Juba, 12 December (IANS). The United Nations has warned that the world should not turn a blind eye to South Sudan, where climate change, conflict and economic hardship are pushing millions of people into food insecurity.
Extreme levels of food insecurity and malnutrition have ravaged South Sudan, UN Famine Prevention and Response Coordinator Rina Ghelani and Acting Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan Mary Helen Varney said in a joint statement issued in Juba, the South Sudanese capital, on Monday. .
Varney called for continued cooperation, saying South Sudan needed immediate access to climate funds to find long-term solutions for its people and tackle the crisis, Xinhua news agency reported.
“South Sudan is on the front lines of climate change. Last year, one million people were affected by floods, forcing many to move elsewhere in the country and find new sources of livelihood,” he said.
Humanitarian workers have estimated that nine million people will need aid in 2024.
Of these, humanitarians plan to provide life-saving assistance to six million people and require $1.8 billion. But UN officials said the initial funding is crucial to helping people.
According to the United Nations, an estimated 1.6 million children (6-59 months) are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition from July 2023 to June 2024.
“We must invest in sustainable and long-term solutions to build a famine-free future in South Sudan,” Ghailani said.
He said, “We cannot let people starve under our watch. I have seen how women and young people can meet their own food needs and become self-reliant when supported. We must achieve a famine-free South Sudan.” “We must invest in sustainable and long-term solutions for the future.” ,
According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC 5), about 25,000 people in Sudan are already experiencing catastrophic levels of hunger. It warned that the number could rise to around 80,000 in the coming months if immediate aid was not provided.
The United Nations said South Sudanese are facing the cumulative and compounded effects of multiple inter-related crises. This includes the effects of the crisis in Sudan, climate shocks such as floods and local drought-like conditions, and economic crises. This crisis is driven by currency devaluation and rising commodity prices.
The UN said humanitarians are being forced to halve rations and reduce their support due to funding cuts.
–IANS
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