World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

Not too long ago, Mark Diang was a child soldier in southern Sudan. Thankfully, he managed to leave that life behind and he now works for WFP as a security assistant. He recently received a special award from WFP for his critical role in negotiating safe passage for urgent food aid along a dangerous river route.

As South Sudan moves towards independence and southerners look to build up business and commerce, traffic on the region’s roads is likely to get heavier. That makes the road rehabilitation work being carried out by WFP's logistics team more crucial than ever.

As southern Sudan holds a referendum on independence, WFP is working to ensure that the landmark event doesn’t produce yet more hunger in a region where food security has been undermined by decades of conflict and natural disasters. Here are four ways we aim to keep hunger at bay.

Grace Martin Lado, 25, has returned to Southern Sudan 18 years after her family fled the fighting there. Her family faced an arduous trip back to their homeland and food rations from WFP are helping them to resettle.