WFP urges access to conflict-affected areas in Upper Nile, Jonglei
September 15, 2022 (JUBA) – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has called for safe and secure passage of food and other humanitarian assistance into conflict-affected areas of Upper Nile and Jonglei states, amidst renewed conflict which has displaced thousands of families and left an unknown number of civilians dead or injured.
WFP, in a statement issued on Friday, said it depends on river transport to reach rural and remote communities during the rainy season, when roads become inaccessible.
“However, due to a deterioration in the security situation along the White Nile, WFP has had to suspend its barge movement between Adok and Malakal as the waterways have become inaccessible, to the detriment of communities in the firing line,” it reads in part.
The agency expressed concerns that several attempts to negotiate access to reach communities facing emergency and catastrophic levels of food insecurity have failed.
On Saturday September 10, according to the agency, its river convoy carry 1,151 metric tons of food meant for communities in Fangak, Canal/Pigi and Panyikang counties was forced to turn back after clashes between the conflicting parties resumed enroute.
These three counties, WFP stated, already have some of the highest instances of food insecurity in the country with 55-60% of the population of Fangak and Canal/Pigi counties expected to be in emergency or famine-like conditions by now, and unable to meet their food needs.
“The cost of inaction will be severe with the very real possibility of famine if we cannot access these communities immediately,” said Adeyinka Badejo, acting Country Director for WFP South Sudan, adding “It is completely unacceptable that we have WFP convoys carrying food assistance that can save lives but are simply unable to get through”.
The top humanitarian official urged all parties to the conflict need to respect international humanitarian law and allow safe passage of WFP and other humanitarian cargo.
“We are running out of time to prevent people from dying of hunger,” he further stressed.
Prior to this latest outbreak of conflict, there had been sustained efforts to build food security and resilience for people in Fangak, Canal/Pigi, and Panyikang counties.
WFP said it supported the construction of 16kms of dykes around both Old and New Fangak, protecting communities from the flood waters that have been sweeping through communities across the north of the country for the past four years.
Additionally, the agency said, almost 180,000 people have been receiving life-saving food and nutrition assistance across Fangak and Canal/Pigi counties, preventing deterioration of food and nutrition security.
(ST)