South Sudan Faces Deepening Hunger Crisis Amid Funding Cuts, Violence, and Corruption

South Sudan Faces Deepening Hunger Crisis Amid Funding Cuts, Violence, and Corruption
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At a hospital in Bor, South Sudan, 14-month-old Adut Duor, severely malnourished and unable to walk, represents the growing hunger crisis gripping the country. His mother, Ayan, is among 1.1 million malnourished pregnant and lactating women struggling to feed their children.

A UN-backed report estimates that 2.3 million children under five now require treatment for acute malnutrition, with over 700,000 in severe condition. Renewed conflict, funding cuts, climate change, and entrenched corruption are worsening the crisis.

Funding reductions have forced aid organizations like Save the Children to cut staff and close malnutrition centers, while supplies of vital therapeutic foods are dangerously low. Violence in northern states blocks humanitarian access and displaces farming communities, exacerbating food insecurity.

Flooding and failed harvests add to the challenges, with 1.6 million people at risk of displacement. Poor sanitation and disease outbreaks further compound malnutrition risks.

At Maban County Hospital near the Sudan border, shortages of nutritional supplies and unpaid staff highlight the strain on health services. Economic pressures, including inflation and disrupted trade, leave 92% of South Sudanese living below the poverty line.

Corruption has siphoned billions from public funds, undermining health and food security efforts. UN investigators warn that corruption fuels conflict and deepens hunger, while the government allocates only a fraction of its budget to health care.

As humanitarian aid dwindles and violence persists, millions of South Sudanese face a worsening crisis, with children like Adut and Moussa bearing the brunt of the unfolding catastrophe.