WFP Airdrops Food in South Sudan

The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) on Monday, began airdropping emergency food to thousands of families in South Sudan’s conflict-hit Upper Nile State.

According to a statement issued by the WFP, these distributions mark the first access in over four months to deliver life-saving food and nutrition assistance to more than 40,000 people facing catastrophic hunger in the most remote parts of Nasir and Ulang counties, areas only accessible by air.

WFP country director in South Sudan, Mary-Ellen McGroarty said, “The link between conflict and hunger is tragically clear in South Sudan, and we’ve seen this over the past few months in Upper Nile.

“Without a major scale-up in assistance, the counties of Nasir and Ulang risk slipping into full-blown famine.”

The UN agency noted that it aims to reach 470,000 people in Upper Nile and northern Jonglei through the lean season, the hungriest time of year, which runs through August, but continued fighting and logistical constraints have hindered access and a comprehensive response.

More than one million people across Upper Nile are facing acute hunger, including over 32,000 people already experiencing catastrophic levels of hunger, the highest level of food insecurity, the WFP warned.

In addition, a global funding slowdown is worsening the already dire humanitarian situation in South Sudan.

It said some 7.7 million people, or 57 percent of the population, are facing crisis, emergency, or catastrophic levels of hunger.

As a result of the funding gaps, the WFP has prioritized assistance with reduced rations for only the most vulnerable 2.5 million people, just 30 percent of those in acute need to stretch limited resources.

Xinhua /Kamila