Hunger in South Sudan Could Almost Double, Driving Tens of Thousands to Places Like Darfur (For the Media) 

Around 5 million people – nearly half the population of South Sudan – could face acute hunger in the next three months during the lean season, when traditionally hunger worsens. Too many people are unable to meet their food needs because of the combined effects of more than two years of fighting, a collapsing economy, high food prices and erratic rainfall. WFP urgently requires almost US$230 million to provide food and nutrition assistance over the next six months in South Sudan. This is a significant funding gap at a critical time of year: we need to scale up support during the lean season, and we need to pre-position lifesaving food in places that become inaccessible during the rainy season. The window of opportunity to reach those areas by road is closing rapidly, after which WFP will have to rely on costly air operations.