Oxfam reaction to the IPC's report on high acute food insecurity in South Sudan

Responding to the IPC report published over the weekend with alarming figures of around 7.74 million people in South Sudan likely to experience high levels of acute food insecurity between April and July 2022, Oxfam Lead in South Sudan, Juliet Moriku Balikowa said:

“These latest figures just reiterate the desperate situation many people in South Sudan are facing. The number of people classified in areas of catastrophic hunger is alarming. More than half of South Sudanese are facing acute hunger and those numbers are expected to grow. Even those counties that have remained in the same state as in the previous years, show that we need to step up our resources and efforts to salvage the situation”.

“As the report shows, the situation of communities living in the most affected areas is urgent ― they paid the highest price after they lost their farms, livestock, and family members to floods, hunger, and insecurity. We do hope it will spur more international attention and action on their behalf. 

"It is a sad reality that many will not be able to enjoy this season’s holidays as they are displaced by insecurity, economic crisis, and natural hazards and don’t have even the basics of food, shelter, or medicine.

"We continue to call for more funding and safer humanitarian access to urgently reach the most vulnerable communities, as well as support to help communities adapt to the impacts of the climate crisis. This report is yet another warning that people are already facing unacceptable hunger, and if we don’t heed it now, we will see truly devastating consequences.”