Emergency
South Sudan emergency
- 7.7 million
- people are facing severe food insecurity
- 1.4 million
- children under 5 are facing acute malnutrition
- 5.6 million
- people reached with WFP assistance in 2022
South Sudan is simultaneously drowning and drying as the climate crisis tightens its grip. An unprecedented flooding crisis has swallowed large swathes of the country while other parts are grappling with devastating drought.
Two-thirds of the population – over 7.7 million people – are facing crisis or worse levels of hunger. This is the highest number ever, surpassing that seen even at the height of the country’s civil war.
Four consecutive years of record flooding has led to widespread displacement, the destruction of livelihoods and the loss of arable land – contributing to rising hunger. The effects of these concurrent climate shocks are compounded by rising food and fuel prices and ongoing conflict.
While much of WFP's activities are focused on keeping people alive, we are also working with conflict and climate-affected communities to implement long-term solutions to reduce hunger.
WFP urgently needs an additional US$567 million over the next 6 months to continue life-saving assistance and invest in long-term resilience-building initiatives. Funding levels for both humanitarian responses and resilience-building are failing to keep pace with rising needs. This means WFP can only provide half rations and must prioritize life-saving assistance for those closest to famine.
What the World Food Programme is doing to respond to the South Sudan emergency
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Food assistance
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WFP and its partners have continued to deploy rapid response teams, exploiting windows of opportunity to reach people in need. Since the Integrated Rapid Response Mechanism (IRRM) launched, teams have deployed for more than 400 missions in deep field locations in South Sudan. Through these joint emergency teams, WFP reaches 500,000 people per month in areas that are only accessible by air.
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Climate resilience
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WFP has been supporting the rehabilitation of infrastructure including dykes and roads, in areas affected by widespread flooding. We have further supported families in growing flood-resistant crops like rice and increasing the production of vital cereals.
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Cash transfers
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In South Sudan, WFP is scaling up the use of cash transfers across its programmes and activities, navigating the challenges of a fragile political context, with related security issues, as well as inflation. Cash assistance empowers beneficiaries letting them choose what to buy, and increases cost-efficiency and effectiveness, reducing the need to transport and preposition food commodities. In 2021, WFP transferred US$57,677,173 in cash annually.
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School meals
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Schools meals support a healthy and productive learning environment for children. Where WFP has provided school meals, enrolment and attendance rates have increased by up to 80 percent. WFP seeks to assist more than 400,000 children through school meals and a special take-home ration to encourage girls to attend classes through 2023.
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Nutrition
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WFP and UNICEF have continued their succesful partnership to intensify the nutrition response in South Sudan. WFP has provided treatment to malnourished children, pregnant women and nursing mothers, in addition to training community nutrition volunteers. We continue to support outreach efforts through more than 12,000 community nutrition volunteers throughout South Sudan.
How you can help
Families in South Sudan are desperate for food. If we don't act today, it could be too late. WFP needs US$ 526 million to ensure uninterrupted food assistance. Make a lifesaving donation now.
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