UN: Nearly 7.7 Million in South Sudan Face ‘Crisis’ Hunger Levels

The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) reported that 7.7 million people in South Sudan face crisis, emergency, or catastrophic levels of hunger, nearing record highs, Arab News reported. The northeastern Upper Nile State, a region experiencing escalating violence between forces allied to President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, is the most affected.

Violence has forced WFP to pause food distributions in six counties, hampering life-saving assistance. Over 1.1 million refugees from Sudan’s civil war, many in Upper Nile, face catastrophic hunger. Additionally, South Sudan is battling a cholera outbreak, with 40,000 cases and nearly 700 deaths since September.

The country’s instability since its 2011 independence, compounded by reduced international aid, has worsened the humanitarian crisis. Residents like Reath Yian Ulang describe severe food and water shortages, with many relying on swamp water for survival.