WFP calls for urgent funding to avert famine in South Sudan

United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP) issued an urgent appeal to donors on Friday for critical funding to address severe food insecurity in South Sudan, where millions face the threat of famine.

WFP reported that its food supply stocks in South Sudan have nearly run out and that it requires USD 404 million to prepare aid for 2025 amid "rising operational costs and escalating hunger."

Without immediate funding, the agency may be forced to rely on costly air deliveries later in the year to reach the most isolated and vulnerable communities. WFP's Acting Director in South Sudan, Sean Hughes, warned, "Converting donor funds into food for the hungry in South Sudan can take months. With limited road access across much of the country, especially in the east and center, where food insecurity is rampant, roads are often impassable for most of the year."

Securing funds before year-end would allow the WFP to transport food supplies by road during the dry season from December through April, Hughes explained. "Air deliveries are always a last resort for the WFP. Every dollar spent on air transport is a dollar not spent on food for the hungry," he added.

The organization reported that it had to double air operations in 2024, adding USD 30 million to its operational costs. Over half of South Sudan’s population, or approximately 56 percent, now faces critical levels of hunger. This crisis is exacerbated by inflation, frequent flooding, and the influx of refugees fleeing conflict in neighboring Sudan.