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South Sudan: Millions need urgent food aid amid escalating hunger crisis
🇩🇪 Germany /Disasters & Emergencies

South Sudan: Millions need urgent food aid amid escalating hunger crisis

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Over seven million people in South Sudan require immediate food aid, with more than half the population needing urgent assistance.
  • The situation is particularly critical in Jonglei state, where hundreds of thousands face catastrophic hunger and a sharp rise in severe malnutrition among young children and nursing mothers.
  • Humanitarian organizations face a narrow window to deliver aid before the rainy season makes transport impossible, requiring approximately 227 million Euros for continued relief efforts.

South Sudan is facing a severe hunger crisis, with the United Nations reporting that over seven million people urgently need food assistance. Mutinta Chimuka, the World Food Programme (WFP) director for South Sudan, stated that more than half the country's population requires immediate aid, describing the situation as critical and demanding urgent attention to save lives.

The situation is critical and requires immediate attention, to save lives.

— Mutinta ChimukaDirector for South Sudan at the World Food Programme (WFP), describing the urgent need for food aid.

The state of Jonglei is especially dire, with hundreds of thousands experiencing "catastrophic hunger." Chimuka highlighted that approximately 12,000 individuals there are in an "extremely critical phase" of food insecurity. She expressed particular concern over the significant increase in severe malnutrition among children under five and breastfeeding mothers.

catastrophic hunger

— Mutinta ChimukaDescribing the severe food insecurity in Jonglei state.

Despite efforts, including the WFP's provision of food to over 60,000 people in the contested city of Akobo, the impending rainy season poses a major challenge. Chimuka warned that the "window of opportunity is really very, very narrow" for delivering essential supplies. The WFP estimates it needs around 227 million Euros to continue its life-saving operations.

extremely critical phase

— Mutinta ChimukaReferring to the state of food insecurity for thousands in Jonglei.

The nation, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, has been plagued by conflict between supporters of President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar. A peace agreement signed in 2018, which ended a devastating civil war that claimed around 400,000 lives, collapsed earlier this year, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

Particularly concerning is the sharp increase in severe malnutrition among children under five and nursing mothers.

— Mutinta ChimukaHighlighting the impact of the crisis on vulnerable populations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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