The World Food Programme (WFP) has begun emergency food airdrops to vulnerable communities in Akobo County of Jonglei State, bringing relief to thousands of displaced and returning families facing severe hunger and worsening humanitarian conditions.
The food assistance operation, launched on May 13, marks the first large-scale humanitarian airdrop to the area since 2009, according to humanitarian officials.
The intervention comes amid growing concerns over food insecurity affecting families who recently returned to Akobo after fleeing conflict, flooding, and insecurity in neighboring areas.
Many returnees have been struggling to survive with little or no access to food, clean water, healthcare services, and livelihood opportunities.
Humanitarian agencies said difficult terrain, seasonal flooding, insecurity, and poor road infrastructure have continued to limit access to affected communities, making air delivery the fastest and most effective way to reach vulnerable populations.
The emergency operation is expected to support thousands of families, including women, children, elderly people, and persons with disabilities who are considered most at risk.
Residents in several parts of Akobo have reportedly been surviving on limited food supplies for weeks, while some families have been forced to skip meals or rely on wild fruits and unsafe coping mechanisms to survive.
Community leaders welcomed the arrival of the food aid, describing it as a lifeline for families facing worsening hunger conditions.
“This assistance has come at the right time,” one local resident said. “Many families had completely run out of food and were struggling to feed children.”
The food assistance includes essential relief supplies aimed at stabilizing vulnerable households and preventing further deterioration of the humanitarian situation.
Aid workers warned that without urgent intervention, food insecurity in the area could worsen significantly, especially as communities continue to recover from displacement and climate-related shocks.
Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly raised concerns about the growing number of displaced and returnee populations across parts of Upper Nile and Jonglei states, where conflict, flooding, and economic hardship have disrupted farming activities and access to markets.
The latest airdrops are part of broader emergency response efforts aimed at addressing rising hunger levels in some of the country’s hardest-to-reach areas.
WFP and humanitarian partners have also called for increased international support to sustain relief operations and prevent further suffering among vulnerable communities.
Aid agencies stressed that while emergency food assistance remains critical, long-term solutions are needed to strengthen resilience, improve agricultural production, restore livelihoods, and support peaceful and stable communities.
Local authorities and humanitarian partners also appealed for improved humanitarian access to ensure consistent delivery of aid to isolated communities affected by conflict and natural disasters.
The arrival of the food aid has renewed hope among many displaced and returning families in Akobo, who say the assistance will help ease immediate suffering as they work to rebuild their lives under difficult conditions.
