Believers feed the hungry as South Sudan braces for famine

South Sudan (MNN) — 2021 is a critical year for South Sudan. “In the next 12 months or so, about 60-percent of the total population of South Sudan is expected to be food insecure,” World Concern^[1]’s Joshua Bundi says.

Experts say^[2] South Sudan is on the brink of famine, facing the highest food insecurity and malnutrition levels in a decade. If nothing changes, the World Health Organization reports^[3], acute malnutrition will be the leading cause of death for children under five.

“About 1.4 million children under five years [old] are likely to [be malnourished], which is the highest number since 2013. It’s quite worrying because this [is] a very high number.”

The United Nations is already preparing food aid for the upcoming rainy season. “[The] rainy season begins around June [and lasts] to October when they do harvest,” Bundi explains.

Mary harvests and shows the vegetables she has harvested from seeds originally provided by WC. She is able to eat and sell the vegetables and replant seeds grown by the plants in Aluelweng Village.(Photo by Daryl Finley)

Local churches are readying their supplies and response plan with support from World Concern.

“Our desire is to minister the love of Christ within those particular areas where people are neglected [and] very few people are able to reach them. Not only to give them food, but also help them get reconciled to Christ,” Bundi says.

“Pray for the South Sudan people; they are some of the most resilient people I have met. Besides praying, we can also give whatever the Lord has blessed us with to support the people,” he continues.

“People need assistance if they’re going to make it.”

Connect with World Concern here^[4] to send help in Christ’s name.

Header image courtesy of World Concern.

References

1. ^{^} World Concern (www.mnnonline.org)
2. ^{^} Experts say (news.un.org)
3. ^{^} the World Health Organization reports (reliefweb.int)
4. ^{^} Connect with World Concern here (worldconcern.org)