More than one million people in South Sudan could lose access to critical food assistance by October unless fresh funding is secured, the World Food Programme has warned.
The UN agency said worsening conflict, displacement, climate shocks and the spillover from the war in neighbouring Sudan are driving hunger across the country, while cuts to international aid are placing further pressure on humanitarian operations.
Matthew Hollingworth, WFP Assistant Executive Director for Operations, said 7.8 million people — more than half of South Sudan’s population — are struggling to find enough food each day.
He said around 2.2 million children and 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women also require urgent nutrition support.
“Unless additional resources are secured, more than a million vulnerable people could lose access to life-saving food and nutrition assistance by October,” Hollingworth told reporters in Geneva.
WFP is currently facing an immediate funding shortfall of $86 million, with the gap expected to exceed $400 million over the next six months.
The warning comes during South Sudan’s rainy season, when food supplies typically tighten, prices rise and flooding makes it harder for aid agencies to reach vulnerable communities.
WFP said many families are already being forced to reduce the number of meals they eat, sell possessions and cut spending on healthcare, education and shelter.
Hollingworth said the current financial pressure is especially severe because humanitarian needs are at their highest level in more than a decade.
The agency said emergency food assistance remains essential to preventing a deeper humanitarian crisis, but added that international aid must also help support longer-term recovery and resilience.
WFP also urged South Sudan’s government to increase its own financial contribution towards supporting people affected by hunger and displacement.
