South Sudan: WFP Scales Up Emergency Response in South Sudan As Catastrophic Hunger and Malnutrition Deepen

WFP is delivering vital food and nutritional assistance to hundreds of thousands of people in Akobo East, as insecurity, infrastructure damage and the onset of the rainy season hamper operations.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has scaled-up its emergency response in Akobo East, South Sudan, delivering vital food and nutrition assistance to hundreds of thousands of people facing catastrophic hunger and malnutrition, even as insecurity, infrastructure damage and the onset of the rainy season continue to hamper operations.

"The situation is critical and demands immediate attention to save lives of people who desperately need assistance," said Mutinta Chimuka, WFP Country Director in South Sudan. "Our hope is to continue to reach people in need. Sustained safety and security of humanitarians and humanitarian cargo is therefore crucial to allow us to ramp up assistance and effectively reach all those in need."

Food security situation in Akobo

  • According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) update, parts of Akobo County are experiencing IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe) - one of four counties at risk of famine if conditions deteriorate.

  • An estimated 97,000 people are projected to face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis), 85,000 Phase 4 (Emergency), and 12,000 Phase 5 (Catastrophe) through July

  • The malnutrition crisis has worsened to IPC Acute Malnutrition Phase 5 (Extremely Critical), driven by displacement, loss of livelihoods, disruption to health and nutrition services, and increased disease risks due to overcrowding.

  • Severe malnutrition among children under 5 and breastfeeding mothers is rising sharply, fuelling fears of famine-like conditions developing in the region.

  • Ongoing conflict has already displaced approximately 142,000 individuals from Akobo County and surrounding areas, with 100,000 having crossed into neighbouring Ethiopia.

  • The collapse of local markets due to conflict and looting has severely restricted access to food supplies.

WFP operations in Akobo

Since launching its emergency response three weeks ago, WFP has reached more than 60,000 vulnerable people in Akobo including:

  • More than 15,000 people with emergency food assistance

  • Close to 6,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women with nutrition commodities and

  • Over 30,000 people with High Energy Biscuits (HEB), a vital source of nutrition for people on the move.

  • More than 6,000 children and pregnant and breastfeeding women with specialized nutritious foods - part of a blanket supplementary feeding programme.

  • WFP and partners have also conducted nutrition screenings for 15,000 children and admitted 3,000 children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM).

This article originally appeared on WFP.

Blessing Mwangi