27, Feb 2018 | CJP Team

Three United Nations bodies–the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Food Programme (WFP)–have cautioned that more than 7 million people in South Sudan, nearly two-thirds of the country’s population, could struggle with acute food insecurity in the following months if they do not have access to consistent humanitarian aid. If this comes to pass, the most dangerous time period will be the lean season spanning from May to July. 155,000 people, including 29,000 are especially at risk of struggling with “the most extreme levels of hunger.” In January 2018, 5.3 million people, almost half of South Sudan’s population, already had difficulties in obtaining sufficient food every day, and were at “crisis” or “emergency” levels of food insecurity, according to a report. This figure was 40% higher than the number of acutely food insecure people in January 2017. In February 2017, famine was declared in some areas of the country. Hunger levels have increased overall because of prolonged conflict that resulted in decreased food production and disrupted livelihoods. The disruption of trade and markets because of economic collapse worsened the situation, as did dry periods, flooding, and pest infestation.