Growing food crisis in South Sudan, which is exacerbated by the political dispute in the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), is changing its face into a catastrophe hitting remote populations across the country.
Growing food crisis in South Sudan, which is exacerbated by the political dispute in the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), is changing its face into a catastrophe hitting remote populations across the country.
Ambrose Oyet , a resident of Lopa County in Eastern Equitoria told TCT that the state has been hit by a hunger outbreak which has forced many young people to migrate to the state capital, Torit.
He described the situation as “severe” that needs immediate intervention before cases of hunger-related deaths occurred. Oyet, who is a teacher by profession, has urged both county and state authorities to launch an appeal for humanitarian agencies to respond to the situation.
Lopa County is among the counties in Eqautoria region that are not directly affected by the current political crisis in the country.
Recently, South Sudan President Salva Kiir warned of "one of the worst famines ever that the country will face”.
Earlier, aid agencies warned that more than four million people in South Sudan are likely to face critical food shortages at the end of 2014 and throughout 2015.
The warning has now come true, and UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake has warned that the world should not wait for a famine to be announced while children in South Sudanese are dying.
"We all have to do more, and quickly, to keep more children alive,” he said.
Before the declaration of a fasmine in Somalia in 2011, an estimated 260,000 people had died. Half the victims perished before the formal famine declaration, the UN reported.
Lake and World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director Ertharin Cousin said they fear the
world is allowing a repeat of that tragedy by not yet dedicating enough resources in South Sudan.
Challiss McDonough, WFP spokeswoman warned that it would be too late if the world was waiting for conditions to worsen.
The UN has urged media coverage to be intensified so as new donations may pour in. If not, then tens of thousands will face severe hunger and the aid money will still be needed.
There were early warnings that if the conflict in South Sudan continues, and more aid cannot be delivered, then it is likely that South Sudan will slip into famine.
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