The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) on Friday launched an urgent appeal for donors to quickly provide funds to South Sudan, where millions of people are on the brink of famine.
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The WFP said its food reserves in South Sudan were empty and needed $404 million to prepare aid for 2025 amid “skyrocketing operational costs and hunger”.
Without rapid funding, the WFP estimated that, due to a lack of passable roads, it would have to resort to costly airdrops later in the year to reach the isolated, most threatened communities.
“It takes months for funds promised by donors to turn into food in the hands of hungry people in South Sudan. The country's limited road networks are impassable for much of the year, particularly in the east and center of the country where food insecurity is highest,” said Shaun Hughes, WFP's acting director for South Sudan, in a statement.
Funds received before the end of this year would enable WFP to transport food by road during the dry season, from December to April.
“Airdrops are always (a) last resort for the WFP. Every dollar spent on planes is a dollar not spent on food for hungry people,” Hughes added.
According to the WFP, more than half (56%) of South Sudan's population lacks food.
This situation is expected to worsen due to high inflation, flooding and an influx of refugees fleeing conflict in neighboring Sudan.
Since its independence in 2011, South Sudan has been plagued by chronic instability, violence, economic stagnation and climate disasters.
Like other aid agencies, WFP's resources have been strained by multiple global crises.
According to the WFP, in 2024 only 2.7 million of the 7.1 million hungry people received assistance during the most difficult period in South Sudan, and most received only half rations .
