NYAL, South Sudan — South Sudan villagers, fleeing fighting across the country, are eating grass and roots to survive as the World Food Program starts costly air drops of food to northern parts of the country.The air drops, three times more expensive than road deliveries, are straining the ramped-up humanitarian response. Only a third of the U.N.'s requested $1.27 billion has been raised for the crisis.The WFP's top official, executive director Ertharin Cousin, visited Nyal in Unity state Tuesday before heading on Wednesday to the Ethiopian border town of Gambela, a town overwhelmed by nearly 70,000 South Sudanese fleeing their country's fighting, which started in December.A massive Ilyushin plane has started dropping more than 30 tons of food in the northern states. Each drop provides at least 15 days of rations for 18,000 people, intended to help those stranded between pro-government and anti-government troops.Because of oncoming rains, "in a few weeks this area will be totally inaccessible by road, so in order to continue to feed these people, we need to already have the food in here, and by air is the only means," Cousin said.
About the conflict
The politically fueled ethnic violence continues between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and rebel soldiers loyal to dismissed former Vice President Riek Machar, despite a Jan. 23 cease-fire agreement. The U.N. reports that in the 100 days since the South Sudan conflict started, more than 1 million people have fled their homes and 3.7 million are at high risk of food insecurity.
Newer articles:
- UN officials cite race against time to prevent humanitarian catastrophe in South Sudan - 03/04/2014 20:29
- South Sudan refineries on hold due to conflict: oil ministry source - 03/04/2014 18:00
- South Sudan on verge of Africa's worst famine since 1980s: UN - 03/04/2014 17:34
- south-sudan-food-line-reuters-030414.JPG - 03/04/2014 14:40
- South Sudan assures UN of personnel safety - 03/04/2014 11:15
Older news items
- South Sudan: Humanitarian agencies demand road access - 03/04/2014 05:31
- Harassment of U.N. staff in South Sudan impacting mission, U.N. says - 02/04/2014 20:58
- In South Sudan, rebel chief Machar aims to seize last operating oil field - 02/04/2014 18:59
- South Sudan peace talks break as crisis worsens - 02/04/2014 18:56
- Top UN officials see severe hunger in South Sudan - 02/04/2014 17:32
Latest news items (all categories):
- Western Equatoria prepares for voter registration - 14/09/2026 15:11
- South Sudanese Women Reclaim Their Lives after Fistula Surgery - 14/09/2026 15:10
- Digitel Launches Voice and Social Media Bundles in South Sudan - 14/09/2026 15:07
- Nearly 100,000 displaced in Sudan’s Blue Nile state since January amid fighting: UN agency - 14/09/2026 15:03
- جنوب السودان يرفض طلبًا لـ”حميدتي” بمنحه الحصة الأكبر من عائدات النفط - 14/09/2026 14:51
Random articles (all categories):
- South Sudan: Amnesty to the Rebels! Reparations for the Victims! - 09/07/2013 04:25
- South Sudan's Nuer tribe seeks community center in Austin - Post-Bulletin - 03/07/2012 20:56
- UN set to impose arms embargo on South Sudan - 12/07/2018 21:52
- من هم هولاء الناس حتى لايعاقبهم القانون - 23/11/2013 00:30
- Sudanese Activist Charged With Terrorism - New York Times (blog) - 11/07/2012 21:52
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 149542 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 28110 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 25187 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 24459 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 22412 times
