The world’s youngest country has struggled to overcome a multitude of challenges. Conflict, climate shocks, a widespread economic crisis and the conflict in neighbouring Sudan continue to put sufficient, nutritious food out of reach for millions of families.

More than 1 million people fleeing the Sudan conflict have crossed into South Sudan since April 2023. The World Food Programme (WFP) has supported more than 620,000 of them with fortified biscuits, food or cash assistance, and nutrition support for mothers and young children.

The multiplying shocks have made it impossible for smallholder farmers in many areas to grow enough food. Additionally, with a heavy reliance on imports, many people across South Sudan are unable to afford basic food items and must rely on humanitarian assistance.

More than 7.5 million people are food insecure and 1.65 million children are malnourished.

A total of 2.8 million children are out of school, more than half of whom are girls. There is a 29 percent literacy rate for women compared to 40 percent for men – one of the lowest female rates in the world.

Food assistance is essential to avoiding a humanitarian catastrophe. WFP provides life-saving support to millions of people in virtually all areas, including in hard-to-reach locations. With a view to turning food assistance into a tool for peace building and future development, WFP is working with grassroots civil society organizations and empowering communities – with a special focus on women and girls – to foster increased resilience, self-reliance, and recovery.

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What the World Food Programme is doing in South Sudan

Food assistance
WFP works to ensure that vulnerable people affected by conflict, displacement, climate shocks (flooding and drought) and economic crises can meet their food and nutrition needs. This includes conditional or unconditional food distributions and, where possible, cash transfers.
Nutrition
WFP provides specialized nutritious food and nutrition counselling to pregnant and breastfeeding women, and children. The nutrition programme is twofold – treating malnutrition among pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 5, and preventing malnutrition for pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 2. WFP works with UNICEF and other partners to ensure nutrition programmes reach even the most inaccessible parts of the country.
Livelihood support
WFP works with smallholder farmers and farmers’ organizations to improve resilience to shocks, through training and the creation of assets, such as roads, dykes and shallow wells, which can boost agricultural productivity and post-harvest management, improve access to basic services and markets, and help communities adapt to climate change. WFP has introduced livelihood initiatives and supported shared community assets, such as communal farming land, in conflict-affected areas where humanitarian assistance is needed. This works helps reduce conflict and contributes to peace among communities. Where possible, WFP also procures food locally to boost livelihood opportunities and the local economy.
School meals
Schools meals support a healthy and productive learning environment for children. Where WFP has provided school meals, enrolment and attendance rates have increased by up to 80 percent. WFP seeks to assist more than 400,000 children through school meals and a special take-home ration to encourage girls to attend classes through 2023.
Logistics support
WFP provides air transport and logistics services to humanitarian partners, to ensure the delivery of assistance to hard-to-reach areas. This includes flights to 59 destinations through the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service. The WFP-led Logistics Cluster provides coordination and information management, delivery of humanitarian relief items, common warehousing and geographic information system mapping. WFP also supports infrastructure works across the country. This includes building and restoring roads to facilitate the transportation of goods, and creating dykes to prevent floodwaters from devastating communities.

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In focus

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Partners and donors

Achieving Zero Hunger is the work of many. Our work in South Sudan is made possible by the support and collaboration of our partners and donors, including:
Canada European Union France Germany Japan

Operations in South Sudan

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Contacts

Office

WFP Country Office South Sudan, Jebel Kujur Office, Juba, South Sudan
Juba
South Sudan

Phone
+211 (0) 912 465 581
Fax
+211 (0) 912 537 994
Email
wfp.southsudan@wfp.org
For media inquiries
wfp.southsudan@wfp.org
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