The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has raised alarm over a worsening hunger situation in South Sudan, warning that millions of vulnerable people are on the brink of starvation.
In a statement released on Wednesday, WFP said the country is nearing record hunger levels, particularly in the northeast, where conflict is escalating.
“Vulnerable families in the northeast of South Sudan are at a critical tipping point as conflict intensifies and hunger nears record levels,” the statement read.
According to WFP, the ongoing pre-harvest lean season has left an estimated 7.7 million people facing severe food insecurity – categorized under crisis, emergency, or even catastrophic levels.
“The northern part of the Greater Upper Nile region, particularly Upper Nile State, is the hardest hit by the escalating conflict, with nearly one million people experiencing extreme hunger,” the agency noted.
WFP also highlighted the impact of the Sudan crisis, stating that nearly half of the 1.1 million people who fled to South Sudan since the conflict began in Sudan are now battling hunger.
“Almost half of those currently facing catastrophic levels of hunger in South Sudan are returnees from Sudan,” it said.
Despite the challenges, WFP reaffirmed its commitment to providing life-saving food assistance to more than 450,000 people in Upper Nile. However, the agency expressed concern that continued violence could disrupt aid delivery.
“WFP has pre-positioned over 9,000 metric tons of food in Malakal—enough to feed more than one million people for a month. Additional supplies are stored in Bor and Juba,” the statement added.
Humanitarian agencies have identified South Sudan as a hunger hotspot, citing conflict and climate shocks as major drivers of food insecurity.
In response, the government has taken swift action to address the looming crisis. During an Economic Cluster meeting chaired by Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel on Wednesday, authorities approved SSP 62 billion to support farming activities.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Lily Albino Akol, told reporters the funds would be used to implement a 100-day farming initiative aimed at boosting food production, revitalizing farming systems, and laying the groundwork for long-term agricultural sustainability.
