But hunger has followed them. Over 57 percent of the population of the world’s youngest country to the south already stands for high levels of acute food security.
Sudan and South Sudan are among five global hunger -hotspots of “highest concern”, caught in a deterioration cycle of conflict, climate and economic decline.
Continued fighting in Sudan, expected floods that affect its southern neighbor and worsening economic conditions in both countries are set to intensify hunger in the coming months.
A new report published Monday by the World Food Program (WFP) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) also identified Palestine, Mali and Haiti as the other top -priced hunger hotspots, with another seven countries that are likely to see the deterioration of food security for the next five months.
The report, which analyzes existing data to project the nature of food security, emphasized that without immediate humanitarian assistance, people living in these hotspots will have serious food conditions and high risks of hunger and death.
“This report makes it very clear: Hunger today is not a distant threat – it is a daily emergency for millions. We have to act now and act together to save lives and protect the livelihood,” said FAO Head of Director Qu Dongyu.
Conflict -driven hunger
The report identified that the most important driving force for hunger is conflict that is often worsened by climate and financial shock.
“There is an ongoing famine in Sudan and also a risk of famine in the event of Gaza. And all of them are driven by conflict and lack of access for humanitarian,” said Jean-Martin Baucer, Fao Food Security Analysis Director.
In Gaza, the entire population of 2.1 million people is expected to experience crisis levels of food security in the next few months as a result of long -term military operations, with nearly 500,000 expected to meet disastrous levels of food security.
Sawsan was an artist in Gaza before the conflict began. Since then, she and her four children have been displaced and lost everything they owned. They don’t have enough to eat: Sawsan described to WFP that she now reduced to crush macaroni to make bread for her children.
The report also noted that climate and conflict often cause long -term financial declines, which reduces the purchasing power and the self -supporting capacity of households and communities.
Window closes quickly
In recent months, humanitarian food surgeries have been exposed to significant food shortages and have been geographically hindered by security crises that make the delivery of help simply dangerous.
WFP and FAO urge the international community to drastically increase funding for food and nutrition-related humanitarian help in the coming months and go in to end the matches.
“Reasonable, sustained investments in food assistance and support are crucial as the window of averting even more devastating hunger closes quickly,” said WFP CEO Cindy McCain.
‘Red Alarm’
In May, the food aid sector estimated it would need $ 12.2 billion, but only nine percent of this was funded.
The report also emphasized the importance of moving towards long -term humanitarian strategies that equate societies with self -supporting capabilities and are cheaper.
“This report is a red alarm. We know where hunger is rising and we know who is at risk. We have tools and experience to respond, but without financing and access we cannot save lives,” said Ms. McCain.
