By Ephraim Modi D.S
The World Food Programme (WFP)’s Acting Country Director Ms. Makena Walker has assured that they did not suspend any food assistance to the people of South Sudan.
This statement came after the WFP reported on June, 14 this year that they had suspended food assistance to starving South Sudanese population with declaration of over 60 percent of the people in the country to cope with severe hunger during the slandering season fueled with conflict, floods, droughts and soaring food prices exacerbated by the Ukraine-Russia war crisis.
The WFP acting Country Director however clarified yesterday during the signing ceremony to recognize contribution from the government of Japan to WFP South Sudan that they didn’t suspend food assistance but rather cut food distributions.
“WFP did not suspend food assistance in South Sudan, we reduced the number of people we were able to reach based on the food that we have” she said.
Walker said since their announcement in June of the suspension of food aid in the Country due to funding shortfall, they were able to mobilize some funds, however they are still operating at constraint circumstances that they cannot really reach everybody who requires assistance in the country.
“Some of the affected people may not be reached by our food assistance because of the lack of funding capacity to reach their ends,” she cited.
She further added that it was a decision by WFP to let other partners know that they need to work together to access the required needs of the vulnerable people.
The Undersecretary from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Assistance Prof. Mathew Gordon Udo earlier mentioned that South Sudan has got many areas that also require assistance to the most vulnerable population in the Country.
WFP prioritize its limited food assistance to reach 4.5 million people struggling with severe hunger across 52 counties in South Sudan including 87,000 people in another eight counties which are already experiencing catastrophic hunger and are living in famine-like conditions.