By William Madouk
The United States government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has contributed $288.5 million as funding to fight hunger across the country.
The donation is channeled through the World Food Programme (WPF) agency to reach more than 2.2 million most food-insecure people with life-saving food and nutrition assistance through the 2023 lean season.
South Sudan is facing one of its hungriest years since independence with 7.76 million people expected to be in worse levels of hunger (IPC3+), and during lean season household food stocks run out and they are forced to wait until next harvest.
US envoy to South Sudan, Michael J. Adler announced more than $288.5 Million in the new funding provided by the US government to the people of South Sudan.
Ambassador Adler made the pledge in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State during his one-day mission to visit USAID supported project in Aweil town.
Meanwhile, the Vice President for Gender Cluster, Rebecca Nyandeng accepted and lauded the United States supported projects across the Country.
VP Nyandeng stated that because of the peacefulness of NBG in the Country, it is chosen by the US government to announce their funding to South Sudanese.
On the same note, the governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal Tong Akeen applaud the United State government and her people for the unwavering support to the people of South Sudan since the struggle times.
Akeen appreciated US’s continuous support towards the revitalized agreement and more importantly the support of the new roadmap 2022 to bring everlasting Peace and stability in the Country.
Mary-Ellen McGroarty, WPF’S Country Director in South Sudan said “A fourth year of record flooding, rising costs of food and energy, and ongoing conflict are disrupting lives and livelihoods and threatening to push millions of families further into hunger.”
She added “This generous contribution comes at a critical time as we race to dispatch food assistance to the most remote areas ahead of the lean season. Receiving funding in advance means we can act earlier to prevent families from falling into more severe levels of acute hunger when shocks strike.”
The announcement of the funding for WFP’s 2023 humanitarian response was made during a visit to USAID and WFP-supported projects in Aweil, where delegates met with women and children at the Gabat Nutrition Site.
In attendance were; Michael J. Adler, the US Ambassador to South Sudan, Kate Crawford, the USAID Mission Director in South Sudan, Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior, Vice President for Gender, Youth and Humanitarian Cluster among others.