UN: Number Suffering Food Crisis in S Sudan Expected to Double 5.3 Million
Local Editor
S Sudan had some of worst indicators for development, health and education even before two years of civil war.
Between January to March, 2.8 million people were classified by the WFP as being in "crisis" or "emergency" food situations, with around 40,000 thought to be suffering outright famine, Reuters reports.
But the WFP estimates the figure will nearly double during this year's lean season - the season between harvests during which many are forced to 'lean' on food aid.
"Internal food security analysis shows that South Sudan will face the most severe lean season in 2016 since its independence, driven by insecurity, poor harvests, and displacement in some areas of the country," said a WFP report published Monday.
After winning independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan erupted into civil war in December 2013 when President Kiir fired his first vice president Riek Machar, who he accused of plotting a coup. The incident set off a cycle of retaliatory killings that have split the poverty-stricken, landlocked country along ethnic lines.
"As many as 5.3 million people may face severe food insecurity, with particular areas of concern in the non-conflict affected states of Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Eastern Equatoria," the WFP reported.
"After gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan erupted into civil war in December 2013, setting off a cycle of retaliatory killings."
During the 2015 lean season, which runs between March and September, the WFP had classified around 4.6 million people as severely "food insecure," Reuters reports.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed and more than two million driven from their homes, the UN says, in a conflict that has included the abduction and rape of thousands of women and girls, massacres of civilians, recruitment of child soldiers, murder, mutilation and even cannibalism.
South Sudan is one of poorest countries on the planet, and had some world's worst indicators for development, health and education even before over two years of war.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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