South Sudan nearing “full-scale famine”, warns UN

Over 7 million require humanitarian assistance, and nearly as many are experiencing acute hunger (Photo Credit: Maktoob Media)

The United Nations has warned that South Sudan is at risk of sliding into a full-scale famine as conflict, displacement, and food shortages intensify across the country. 

Addressing the UN Security Council, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, said that hunger is "tightening its grip” on the population, with millions already facing severe food insecurity. 

Over 7 million require humanitarian assistance, and nearly as many are experiencing acute hunger.

Fletcher warned that across all 10 states, there will be emergency levels of food insecurity.

The warning comes amid intensifying clashes between government forces and opposition groups, where recent fighting displaced thousands and disrupted farming and aid access.

Fletcher outlined three urgent priorities to prevent a collapse, “rapid, unhindered humanitarian access” to reach affected populations, a call to “step up flexible funding” to sustain relief operations; and the use of the Security Council’s influence to ensure the warring parties abide by international humanitarian law. He indicated that without these measures, relief efforts would remain insufficient to halt the worsening food crisis

The UN also raised concerns over the cuts to peacekeeping operations and restricted humanitarian access, which are worsening conditions on the ground, limiting the ability of aid agencies to reach affected populations.

South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011, has constantly struggled with internal conflicts and chronic instability since the South Sudanese Civil War, and it continues to undermine food production and livelihoods.

A civil war erupted in 2013 between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those aligned with his former deputy, Riek Machar. The war, marked by ethnic violence, mass atrocities, and a widespread humanitarian crisis, lasted until a fragile peace deal was signed in 2018.

Though the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement brought a degree of stability, delays in its implementation and continued political rivalries have kept tensions simmering.

The latest wave of violence erupted on 4 March when the so-called White Army, a youth militia, overran South Sudanese army barracks in Nasir, Upper Nile province.

In response, government forces launched retaliatory aerial bombardments on civilian areas, using barrel bombs that allegedly contained highly flammable accelerants.

Source: https://maktoobmedia.com/post?id=115296&slug=south-sudan-nearing-full-scale-famine-warns-un