WFP Seeks Funding for Food Assistance as Rainy Season Approaches in South Sudan
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Juba, Dec 2 (NationPress) The World Food Programme (WFP) issued a call to donors on Monday for financial assistance to facilitate the prepositioning of 147,000 metric tonnes of food aid in South Sudan prior to the rainy season, a period when roads often become unmanageable.
The WFP reported a funding shortfall of 461 million dollars between December 2024 and May 2025, which is essential to address the urgent humanitarian requirements of millions impacted by the crisis.
According to the WFP, “South Sudan is experiencing a convergence of crises that continuously drive millions of families into unprecedented levels of vulnerability,” as stated in their recent report on the country, as noted by the Xinhua news agency.
The nation is still dealing with a protracted humanitarian emergency characterized by persistent food and nutrition insecurity.
On November 1, the WFP requested 404 million dollars to enhance humanitarian efforts in 2025, amid alerts of escalating hunger. It emphasized the necessity for early contributions to next year’s operations to allow for food prepositioning, aimed at preventing soaring operational costs and hunger throughout 2025.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has further complicated the scenario, resulting in 854,000 people fleeing into South Sudan by October 31.
The WFP highlighted that “the country is enduring an unparalleled economic collapse, fueled by the Sudan conflict which has disrupted oil production and food supplies, leading to nationwide inflation.”
From January to October, the South Sudanese pound suffered a depreciation of 65 percent and 74 percent in the reference and parallel markets, respectively, against the US dollar, causing a surge in food and non-food prices, thereby worsening the plight of impoverished households.
The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), released on November 18, indicated that over 85 percent of returnees escaping Sudan will experience acute food insecurity through the upcoming lean season, commencing in April 2025.
These returnees are also expected to constitute nearly half of those facing catastrophic hunger as they endeavor to rebuild their lives amidst an extraordinary economic crisis, severe flooding, and resource allocation challenges due to overwhelming needs against limited funding.
The report further indicated that numerous communities across South Sudan will continue to face difficulties as the economic downturn, extreme flooding, prolonged dry spells, and conflict persist, obstructing progress.
