By Ephraim Modi Duku Sokiri
About 43,000 people in South Sudan are already facing starvation and the number is expected to increase to over seven million by July this year, Oxfam has revealed.
South Sudan is facing the worst humanitarian crisis since independence due to continued conflict and climate change in the country and its neigbours.
Some 4 years of unprecedented floods have led to massive displacement and crop destruction. About 9.4 million people, including almost 5 million children will require humanitarian assistance in 2023.
African Director for Oxfam, Fati N’Zi Hassane has revealed a population of 7.8 million South Sudanese to starve by July 2023 as caused by the war in Sudan, worsened by the rapidly humanitarian situation.
“As the world focuses on the crisis in Sudan, we must act on the consequences it is having on tragedy right next door. For the past five years, South Sudan has consistently been the world’s hungriest nation. 43,000 people are already facing starvation. The number of people going hungry is expected to reach over 7.8 million by July,” she said.
As thousands of South Sudanese communities are opening their own doors and offering their meager resources to refugees fleeing the conflict in neighbouring Sudan.
Following three days’ operations review to South Sudan, Oxfam said it visited families in Akobo County and found that most people that flee the conflict in Sudan are living with South Sudanese people displaced from their own fear of attacks, abduction and from the worsening impacts of climate change.
“People of Akobo include those who have exhausted all their available options to make ends meet. They have absolutely nothing left. Despite the many challenges, we met mothers sharing the little they have with other newly displaced arrivals and their children,” said N’Zi Hassane.
“People here do whatever they can; now it is time to step up as international community and support the people in Sudan and South Sudan.”
Sudan is a vital transport and trade route for South Sudan and an important source of sorghum imports across the region. Fighting and instability in the Sudan has disrupted this route sending food prices rocketing up from what were historically high levels.
She said Oxfam aims to reach 500 thousand people through its work with partners in South Sudan over the course of this year, with food, clean water and sanitation.
A sign of the lack of development in South Sudan is the limited infrastructure which creates additional challenges, she said.
In 2020, the World Bank reported just 7.2% of the population in South Sudan has access to electricity. About 2% of South Sudan’s roads are paved, making many of them inaccessible during the rainy season, which prevents children from getting to school, makes reaching healthcare difficult, and complicates the delivery of food and other supplies.
According to Oxfam, 9.4 million people will be in need of humanitarian assistance, 76% of South Sudan’s population, and an increase of 500,000 people from 2022.
On the other hand, conflict and insecurity, fueled by inter-communal violence, crime and wide-scale impunity, continue to be among the main drivers of humanitarian needs in South Sudan.
Conferring to USAID, after more than six years of conflict, South Sudan remains one of the most food-insecure countries in the world. Ongoing violence, flooding, resultant population displacement, and disrupted trade, markets, and cultivation activities have exacerbated food insecurity and humanitarian needs.