7.8 Million Face Acute Food Insecurity In South Sudan

NEW YORK, April 29 (Bernama-QNA) -- International organisations warned that the escalating hunger crisis in South Sudan will push 7.8 million people into high levels of acute food insecurity between April and July 2026, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) stated in their latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report that this figure represents 56 per cent of the total population and is among the highest levels of acute food insecurity currently recorded globally.

The report explained that 73,300 people are facing the “catastrophe” phase (Phase 5 of the IPC, the most severe level of acute food insecurity), adding that this figure represents a staggering 160 per cent increase compared to previous estimates.

It also noted that 2.5 million people are living in the “emergency” phase (Phase 4 of the IPC), while 5.3 million are in the “crisis” phase (Phase 3 of the IPC).

The three United Nations agencies stated that the crisis is exacerbated by escalating conflicts, mass displacement, economic decline, climate shocks, flooding and below-normal agricultural production, which reduce food availability and limit families’ ability to access sufficient food.

The IPC report is a global initiative involving UN agencies, regional partners and aid organisations.

It classifies food insecurity into five phases, with famine as the most severe.

-- BERNAMA-QNA