The number of South Sudanese in need of food aid could jump to 3.3 million this year, agencies warn
NAIROBI (AlertNet) - The number of South Sudanese in need of food aid could jump to more than 40 percent of the population this year, due to poor harvests, soaring food prices and conflict, a U.N. report said on Wednesday.
The World Food Programme (WFP) may have to expand its 2012 emergency food operation from a planned 2.7 million recipients to 3.3 million if households with “borderline food consumption” can no longer afford to meet their needs, the report warned. Last year, the U.N. agency provided food assistance to around 2.1 million people in South Sudan.
"This is a rapidly approaching crisis that the world cannot afford to ignore," Chris Nikoi, WFP's South Sudan director, said in a statement on Wednesday. "The situation is dire, and we are doing everything we can to be ready, but we are running out of time."
South Sudan won its independence from Sudan in July. But the new nation has been struggling to build up state institutions, end ethnic and rebel violence, and overcome economic woes.
In their joint assessment, the WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) classified 4.7 million people out of 8.2 million in the world’s newest nation as “food insecure”, a sharp rise from 3.3 million in 2011.
The term means they are not eating enough to carry out their daily activities, and many may need support - either food aid or cash - during the hungry season, which begins in March and runs until the July or August harvest.
HELPING FARMERS
The report said poor rains, increased demand, rapidly rising prices, conflict, displacement and a large number of returnees from Sudan are causing widespread hunger.
“We need to break the cycle of increasing hunger and poverty. We can do this by helping people to resume the farming, livestock and other activities that support their livelihoods,” said George Okeh, head of the FAO’s South Sudan office.
According to the assessment, South Sudan’s cereal production in 2011 was about 19 percent below the previous year, and 25 percent lower than the average for the last five years. The cereal deficit for 2012 is estimated at almost half the country’s total consumption requirements.
The FAO provided agricultural tools and seeds to 165,000 farming families in last year’s growing season, and plans to continue support to revive production capacity this year.
One reason food prices are soaring is that Sudan has closed its border with South Sudan, disrupting markets. High fuel costs and the depreciation of the South Sudanese pound have also helped push inflation up towards 50 percent.
Violence is a major problem too. There has been serious fighting in Jonglei state, leaving 140,000 people in need of emergency aid. And thousands of Sudanese refugees are crossing into South Sudan to escape fighting and hunger in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.
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