile state, threaten to reveal the peace agreement and throw the nation back into conflict.
“South Sudan cannot afford to sink in conflict at this time. It will throw already vulnerable societies into serious food securitythat led to widespread hunger, ”said Meshack Malo, the Land Representative of FAO in South Sudan.
Humanitarian difficulties
FAO said humanitarian access needs to be improved to tackle the deteriorating hunger situation.
The FAO report also emphasized that peace and capacity building is the only sustainable solution for food security in South Sudan.
“Long -term peace is important, but right now it is critical that our teams are able to access and secure benefits food to families trapped in conflict in Upper Nile, to bring them back from the brim and prevent famine,” Ms. McGroarty.
