Donations crucial for hunger emergency in South Sudan - Examiner.com

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said today it needs US $26 million dollars to feed hungry and displaced people in South Sudan. WFP also says its air operation to drop food to refugees "is still facing huge financial shortfalls."

WFP is operating a complicated and dangerous relief mission in South Sudan because of ongoing conflict, poverty and lack of infrastructure. The pre-positioning of food is crucial in South Sudan because of the rainy season starting in April, which makes the poor roads impassable.

Since it can take four months for food to arrive and be pre-positioned within South Sudan, it's critical the donations arrive now. Planning ahead is crucial to prevent malnutrition from escalating in South Sudan.

WFP says about 5000 truckloads of food need to be transported inside South Sudan early next year to carry out the pre-positioning of food. Already 500 trucks of food have begun the journey.

WFP is currently feeding refugees in Yida who have fled the conflict between Sudan and South Sudan. There are constantly new arrivals to this refugee camp. Over 4,000 small children in the camp are currently receiving Plumpy'Sup to treat their malnutrition. This special peanut paste is life-saving for the children.

Over 100,000 refugees from the conflict in Abyei received 30-day rations of food during WFP's last reported distribution. Internally displaced persons in Jonglei and other parts of South Sudan also received rations.

The United Nations warns that conflict as well as damage from flooding will likely cause hunger to escalate in parts of Jonglei, Lakes and Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal states. The UN also says "humanitarian partners are planning to provide food assistance to 2.3 million people in 2013."

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said today it needs US $26 million dollars to feed hungry and displaced people in South Sudan. WFP also says its air operation to drop food to refugees "is still facing huge financial shortfalls."

WFP is operating a complicated and dangerous relief mission in South Sudan because of ongoing conflict, poverty and lack of infrastructure. The pre-positioning of food is crucial in South Sudan because of the rainy season starting in April, which makes the poor roads impassable.

Since it can take four months for food to arrive and be pre-positioned within South Sudan, it's critical the donations arrive now. Planning ahead is crucial to prevent malnutrition from escalating in South Sudan.

WFP says about 5000 truckloads of food need to be transported inside South Sudan early next year to carry out the pre-positioning of food. Already 500 trucks of food have begun the journey.

WFP is currently feeding refugees in Yida who have fled the conflict between Sudan and South Sudan. There are constantly new arrivals to this refugee camp. Over 4,000 small children in the camp are currently receiving Plumpy'Sup to treat their malnutrition. This special peanut paste is life-saving for the children.

Over 100,000 refugees from the conflict in Abyei received 30-day rations of food during WFP's last reported distribution. Internally displaced persons in Jonglei and other parts of South Sudan also received rations.

The United Nations warns that conflict as well as damage from flooding will likely cause hunger to escalate in parts of Jonglei, Lakes and Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal states. The UN also says "humanitarian partners are planning to provide food assistance to 2.3 million people in 2013."