Feb 23, 2021(Nyamilepedia) — The United Nations (UN) have voiced a warning on a looming famine in South Sudan that is projected to affect at least 60 per cent of the country’s population.
According to the World Food Program (WFP), an estimated 7.24 million South Sudanese are sprinting towards starvation due to chronic sporadic violence, extreme weather patterns and the economic impact of COVID-19.
Ranging floods have also affected more than a million people more so in the eastern and central regions submerging homes, farmlands and livestock.
The UN food agency quoting the famine Review Committee December 2020 report, identified six counties that were deemed high risk.
As a result of the continuing floods affecting the Akobo, Pibor, Aweli West, Tonj North, Tonj South and Tonj East, WFP has begun scaling up it’s emergency food assistance.
They say, this was done in an attempt to ease out the struggle of the 1 million people who live there including the 108000 who are extremely food insecure.
Nyal Chol Liech Muon, a windowed mother of four and a victim of the floods while describing her ordeal to WFP painted the picture of the devastation echoed by the vast majority in her village.
“My husband was killed in the fighting. Everyone in the area fled and I was left alone with my children but I chose to stay behind.The fear of being homeless and my children having to beg for food was greater than my fear of the floods,” said Muon.
The executive Director of the World Food Program, David Beasley, has expressed his optimism at arresting the situation should it become possible to end the conflict.
He flaunted the idea that in the absence of conflict, WFP is ready to work with the tribal leaders and the local population to build dykes and harvest the water in a bid to avert a similar situation in future.
