Over 5.7million people to face serious hunger in South Sudan
An estimated 5.78 million people in South Sudan are predicted to predisposed to acute food insecurity between December 2023 and March 2024.
This is according to a report released by the national Ministry of Agriculture, the World Food Programme, Food and Agriculture Organisation, and UNICEF that largely attributes food insecurity to severe flooding, dry spells, sub-national and localised violence, and the current conflict in Sudan.
According to the report, this number accounts for 46 per cent of the population in South Sudan. It further reveals that 25,000 people out of this number are most likely to experience a catastrophe, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) study released by the government and UN agencies on Monday.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Josephine Lagu, who spoke on behalf of the government during the IPC release report in Juba on Monday also warned that “1.7 million people will experience Emergency (IPC Phase 4) acute food insecurity during the harvest and post-harvest projection period of December 2023 to March 2024.”
She added that between April and July 2024, when the lean season is projected to occur, an estimated 7.1 million people—56.3 per cent of the population—will likely experience a crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse acute food insecurity.
“About 79,000 people are likely to experience catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) acute food insecurity in Pibor County in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, Aweil East County of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, and among the population of Sudanese returnees,” she revealed.
Meanwhile, during the 2024 lean season, an estimated 2.34 million individuals will probably experience emergency (IPC Phase 4) acute food insecurity.
“Given the high levels of severe acute food insecurity in the country, immediate scale-up of multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance is needed to save lives and prevent the total collapse of livelihoods in the affected counties, particularly those with populations in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) and Emergency (IPC Phase 4) acute food insecurity,” Lagu stated.
She said for individuals in crisis (IPC Phase 3), “immediate action is necessary to safeguard their means of subsistence and close the gaps in household food consumption.”
Pursuant to the IPC assessment, 10 counties nationwide and an expected 56,000 (60%) returnees are designated as emergency cases between September and November 2023 (IPC Phase 4). severe food instability.
“61 counties are classified in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) acute food insecurity, and 8 counties are classified in Stressed (IPC Phase 2) acute food insecurity.”
The report revealed that 18 counties and an “estimated 84,000 (70 per cent) returnees are expected to experience emergency (IPC Phase 4) acute food insecurity, 53 counties will likely experience crisis (IPC Phase 3) acute food insecurity, and eight (8) counties will likely experience stressed (IPC Phase 2) acute food insecurity during the harvest/post-harvest projection period of December 2023 to March 2024.”
Meanwhile, 38 counties and around 98,000 returnees (75 per cent) are predicted to be in emergency (IPC level 4) during the lean-season prediction period of April to July 2024, according to the research.
Acute food insecurity and stress have been predicted for three counties (IPC Phase 2) dramatic fluctuations in food.
Mary-Ellen McGroarty, World Food Programme Country Director, said the “situation of acute food security continues to impact large swathes of the country, with few states and counties on the path to zero hunger.”
McGroarty said the report eloquently explains the various interrelated factors—conflict, violence, displacement, climatic and economic shocks, and a lack of development, services, governance, and infrastructure.
She said these factors joined together the cause of the unacceptable rates of hunger and malnutrition for communities and households throughout the nation.
Also, she said the WFP’s programming for the next 12 months would be guided by the IPC outcomes.
“We will priorities populations living with the most severe levels of food insecurity and malnutrition with a portfolio of interventions to address immediate needs,” she said.
She continued that to enable households and communities to build resilience, there is a need to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change and protect human capital.
However, the WFP boss said lack of financing for treating the symptoms, taking decisive action to address the underlying causes of food insecurity and malnutrition is an issue of unavoidable urgency.
“It will not be simple because floods, droughts, and heat waves will exacerbate the effects of climate change,” McGroarty said.
She noted that the multisectoral pledges and activities on nutrition need to be accelerated.
“Provision in the national budget reflecting the commitments in the Maputo.”
“It is possible to restore food and nutrition security across the country after ten years of crises,” she continued. But there is a huge mountain to climb.”
