US urges action to enhance food security in South Sudan

October 15, 2024 (JUBA) – The United States embassy has called on the Transitional Government of South Sudan to take action to enhance food security in the country.

The call came as the world marked World Food Day which is commemorated every 16 October.

A statement issued by the US embassy in Juba noted that as in prior years, as many as 9 million people in South Sudan are experiencing acute food insecurity.

“This is both tragic and unnecessary, as South Sudan has plentiful fertile and arable land,” partly reads the statement.

According to the US embassy statement, over the past year, the American people have provided over $600 million in humanitarian assistance to help people in South Sudan.

“Most recently, in September, we announced an additional $100 million in food assistance, which will deliver 42,000 metric tons of food to approximately 1 million people facing acute food insecurity in South Sudan in the coming months,” it further noted.

The statement, however, stressed that while climate shocks have contributed to the humanitarian crisis, many of the causes of food insecurity are in the hands of South Sudanese leaders to address.

“These include conflict, economic volatility, and corruption,” it observed.

Meanwhile the US embassy called on the transitional government to act with urgency to respond to the needs of the South Sudanese people, by addressing the causes of humanitarian crisis in their country, including through the transparent use of public revenue to support food security.

Last month, South Sudan Unity government extended the transitional period by two years and postponed the long-awaited elections, which were initially scheduled for this December.

(ST)