Arop Jonchol
Juba – Al-Wadi Newspaper
A joint report released on Thursday by the Government of South Sudan in collaboration with three United Nations agencies revealed that at least 83,000 people in the country are at risk of famine, while an estimated 7.7 million—nearly half the population—are expected to suffer from severe food insecurity this year.
The report, based on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), indicated that 11 out of 13 counties in Upper Nile State are experiencing critical levels of hunger, amidst a continuing conflict between government forces and opposition armed groups.
The agencies—the World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)—stated that ongoing fighting in Upper Nile has destroyed homes, disrupted livelihoods, and blocked humanitarian aid from reaching affected areas.
The agencies warned that the country is nearing famine thresholds, as defined by the IPC, where 20% of households suffer from extreme food shortages, 30% of children experience acute malnutrition, and the death rate reaches two adults or four children per 10,000 people per day due to hunger.
The report estimates that around 2.4 million people will face emergency-level food shortages, while another 5.2 million will be in crisis between April and July 2025. It identified armed conflict, weak agricultural production, economic instability, and harsh climatic conditions as key drivers of deteriorating food security.
At the report’s launch event in Juba, Meshack Malo, the FAO representative in South Sudan, stated that about 12,000 people in Nasir, 15,000 in Malakal, and 10,000 in Ulang are at risk of severe hunger.
“This level of need wasn’t there last year,” Malo said, “but the conflict—especially in Upper Nile and Pibor states—has worsened the crisis.”
Mary-Ellen McGroarty, WFP Country Director in South Sudan, called for urgent action, warning that 200,000 children under five in four Upper Nile counties are at risk of acute malnutrition.
Anita Kiki Gbeho, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, emphasized that the crisis requires an immediate response, stressing that “peace is the foundation for the success of any humanitarian intervention.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture Hussein Abdelbagi Akol pledged government support for farmers, stating: “We must restore economic stability to protect our citizens from famine.”
Civil society activist Edmund Yakani called for improved security and investment in agriculture, particularly through non-oil revenues. He asserted: “The ongoing military confrontations are aggravating the current food crisis.”
It is worth noting that the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) is the global reference system for assessing hunger levels and is used by governments and humanitarian organizations to guide policy and emergency responses.
