By Bida Elly David
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in their 2022 edition report on food crisis has anticipated that South Sudan among six other countries are in terrible position to face high shortage of food after this year marked a dramatic increase in food insecurity.
This came following presentation of report on the economic status of the countries under IGAD, tracing out seven countries through Statistical analysis as well as discussions and interpretation of the findings.
In a statement seen by No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper, the report revealed that over 50,000 people are projected to battle starvation in seven countries under the administration of IGAD.
“The 2022 edition of the IGAD regional focus on food crisis pointed out that the countries that are in position to battle high rate of starvation due to food insecurity consists of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda,” the statement read in part.
Furthermore, the statement pointed out that 2022 has been one of the years with numerous constraints that had triggered and planted high food insecurity in most countries that have been struggling to restructure their economic positions.
“This year’s situation of the food insecurity marks a terrible year as many populations around the globe have been desperate from 2021 when the population of about 42 million people were affected with severe food insecurity issues in most countries,” the report states.
Moreover, the regional bloc’s report revealed 24% of contribution raised by IGAD member countries of the world’s 50 Million IDPs mainly in South Sudan being a country that has been impeded by both natural and man-made disasters.
“The region has been hit like never before. The climate extremes, conflict and macroeconomic challenges make it almost impossible for us as most communities in many countries are failing to sustain most of the problems” stated Dr. Worknet Gebeyehu IGAD secretary in the statement.
Additionally, he said that the figure released on the population of the affected countries was terrifying showing signs of worries into serious increase in the nearest future.
“The statistics we released was heartbreaking and I am worried of the future increase in the total number of people that will be at the same scenario. Climate change has impeded into an unprecedented multi-seasonal drought in some parts as well as the member States,” he said.
However, the regional bloc meeting pointed out absence and insufficient rainfall being one of the factors that has affected most of the countries under IGAD and said that immediate humanitarian assistance is needed to mitigate the situation.