The food situation in South Sudan has reached a critical level. Faced with an imminent food crisis, the World Food Program (WFP) is launching an urgent appeal to donors to obtain $404 million in funding, necessary for rapid intervention against hunger in 2025. This country, marked by decades of conflict, limited infrastructure and climate disasters, now sees almost half of its population facing crisis levels (IPC3) or worse, according to hunger classification standards.
The lack of available food stocks aggravates this crisis. The WFP has announced that it currently has no reserves to begin humanitarian operations next year. This urgent appeal is addressed to global donors, because funding is essential to prepare food support in advance. “Pledged funds take months to turn into food in the hands of hungry people in South Sudan,” said Shaun Hughes, WFP’s acting country representative.
Difficult access to vulnerable areas and high logistics costs
The WFP also warns of the logistical challenges and high costs linked to this humanitarian mission. If the necessary funding does not arrive quickly, the organization will have to resort to expensive and complicated airdrops to reach isolated and seriously affected communities. This last resort logistics operation becomes essential during the months when South Sudan’s already limited road network becomes impassable due to weather conditions, especially in the eastern and central areas, particularly affected by food insecurity. .
The worst affected areas include Pibor and Aweil East counties, where the food situation is critical. Among the 79,000 people at risk of famine in South Sudan, many are also returnees from neighboring Sudan, a country at war since April 2023. These displaced populations, who are fleeing a devastating conflict between the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces, depend on humanitarian aid to survive.
Worrying forecasts for food security and the lean season
A joint report from the WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns that the number of people facing famine or critical situations is expected to almost double between April and July 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. The food security outlook worsens as the 2025 lean season approaches, from May to August, the time of year when food reserves are at their lowest.
Furthermore, the influx of returnees, refugees and asylum seekers fleeing Sudan is intensifying pressure on host communities in South Sudanese border states. This migratory dynamic is expected to intensify after the rainy season, as the conflict in Sudan continues to worsen. These population movements exacerbate the need for food in host areas already hard hit by food insecurity.
An urgent need for sustained humanitarian assistance and strategies to reduce costs
Faced with this emergency, WFP emphasizes the need to reduce operational costs in order to reach as many vulnerable people as possible. Currently, only 2.7 million of the 7.1 million people experiencing hunger have received assistance, or 38% of those in need. However, most of these beneficiaries only received half rations, insufficient to cover their basic food needs.
To avoid humanitarian collapse, it is essential to quickly mobilize funding and coordinate efforts internationally. The funds raised will make it possible to distribute full rations, secure supply routes and mitigate the need for costly airdrop operations. An immediate and sustained response is crucial to prevent massive loss of life and stabilize food security in the most affected areas of South Sudan.
Moctar FICUU / VivAfrik
