60,000 people in troubled South Sudan state of Jonglei face hunger
Meshack Malo, FAO Representative in South Sudan, cited the looting of food aid meant for the most vulnerable people. PHOTO | WFP
What you need to know:
- Recurring violence in Pibor and Bor has already displaced more than 60,000 people and is crippling food security and the livelihoods of a growing number of people.
- Meshack Malo, FAO Representative in South Sudan, cited the looting of food aid meant for the most vulnerable people.
Two UN humanitarian agencies say continuous violence in some areas of the greater Jonglei region threatens over 60,000 people with hunger.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (AFP) say recurring violence in Pibor and Bor has already displaced more than 60,000 people and is crippling food security and the livelihoods of a growing number of people.
In a joint press statement seen by The EastAfrican on Thursday, the two organisations said violence has halted farming, which will slash harvests for the rest of the year, and deprived communities of livestock as a source of nutrition.
Meshack Malo, FAO Representative in South Sudan, cited the looting of food aid meant for the most vulnerable people.
“At the height of the main planting season, insecurity is preventing farmers from going to their fields to cultivate crops and livestock keepers are not able to follow their traditional migratory patterns to graze their animals” said Mr Malo.
He added that cattle rustling has affected the livelihoods of communities which entirely depend on them.
INSUFFICIENT RESOURCES
Matthew Hollingworth, WFP’s Country Director, said the violence risks causing long-term calamitous food insecurity across this region for the rest of the year.
“We simply cannot replace the calories milk gives children when livestock is taken and a year’s worth of milk is lost, and we barely have sufficient resources to meet current needs,” he said
Matthew said more than 430 metric tons of WFP food supplies have been lost to looting at WFP and partner warehouses in the affected areas.
According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report Phase 4, Pibor administrative area now faces emergency levels of food insecurity.
As per WFP IPC phase 5, three Jonglei counties had people who were classified in the “catastrophe” level of food insecurity earlier this year.
The two UN agencies added that the food security of the two areas will only improve if consistent humanitarian assistance is provided but this has proven impossible because of the fighting.
They stressed that violence in eastern South Sudan is adding to the number of hungry people with the country in its annual lean season.
At least 6.5 million people – more than half the entire population – are facing severe acute food insecurity.
