The Government of Japan has committed $3.2 million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to deliver life-saving food assistance and school meals to vulnerable communities across South Sudan.
Announced during a press briefing in Juba on Wednesday, the contribution comes at a time when 7.7 million people in South Sudan face acute food insecurity, with over 2 million children at risk of malnutrition.
The funding will enable WFP to provide emergency food aid to more than 14,000 people including refugees, returnees, and conflict-affected populations for a period of six months.
It will also support daily school meals for over 42,000 children, helping improve school attendance, enrolment, and retention rates amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
“This contribution comes when the situation is very difficult in South Sudan. “There are families who cannot guarantee even one meal a day. In some areas where conflict is intensifying, people are facing famine-like conditions. This funding will help us reach them through the lean season and beyond,”said WFP Country Director Mary-Ellen McGroarty.
South Sudan continues to grapple with overlapping crises, including conflict, flooding, economic instability, and a recent cholera outbreak, further compounding food insecurity.
Japan’s Chargé d’Affaires in South Sudan, Oyama Hiromonto, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting food security and agricultural development. He emphasized the need for peace to enable meaningful aid delivery.
“For this support to have the desired impact, we urge all parties to commit to ceasefire and sustained peace,” said Hiromonto.
The Japanese government remains a longstanding partner in humanitarian and development efforts in South Sudan, consistently advocating for peace, resilience, and sustainable growth.
