South Sudan: the causes of growing food insecurity
Bentiu IDP camp, South Sudan.
(Illustrative image) RFI / SĂ©bastien Nemeth
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
Hunger in South Sudan has reached its highest level in ten years, according to the World Food Program (WFP).
Around 7 million people are currently suffering from a lack of food across the country.
That's 60% of the population.
As famine threatens six regions, the number of food insecure people could increase by 15% in the coming months, according to the UN.
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With our correspondent in Nairobi,
Albane Thirouard
South Sudan was already facing a fragile humanitarian situation following long years of conflict, but in 2020 several factors exacerbated food insecurity.
For starters, the country has suffered record flooding over the past two years.
Heavy rains destroyed homes, crops and entire food stores, displacing a million people.
In addition, the security situation has also deteriorated.
Despite the establishment of a transitional government in early 2020, violence at the local level is on the rise, causing significant population displacements.
Then, the Covid-19 epidemic worsened an already very present economic and social crisis.
While South Sudan is one of the poorest countries in the world, measures to combat the pandemic have caused food prices to rise.
Lastly, violence and flooded roads hamper the delivery of humanitarian aid.
The World Food Program explains that it is forced to use more expensive and slower means to distribute food, such as airplanes or amphibious vehicles.
In South Sudan massive floods 🌊 displaced over 1 million people in 2020.
Homes were destroyed;
livelihoods and livestock were lost, pushing families deeper into poverty and hunger.
Since November, @WFP reached 195,000 people stuck in remote flood-affected areas with food aid.
pic.twitter.com/9pOB43zNtE
- WFP South Sudan (@WFP_SouthSudan) February 17, 2021
Read also: Concern of displaced people in South Sudan over the withdrawal of peacekeepers
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South sudan
Humanitarian